What Is a Psychosexual Evaluation?
A psychosexual evaluation is a comprehensive forensic psychological assessment used to understand an individual’s sexual attitudes, interests, behaviors, and risk for future sexual misconduct. These evaluations are often court-ordered or requested in legal contexts where concerns about sexually inappropriate or unlawful behavior are present. The evaluation integrates clinical interviews, standardized testing, record review, and collateral data to assess sexual functioning and inform treatment, supervision, or court decisions.
Psychosexual evaluations are commonly used in:
Criminal proceedings involving sexual offenses
Civil commitments for “sexually dangerous persons” under statutes such as 18 U.S.C. § 4247(a)(5)-(6) and various state equivalents (e.g., M.G.L. c. 123A, §1 in Massachusetts), which define a sexually dangerous person as someone who “suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder” and is “likely to engage in acts of sexual violence.”
Probation, parole, and sentencing decisions
Evaluating compliance and progress in sex-offense-specific treatment
Child custody and family court cases where sexually concerning behavior is alleged
In accordance with PsychLaw Forensic Consulting’s protocols, all psychosexual evaluations include a mandatory polygraph examination to support the accuracy of the self-report and enhance the reliability of risk assessment findings. This approach is consistent with best-practice models for treatment-related disclosure (see: Hindman & Peters, 2001; Gannon et al., 2004).
What Is Included in a Psychosexual Evaluation Report?
Each psychosexual evaluation report produced by PsychLaw includes:
Comprehensive Sexual History: Including development, interests, behaviors, trauma history, and attitudes toward sexuality
Psychometric Testing: Standardized measures to assess personality functioning, paraphilic interests, sexual compulsivity, and deviance (e.g., STATIC-99R, MCMI-IV, Abel Screening, SAI)
Polygraph Examination: A mandatory component assessing truthfulness related to offense history, deviant interests, and rule compliance
Clinical Interview and Risk Analysis: Structured and semi-structured interviews exploring motivation, denial, victim empathy, and amenability to treatment
Collateral Record Review: Police reports, prior psychological evaluations, court records, and treatment summaries are incorporated to inform findings
Risk of Recidivism: Clinical opinion grounded in empirically validated actuarial and dynamic risk tools (e.g., Hanson & Morton-Bourgon, 2009)
Diagnostic Impressions: Using DSM-5-TR criteria for conditions such as Paraphilic Disorders, Personality Disorders, or Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder
Recommendations: Supervision guidelines, treatment needs, level of community risk, and potential eligibility for conditional release or reunification
Final reports are typically completed within 10–12 weeks and provided to the referring court, agency, or legal party. A 30-minute feedback consultation is available to review and clarify findings.
When is a Psychosexual Evaluation Needed?
Psychosexual evaluations are indicated in a range of legal and clinical contexts, including:
Criminal Sentencing or Civil Commitment: For individuals convicted of, or alleged to have engaged in, sexually abusive behavior. Many jurisdictions require a psychosexual evaluation prior to commitment or sentencing under “sexually dangerous person” statutes.
Post-Conviction Supervision: To inform parole or probation conditions, assess treatment progress, and evaluate readiness for community reintegration
Family Court or Child Protection Matters: When sexual abuse is alleged or there are concerns about parenting capacity involving sexual boundary violations
Sexual Misconduct Investigations: Within professional, educational, or religious institutions
Voluntary Self-Referral: Individuals experiencing sexual compulsivity, distress over deviant fantasies, or fear of offending may seek evaluation to access treatment and reduce risk
Treatment Planning: To determine amenability to offense-specific therapy or to tailor interventions for individuals with paraphilic disorders
Key Case Law and Standards:
Kansas v. Hendricks, 521 U.S. 346 (1997): Upheld civil commitment for sexually violent predators under laws requiring proof of mental abnormality and dangerousness.
United States v. Carta, 592 F.3d 34 (1st Cir. 2010): Supported the use of psychosexual evaluations and actuarial tools in civil commitment hearings.
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993): Established admissibility standards for scientific evidence, including expert testimony in psychosexual evaluations.
Contact us to learn more about how a psychosexual evaluation can support informed decision-making in your legal or clinical case. All services are conducted by licensed forensic psychologists with specialized training in sexual behavior, risk assessment, and court testimony.