Pursuant to Pennsylvania law, the Sexual Offenders Assessment Board “shall be composed of psychiatrists, psychologists and criminal justice experts, each of whom is an expert in the field of the behavior and treatment of sexual offenders.” The relevant education, professional experience, training and skills necessary to serve on the Board are set forth in these SOAB Member Standards. Please note that the requirements cited here are not meant to be substitutes for registration, licensing or certification required by other disciplines.
Standards for Appointment to the SOAB:
The prospective SOAB Member shall:
1. Have an advanced degree in psychology, sociology, social work, criminology, psychiatry, human sexuality, criminal justice or a related field from a fully accredited institution of higher education; if the applicant does not possess a degree in one of these disciplines, the applicant must demonstrate competence in the field of sexual offender evaluation and treatment and shall have worked under a qualified professional in this field.
2. Have an active license in Pennsylvania to practice in this field or discipline.
3. Have relevant work experience, beyond the academic degree, in the evaluation and treatment of individuals convicted of a sexual offense.
4. Demonstrate competence through a minimum of 2000 hours of:
a. Direct service with individuals convicted of sexual offenses;
b. Research in the field of sexual deviance/sexual offending;
c. Supervision of staff who are treating sexual deviance/sexual offending;
d. Or some combination thereof.
5. SOAB Members will have included among graduate school courses, training and experience, knowledge in the following topics:
a. Personality theory and disorders
b. Risk Assessment
c. Counseling and Psychotherapy
d. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
e. Human Sexuality
f. Abnormal Psychology
g. Ethics and Professional Standards
h. Victimology
i. Psychological and Behavioral Assessment
j. Statistics and Research
k. Recidivism Reduction Theories
l. Etiology of Sexual Deviance
Expectations of SOAB Members:
The SOAB Members shall:
1. Demonstrate ongoing competence through continued specialized training in the field. SOAB Members shall obtain at least 15 hours of credit annually in an area related to the assessment/treatment of sexual deviance and sexual offending:
a. This may include, but is not limited to, trainings provided by the Sexual Offenders Assessment Board.
b. All SOAB Members are expected to attend at least one SOAB sponsored training annually.
2. Engage in ongoing consultation with the SOAB’s Staff Psychologist and Clinical Director.
3. Use only tests and methods approved by the SOAB, having been found relevant, valid and reliable for use under the mandate imposed by statute.
4. Adhere to a standard format for the assessment and conduct the assessments using the same criteria as all other SOAB Members.
5. Review all documents/literature provided to them by the SOAB for consideration in the course of their duties as evaluators and experts in the field of sexual offender evaluation and treatment.
6. Submit their assessments in a timely manner and no later than the deadline provided by SOAB staff.
7. Follow the Governor’s Code of Conduct and any guidelines set forth by the State Ethics Commission.
8. Commit to completing a minimum of two assessments per year to maintain their good standing on the Board.
9. Attend at least one public meeting of the SOAB annually.
10. Provide updated resumes or curricula vitae to SOAB staff upon request to facilitate reappointment to the Board upon the expiration of the four‐year term.