SOCCPN 15th Annual Conference
Against All Odds: Maintaining Integrity
and Quality Treatment
In the Prevention of Sexual Violence
Sheraton Chicago
Chicago, IL
October 28th & 29th , 2013
Note: The SOCCPN 15th Annual Conference is designed for professionals who work in civil commitment programs
for sexual offenders, and other professionals interested in all aspects of the civil commitment process.
Conference Fee Schedule: Please register on line at www.soccpn.org/annualconference.html
Registration only - non-members
Registration - non-members + CE credits
Lead Presenter/non-Member Registration
Lead Presenter/non-Member Registration + CE credits
$200.00
$225.00
$175.00
$200.00
Registration only -members
Registration - members + CE credits
Lead Presenter/Member Registration
Lead Presenter/Member Registration + CE credits
$175.00
$200.00
$150.00
$175.00
One day registration, member or non-member
One day registration, member or non-member + CE credits
$75.00
$100.00
Refund/cancellation policy – Cancellations up to 30 days prior to the conference date will result in full refund.
Continuing Education Credits: a total of 13 CE credits will be available for those attending the entire conference.
SOCCPN is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for
psychologists. SOCCPN maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
SOCCPN is also an approved by the National Association of Social Workers to provide CE credits.
There are no known commercial support for any of the CE programs or instructors involved in this conference.
No other known conflicts of interest exist.
Conference Agenda/Session Information:
Monday October 28th
9:00 am:
President’s Welcome
9:15am:
Opening Speaker - Keynote address
SVP Programs: A View from Central Officer Administration
Olivia Garland, PhD; Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
Instructional Level: Intermediate
Abstract: While a literature search reveals a plethora of articles on Sexually Violent Predators,
there is very little regarding administration issues. This presentation will discuss the challenges
presented to Central Office Administration when a state decides to enact SVP legislation. Topics
covered will include correcting public misperceptions, policy issues, recruitment/retention
problems and discharge issues.
Learning Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1.
2.
3.
Describe three challenges to Central Office Administration regarding SVP legislation.
Explain two common misperceptions about these programs.
Compare two strategies for addressing recruitment/retention problems.
10:30 am:
Break*
10:45 am:
The Integrated Model to Treatment
Anita Schlank, Ph.D., ABPP, Clinical Director, Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation
Instructional Level: Intermediate
Abstract: Most treatment providers appear to be in agreement that the best treatment
programs do not follow one single model, but instead incorporate the best aspects of many
models. However, it has not always been clear how to make such an integration work
effectively. This presentation will provide one example for how models can be combined in a
truly integrated manner. In addition, a unique intervention toward addressing boundary
problems between staff and residents will also be described.
Learning Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1.
2.
3.
11:30 am:
Explain why it is not advised to follow only one model of treatment.
Utilize at least three models that can be effectively combined into a sex offender treatment
program.
Participants will be able to employ a targeted intervention to prevent boundary problems
between staff and residents.
Effectiveness of Discharge Planning and Mandated Outpatient Treatment for Sexually Violent
Predators: Statics and Observations
Alan Stillman, LCSW; CA Conditional Release Program, Liberty Healthcare
Jennifer Schneider, Ph.D., Director of Research, Special Treatment Unit
Instructional Level: Intermediate
Abstract: Civilly Committed Sexually Violent Predators (SVP) spend an average of 13-15 years
institutionalized including incarceration and hospitalization before being discharged into the
community. This presentation explores the challenges of community reintegration and
mandated treatment for SVPs in California and New Jersey. This presentation will present
actual cases and statistics from a 10 year program in California, CACONREP, specifically for SVPs
throughout the state as well as Conditionally Discharged sex offenders from the Special
Treatment Unit in NJ. We will also discuss key issues in community reintegration planning and
placement as well as how these issues influence treatment outcomes. Issues discussed include
supervision, housing, employment opportunities, educational opportunities, individual and
group therapy and attention to the importance of relationships and social supports including
therapeutic, family, social and community ties.
Educational Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1.
2.
Describe challenges in planning community reintegration for SVPs influenced by public
perception and policy such as housing options and work/educational opportunities.
Design SVP supervision interventions to maximize the role of healthy interpersonal
relationships and social, family and community support.
