Risk assessment of juvenile sex offenders: A case report

Juvenile sex offenders have received increased scrutiny in recent years. They present significant dispositional problems for the courts and for social service agencies. Numerous disposition decisions are made based on considerations of risk of sexual reoffense. However, little empirical data exist regarding identified recidivism risk factors for this population. Massachusetts\u27 legal standards require a finding of a likelihood of serious harm in order for juveniles to be retained by the Department of Youth Services beyond their eighteenth birthdays. There is a limited understanding of juvenile sex offender recidivism risk factors; yet, risk assessments of this type are statutorily required. This article presents an illustrative Massachusetts case and discusses limitations inherent in such an assessment. © 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved

The time is now: The emerging need for master\u27s-level training in forensic psychology

Since the inception of the first doctoral program in psychology and law in 1974, master\u27s-level training in forensic psychology has been virtually ignored by the field of psychology and law training. Given the changes in the workplace over the past few decades, master\u27slevel clinicians are providing more psychological services, often under the supervision of doctoral-level providers. Master\u27s training programs are emerging in forensic psychology to fill the need for forensicallytrained clinicians at the master\u27s level. This article proposes a Bifurcated Educational Model (BEM) in advocating for forensic psychology training at the master\u27s level. Citing the Villanova Conference on Training in Law and Psychology, the authors argue for a similar approach to evaluating and improving the effectiveness in master\u27s-level programs. Copyright © by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved