Welcome to our next IATSO Conference in PORTO, Portugal
September 3-6, 2014 at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Porto
Additional information about the conference and your stay in Porto
Check back regularly for information updates!
CRIMINAL POLICIES IN SEXUAL VIOLENCE: FROM RESEARCH TO LEGISLATION AND TREATMENT
Sexual offender risk assessment and sexual offender treatment faces more challenges than ever before. Along with a steady increase of our knowledge about sexual offenders during the past 30 years substantial questions arise. Is sexual offender treatment effective at all and can its effectiveness be proven by studies adhering to high standards of empirical research? Can we communicate to decision makers more than just risk estimates derived by group behaviour? Can group-based risk categories be applied for the prediction of risk for the individual? Does effective risk management require treatment or can treatment be substituted by other means of control or supervision? Are high risk sexual offenders treatable at all? What are effective policies for protecting society from sexual offending?
The work of professionals and decision makers in the sexual offender management system is seriously threatened by the lack of good answers to these questions. Developing good answers for hard questions and complex facts, therefore, is the ultimate mission of a scientific organisation. Good answers can only be achieved if academic discussion and exchange is guaranteed. This, however, ultimately takes time.
Therefore, we invite you all to take time to attend the IATSO conference in Porto, 2014.
The scientific program of the conference will reveal the recent developments, dynamics, and diversities of current worldwide research on aspects of sexual offender assessment and treatment, which are of major importance with regard to both academia and society. It will also provide an opportunity for participants to meet and network with colleagues from around the world.
The chosen spotlight of the congress is "Criminal Policies in Sexual Violence: From Research to Legislation and Treatment". Only by a professional perspective based on high quality research can we continue to bring further improvements into the field. A high quality program is planned with internationally recognized key experts in the field delivering plenary and symposia lectures. These invited speakers and a selected choice of presentations (in both oral and poster formats) will add to this top-level scientific program.
We look forward to seeing you in Porto and invite you to submit your proposals for oral or poster presentations.
Celina Manita
Conference President
Ricardo Barroso
Executive Chairman of the Conference
Doug Boer
IATSO President
Reinhard Eher
IATSO General Secretary