12:15 pm:
Catered lunch*
1:30 pm:
2012 Annual Survey of Sex Offender Civil Commitment Programs
Rebecca Jackson, Ph.D., Clinical Director, FCCC, The GEO Group, Inc.
Deirdre D’Orazio, Ph.D., Central Coast Clinical and Forensic Psychology Services, and Jennifer
Schneider, Ph.D., Director of Research, Special Treatment Unit
Instructional Level: Introductory
Abstract: This sessions presents the results of the SOCCPN annual survey administered to SVP
programs in the United States. The survey presents the findings from responding jurisdictions
with SVP programs in the areas of facility operations, treatment, and community supervision of
conditionally released SVPs. The presenters compare this year’s findings to those of previous
years when the survey was administered. Trends and future directions of SVP program
management and treatment are dicussed.
Educational Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1.
2.
3.
2:45 pm:
Analyze treatment progress measures utilized with SVP populations
Explain barriers to conditional release for SVP populations
Compare approaches to conditional release of SVPs across civil commitment programs
Preparing for and Providing Expert Testimony from the Prospective of the Evaluator, the State,
and the Defense
John Arroyo, Psy.D., Illinois SVP Evaluator; Joelle Marasco, J.D., Illinois Assistant Attorney
General; Dawn Welkie, J.D., Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney; Daniel Coyne, J. D.,
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Instructional Level: Advanced
Abstract: The process of evaluating, report writing, and testifying in the civil commitment
process of sexual offenders can be a long and complicated process. The goal of this presentation
is to explain how each involved member goes about their part to streamline that process as
much as possible. This is a basic overview for new psychologists or attorneys entering the field
and hopes to give them a better understanding of the intricacies involved in the adversarial
process of the civil commitment of sexually violent persons. The presenters intend to discuss
“Preparing for and Providing Expert Testimony from the Prospective of the Evaluator, the State
and the Defense.” The presenters intend to discuss specific areas from varying perspectives
such as preparation, research, and personality dynamics and the impact each area has in the
courtroom.
Educational Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1. Explain the role of the psychologist as an expert witness in the SVP commitment process.
2. Critique the competing roles of the key players involved in civil commitment and assess
how these dynamics affect the commitment process.
3. Deliver effective expert witness testimony that maintains the integrity of the commitment
process while assuring community protection and treatment opportunities.
4:00 pm
Break*
4:15 pm
Political and Legal Updates in Sex Offender Civil Commitment – Ken Carabello, MSW, Vice
President of Operations, Liberty Healthcare
Instructional Level: Advanced
Abstract: Mr. Carabello will lead a group discussion with participants regarding current political
and legal issues affecting each state’s SVP program, among those represented at the
conference. The discussion will center on upcoming and ongoing legal challenges faced by both
the operations and treatment aspects of SVP programs, as well as managing SVPs on conditional
release in the community, and will involve a group problem solving effort designed to elicit
potential solutions to these challenges.
Educational Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1. Compare case law developments related to the civil commitment process in states with
active SVP laws.
2. Analyze political themes influencing the treatment and operations of SVP programs in
jurisdictions reporting.
3. Create effective responses to legal and political challenges in order to maintain program
integrity in SVP facilities across the nation.
5:15 pm
Adjourn
*Items marked with an * are not eligible for CE credit.
Tuesday, October 29th
8:30 am:
Understanding Changing Beliefs and Attitudes about Sexuality and Sexual Orientation in
Civilly Committed Sexual Offenders
Joseph A. Toomey, Ph.D., Old Colony Correctional Center
Instructional Level: Intermediate
Abstract:
The present study attempted to better understand the beliefs and attitudes
about sexual orientation, sexual behavior and sexual identity in a sample of 101 civilly
committed male sexual offenders. Participants were administered a survey evaluating their
sexual behaviors, beliefs and attitudes prior to and while being detained. The results
provide some qualitative data pertaining to how long-term detention may change how men
view same-sex sexual activity, as well as statistically significant findings regarding the
potential effect of treatment on comfort with male intimacy. The results will be discussed
in terms of how treatment providers can better address current sexual practices and
attitudes with detained males.
