Dr. Karl Hanson on Advancing Sexual Abuse Assessment Practices
The webinar is primarily for professionals involved in the assessment, management, or prevention of sexual abuse. This includes psychologists, social workers, criminal justice professionals, academics, and researchers. Early-career professionals entering the fields of corrections, mental health, or sexual abuse prevention will also find this webinar resourceful.
Dr. Karl Hanson is internationally recognized as one of the most influential researchers in understanding and assessing sexual abuse risk. Over a career spanning more than three decades, his published work and risk assessment tools—such as the Static-99R and STABLE-2007—have become benchmarks in the field. In addition, his meta-analysis of effective correctional rehabilitation principles has shaped intervention practice for over 15 years. Dr. Hanson has received numerous awards for his contributions and continues to serve as President of the Society for the Advancement of Actuarial Risk/Need Assessment (SAARNA) promoting research to advance public protection and rehabilitation.
In this webinar, Dr. Hanson invites us to rethink how we conceptualize risk and offers insights into the future of evidence-based assessment. He provides practical advice for early-career researchers and shares his vision for advancing approaches to the prevention of sexual abuse. Join us for this opportunity to engage with one of the field’s leading experts whose work continues to inform policy and practice in sexual abuse risk assessment and intervention.
Who's Presenting
R. Karl Hanson, PhD, CPsych
Dr. R. Karl Hanson is a globally renowned Canadian psychologist whose research fundamentally shaped the understanding and assessment of sexual abuse risk. Over more than three decades, Dr. Hanson has published over 175 scientific articles, meta-analyses, and reviews, establishing many of the foundational principles in risk assessment and treatment for individuals with a history of sexual offending.
He is best known as lead co-developer of actuarial risk assessment instruments, including the Static-99R, Static-2002R, STABLE-2007, and ACUTE-2007, which are now the most widely used tools worldwide for evaluating the risk and rehabilitation needs of those who sexually offend. These instruments are relied upon by professionals in corrections and forensic mental health settings across numerous countries.
Dr. Hanson also authored significant meta-analyses and publications clarifying the core principles of effective correctional rehabilitation, directly impacting intervention strategies for individuals who seriously offend for over 15 years.
He worked for over 25 years as a Senior Research Scientist with Public Safety Canada (1991–2017) and currently serves as Adjunct Research Professor in the Psychology Department at Carleton University, Ottawa. He also holds adjunct appointments at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson).
Dr. Hanson is President of the Society for the Advancement of Actuarial Risk/Need Assessment (SAARNA), a non-profit organization devoted to supporting robust research and the development of evidence-based tools for risk and needs assessment to enhance public safety and informed rehabilitation practice.
His career is celebrated with multiple distinguished awards, including career contribution awards from the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), the Canadian Psychological Association, Public Safety Canada, and the International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders. Based in Ottawa, Dr. Hanson continues to influence global policy and practices in sexual violence prevention, offender risk management, and effective rehabilitation.