Abstract
Despite a growing understanding on the benefit of protective factors to inform an individual’s level of risk, reigning sexual-offence risk assessment tools maintain a focus on risk factors. Noticing this gap in the field the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors against Sexual Offending (SAPROF-SO) was developed, a strengths-based assessment tool that encapsulates protective factors for individuals who have sexually offended. However, due to its infancy, the SAPROF-SO has not yet been validated across cultural groups. Thus, the aim of the current study was twofold – to examine the overall profile of risk and protection for a sample of Pacific-Islander men who have completed a sexual-offending treatment programme, and, to examine the construct validity of the SAPROF-SO with said Pacific sample.
The SAPROF-SO Version 1 contains 14 items across three domains (Resilience, Adaptive Sexuality and Prosocial Connection and Reward) and an optional 6-item Professional Risk-Management domain. The research sample was drawn from community programmes and prison, whereby Stability items from the SAPROF-SO pilot-version was considered for community cases. SAPROF-SO scores were rated retrospectively from a review of archived files of Pacific-Islander adult males previously convicted of a sexual offence and who completed treatment. Risk assessment scores were extracted after coding the SAPROF-SO. The overall profile of risk and protective factors was analysed descriptively, and correlations between measures examined. Findings will be taken to an advisory board of Pacific clinicians and academics, to highlight any cultural nuances, ensuring findings are discussed in culturally responsive ways. Preliminary insights from advisory board will be presented.