Learning Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Describe the varying rates of consensual same-sex behavior in
detained populations
Compare the main theories addressing why detained men engage
in same-sex behavior
Discuss the importance of understanding the labeling of
same-sex sexual behavior in detained populations
Predict the possible impact of same-sex behavior while
detained on beliefs and attitudes about homosexuality and personal
sexual identity
9:30 am: Break*
9:45 am:
Concurrent Sessions:
1) Community Notification of Civilly Committed Sex Offender in Wisconsin upon Release
Jason Cram, MPA, Supervised Release Program Manager, State of Wisconsin
Instructional Level: Intermediate
Abstract: The level of community notification for a sex offender is a decision made by law
enforcement in Wisconsin. For the civilly committed sex offender, the decision is almost
always to conduct a community notification meeting (CNM) prior to the client’s release.
Although law enforcement facilitates the meeting, other key stakeholders who present
include the WI Department of Health Services (DHS), the WI Department of Corrections,
and the WI Sex Offender Registration Program. The message from the WI DHS covers three
primary areas: 1) How did we get to this point in the legal process? 2) How was this
particular residence selected? 3) What will life look like for the person on Supervised
Release or discharge? The presentation will focus on the following areas: 1) The community
notification process as related to civilly committed sex offenders in WI; 2) The message
presented to the citizens by the WI DHS during a CNM with particular focus on how a
residence was selected; 3) The value of community notification; 4) Lessons learned; 5) The
most frequently asked questions posed by the audience and corresponding answers.
Educational Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1. Describe the community notification process as it relates to civilly committed sex
offenders.
2. Critique three primary topic areas to address with citizens at a community notification
meeting (CNM).
3. Compare the benefits and limitations of conducting a CNM, and describe three specific
techniques found to be helpful in conducting a successful CNM.
2) Implications for Treatment with Civilly Committed Sexually Violent Predators Who Have
Histories of Bestiality
Melinda Masters, LCSW, Assistant Clinical Director, Florida Civil Commitment Center,
GeoCare, LLC.
Instructional Level: Intermediate
Abstract: Bestiality is a recorded sexual behavior that humans have been demonstrating
for thousands of years. Sexual behaviors between humans and animals tend to elicit
expressions of disdain and disgust or lurid sensationalism. The subject of sexual behaviors
towards animals can be difficult for sex offenders to admit to and for therapists to discuss.
This study focuses on sex offenders in civil commitment that have engaged in sexual
contact with animals and passed a history polygraph. The study will examine age of onset,
types of sexual offending towards humans and animals, antecedents to sexual behaviors
and the relationship between dynamic risk factors and sexual behaviors towards animals.
The presentation will include a review of previous studies. There will also be a discussion of
treatment interventions specific to this population.
Educational Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1. Analyze the two most common dynamic risk factors associated with civilly committed
sex offenders who have had sexual contact with animals.
2. Compare the results of 2 current research studies on bestiality and the implications of
the findings for treatment of this condition.
10:45 am:
Break*
11:00 am:
Concurrent Sessions:
1) Assessing and Treating Deviant Arousal in Civil Commitment Programs
Ren A. Thorne, LCSW, Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation
Instructional Level: Intermediate
Abstract: Since disordered sexual arousal has been associated with increase risk to reoffend, the
management of such arousal is an important component in any SVP program. This presentation
will discuss the benefits and limitations to the various methods for assessing disordered sexual
arousal, and will also address methods for helping residents manage their arousal patterns.
1.
2.
3.
Learning objectives:This workshop is designed to help you:
Compare the benefits and limitations to PPG assessments
Analyze the benefits and limitations of visual reaction time assessments
Implement one method for reducing disordered sexual arousal.
2) The Evolution of Iowa’s Transitional Release Program
Rozanna Tross, Psy.D., Tracy Thomas, Ph.D., Jason Smith, PsyD, Iowa Civil Commitment Unit
Instructional Level: Introductory
Abstract: This presentation will describe the evolution of Iowa’s transitional release
program and the lessons learned along the way. The program has gone through many
changes and confronted numerous issues when transitioning and discharging individuals
into the community. In 2010 a collaborative approach was attempted where the Public
Defenders, Attorney General and Civil Commitment Unit for Sexual Offenders staff engaged
in a joint staffing process in hopes of spending less time in court hearings, reducing expert
costs, having fewer negative impacts on therapist- patient relationships and developing
agreements by all parties to work on clearly defined objectives to move individuals to the
next stage of treatment. The advantages and disadvantages of this approach will be
discussed along with the reasons why Iowa has modified it, changed its view of treatment
and risk and developed a relationship with the department of corrections for community
supervision.
