Advances in the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors Against Sexual Offending (SAPROF-SO): Current Research and Practice Considerations
This training will be converted into an on-demand format within two weeks following the live event. The on-demand version will be available for separate purchase, providing access to the training content for those who were unable to attend the live event or prefer a self-paced learning experience.
Please note: This session reviews updates to the SAPROF-SO and is not intended to train or certify participants in its administration, scoring, or implementation. Click here to view the formal SAPROF-SO training.
Protective factors are those aspects of an individual and their environment or situation that reduce the risk of future offending. They are not simply the absence of a risk factor. Protective factors are important for evaluators, therapists, and case managers to consider because they can interact with risks and protect against further harm. They can also be incorporated into therapeutic interventions.
The SAPROF-SO is a specialized measure of protective factors relevant to sexual offending. Item, subscale, and total scores are calculated using rule-based procedures rather than being based on professional judgment. Both actuarial and judgement-based methods can be used to interpret scores and guide risk assessment and treatment planning.
Dr.’s Willis, Thornton, and Kelley designed this training to summarize recent research findings with the instrument as well as practice developments. It takes place in two parts:
- In part 1, the presenters summarize research speaking to the reliability, construct validity, and predictive value of the SAPROF-SO. They give particular attention to recent to work examining whether the instrument is incremental to static actuarial instruments like the Static-99R or Risk Matrix 2000, and at whether it is incremental to dynamic instruments like the VRS-SO and the STABLE-2007.
- Part 2 covers developments in practice. The presenters explain and illustrate the use of the SAPROF-SO Calculator in risk assessment. They further describe the use of the instrument in identifying treatment goals. Finally, the presenters introduce the new Risk Management Framework for the SAPROF-SO. Special considerations for use of the tool in adversarial settings are discussed.
Interactive Follow-Up Meeting
Attendees are invited to join an open discussion 15 minutes following the end of the training, where you can engage with fellow attendees by turning on your camera and microphone. This is an opportunity to share your experiences and contribute to a meaningful exchange of ideas. Time will be allocated to address questions or insights from the training. Please note that attendance is optional and will not affect your eligibility for a training certificate.
1) Describe the average inter-rater reliability of the SAPROF-SO
2) Identify whether the SAPROF-SO is incrementally predictive of sexual recidivism relative to the Static-99R, the STABLE-2007, or the VRS-SO
3) Explain one limitation of the SAPROF-SO Calculator
Audience
This training is designed for clinicians working with individuals who have sexually offended and who are interested in learning about recent advances in the development of the SAPROF-SO. The training is ideal for clinicians familiar with structured professional judgment tools who wish to enhance their skills in reducing sexual recidivism.
Content Level
Disclosure
Cancellations
Continuing Education Approval
American Psychological Association (APA)
Safer Society Foundation, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Safer Society Foundation, Inc. maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
Safer Society Foundation, Inc., provider #233, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 6/6/2026-6/6/2029. Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits.
Who's Presenting
Gwenda M. Willis, PhD, PGDipClinPsyc
Dr. Willis is an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and Registered Clinical Psychologist. Her research and clinical interests focus on strengths-based approaches to psychological assessment and therapy in forensic/correctional settings, trauma-informed care, and sexual abuse prevention. Dr. Willis provides training and consultation to clinicians internationally, including in the application of the contemporary Good Lives Model of rehabilitation. Dr. Willis has authored or co-authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and her research has been widely cited. She led the development and initial validation of the SAPROF-SO with co-authors Drs David Thornton, Sharon Kelley, and Michiel de Vries Robbé.
David Thornton PhD
Dr. Thornton is a psychologist in private practice based in Wisconsin. He is licensed to practice as a psychologist in Wisconsin and Minnesota in the U.S., as well as in the U.K. He was a research director for Wisconsin’s program for sexually violent persons for three years and previously was the treatment director for that program for over a decade. He has published on evidence-based standards for effective correctional programs and on the importance of therapist style in the provision of treatment designed to reduce sexual recidivism risk. He has contributed to the development of static actuarial risk assessment instruments such as the Static-99/R, Static-2002/R, and Risk Matrix 2000 and to more psychological forms of assessment such as the assessment of long-term vulnerabilities and dynamic protective factors relevant to sexual offending. David Thornton has published over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles.
Sharon Kelley, PsyD
Dr. Kelley has been completing risk assessments in the field of sexual offending for the past 20 years. She is currently employed as a forensic psychologist with the Sand Ridge Evaluation Unit in Madison, Wisconsin. In addition to this, she maintains a private practice completing evaluations and trainings, and she has volunteer positions on the ATSA Board of Directors and the ATSA journal’s editorial board. She is a licensed psychologist in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and California. Both with her practical work and research projects, she is interested in empirically-based risk assessments, best evaluation practices, and understanding evaluator decision-making.