Section 1905.70 Psychophysiological Assessments

Section 1905.70  Psychophysiological Assessments

Evaluators shall recognize that

psychophysiological assessment methods such as phallometry, viewing time and

polygraphy may have particular utility to obtain objective behavioral data

about the client that may not be readily established through other assessment

means; explore the reliability of client self-reporting; and explore potential

changes, progress and/or compliance relative to treatment and other case

management goals and objectives, not determine guilt or innocence.  Each

assessment method is further explained in Section 1905.140.

a)         Evaluators

obtain specific informed consent from clients prior to using

psychophysiological measures.

b)         Evaluators

are familiar with the strengths and limitations of psychophysiological

instruments and note these issues when interpreting and communicating the

findings from these instruments.

c)         Evaluators

take reasonable steps to obtain assurances that examiners utilizing

psychophysiological assessment instruments are appropriately trained in the use

of those instruments, use accepted methods, and adhere to applicable

professional/discipline-specific standards or guidelines.

d)         Evaluators

recognize that the findings from psychophysiological measures are to be used in

conjunction with other sources of assessment information, not as the single

source of data for any assessment.

e)         Evaluators

recognize that the results of psychophysiological measures are not to be used

as the sole criterion for any clinical decision regarding offending, including,

but not limited to, the following:

1)         Estimating level of

risk for recidivism;

2)         Making

recommendations for release to the community from a correctional, institutional

or other noncommunity placement;

3)         Determining treatment

completion; or

4)         Drawing

conclusions regarding compliance with or violations of conditions of release or

community placement

cluding,

but not limited to, the following:

1)         Estimating level of

risk for recidivism;

2)         Making

recommendations for release to the community from a correctional, institutional

or other noncommunity placement;

3)         Determining treatment

completion; or

4)         Drawing

conclusions regarding compliance with or violations of conditions of release or

community placement.

f)         Evaluators

appropriately limit the use of phallometric measures to the following purposes:

1)         Assessing

the client's relative sexual arousal and preferences regarding age and gender;

2)         Evaluating

the client's arousal response to various levels of sexually intrusive or

aggressive/coercive behaviors;

3)         Exploring

the potential role of offense-related sexual arousal in the client's sexually

abusive or at-risk behavior and developing accompanying treatment goals; and

4)         Monitoring

the effectiveness of interventions involving the modification, management and

expression of both health and offense-related sexual arousal.

g)         Evaluators

appropriately limit the use of viewing time measures to the following purposes:

1)         Assessing the client's

sexual interests with respect to age and gender;

2)         Evaluating

the client's arousal response to various levels of sexually intrusive or

aggressive/coercive behaviors;

3)         Exploring

the potential role of offense-related sexual arousal in the client's sexually

abusive or at-risk behavior and developing accompanying treatment goals; and

4)         Monitoring

the effectiveness of interventions involving the modification, management and

expression of both health and offense-related sexual arousal

ls of sexually intrusive or

aggressive/coercive behaviors;

3)         Exploring

the potential role of offense-related sexual arousal in the client's sexually

abusive or at-risk behavior and developing accompanying treatment goals; and

4)         Monitoring

the effectiveness of interventions involving the modification, management and

expression of both health and offense-related sexual arousal.

h)         Evaluators

appropriately limit the use of polygraph measures to the following purposes:

1)         Facilitating

a client's disclosure of sexual history information, which may include sexually

abusive or offense-related behaviors;

2)         Eliciting

from the client clarifying information regarding the instant/index offense;

3)         Exploring

potential changes, progress and/or compliance relative to treatment and other

case management goals and objectives; and/or

4)         Making

collaborative case management decisions about a client with other partners and

stakeholders.