Educational Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1.
Critique the advantages and disadvantages of Iowa’s collaborative approach
2. Apply the benefits of approaching risk and treatment differently in
transitional release.
12:15 pm:
1:45 pm:
Lunch
Concurrent Sessions:
1) Utilizing Effective Change Maintenance Programs
Mark S. Carich, Ph.D, Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center-Farmington SORTS
Bruce Cameron, M.S., LPC-S, LSOTP, CAS, Southlake Counseling
Instructional Level: Intermediate
Abstract: Historically, Relapse Prevention (RP) was the primary modality of helping clients
achieve and maintain change. In many programs, RP quickly became the primary and
central component of treatment. Although RP became very popular, RP received major
criticisms over the last 15 years because of deficits in the model. A seminal article by Janice
Marcus and colleagues fueled wide-spread concern that Relapse Prevention is ineffective as
a treatment modality. Despite numerous publications reporting the problems with RP,
Relapse Prevention or some derivative of it is still being used by the majority of sex
offender treatment programs. The authors have developed a change maintenance program
consisting of the best elements of RP/GLM/SRM. This particular program takes the forms of
psycho-educational modules and process groups. In this presentation, both components
are discussed within a change maintenance program.
Learning Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1. Design the essential elements of a change maintenance program that utilize elements of
Relapse Prevention, Good Lives Model, and Self-Regulation models of sex offender
treatment.
2. Analyze specific details of both the psycho-educational module and process groups
associated with the change maintenance program.
3. Critique Relapse Prevention and what contributions and draw-backs remain with this
modality.
2) Treatment Issues for Released SVPs
Jackson Tay Bosley, Psy.D., Community/Parole Supervision for Life Program, Univeristy of
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Instructional Level: Intermediate
Abstract: As more and more individuals adjudicated as sexually violent predators, or
sexually dangerous persons are released into the community, it is the responsibility of
community-based SO treatment providers to address the reintegration needs of this select
group of offenders. Failures of this high-risk population to reintegrate successfully can have
wider legal, public policy, and public relations effects. This presentation will address the
treatment/reintegration needs of a sample of released SVPs in the state of New Jersey.
This will be accomplished through structured interviews of released SVPs currently in
treatment in the program administered by the author.
Learning Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1. Compare the primary treatment concerns of SVPs released from secure facilities and
living in the community to SVPs residing in secure facilities.
2. Describe the primary impediments
to reintegration as described by SVPs post release
3. Design the types of support most important for successful reintegration
3:00 pm:
Break*
3:15 pm:
Closing Speaker – Key Note Address: Is Paraphilic Coercion a Distinct Disorder?
Ray Knight, Ph.D., Mortimer Gryzmish Professor of Human Relations, Brandeis University
Instructional Level: Advanced
Abstract: The Diagnostic and Statistics Manual 5 (DSM 5) Paraphilias Sub-workgroup proposed
a new paraphilic diagnostic syndrome, Paraphilic Coercive Disorder (PCD), which was hotly
debated, but ultimately not included in the new manual. This presentation will discuss the
empirical data on the validity of this proposed construct, reviewing evidence from penile
plethysmographic (PPG) studies, from MIDSA self-report data, from taxometric studies of PCD
and related constructs, and from clinical trials on its reliability. New factor analytic, taxometric,
and Item Response Theory analyses will be presented, and it will be argued that PCD does not
constitute a separate disorder, but is rather part of an “Agonistic” dimension that ranges from
PCD on the low end to sadism on the high end. The clinical importance of this dimension and
how it might be incorporated into evaluations will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: This workshop is designed to help you:
1. Critique the empirical analyses dismantling the causal components of phallometric
responses to rape.
2. Analyze the covariates of PCD and demonstrate the nature of its relation to sadism.
3. Discuss the clinical significance of the Agonistic dimension that comprises PCD and sadism.
4:45 pm:
President’s closing remarks*
5:15 pm:
Adjourn
*Items marked with an * are not eligible for CE credit.