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The aims of this scoping review were to determine: how practitioners assessed the risk from CSEM users; the tools commonly used; the populations these tools were designed for and the evidence-base for them. Digital databases and websites were examined to identify sources published in English from January 2000 onwards. In total 36 studies were identified conducted in the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Spain. Few studies examined or evaluated risk assessment practice. Most tools have not been validated with CSEM users, nor females, ethnic minority populations, or individuals with Autism, mental health conditions or disabilities. Although some tools could be used cautiously, with men convicted of both CSEM and contact sexual offences, they should be used only to rank individuals, as normed probabilities are not applicable. These findings pose challenges for professionals; work is urgently needed to develop and appropriately validate tools for this population. Practice impact statement: This scoping review provides practitioners internationally, in particular those responsible for the risk assessment or case prioritisation of CSEM users, with an overview of the international, English language, evidence-base for risk assessment tools and processes for CSEM users. It should assist practitioners in the identification of the tools and processes that are most appropriate for their work and provide information that will be useful in reports, e.g. to justify the use of the tool(s) and note the limitations. Since the review highlights the urgent need for the development of and validation of tools, particularly those with dynamic variables, it is also important for practitioners, managers, and researchers responsible for developing tools and processes in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored sex offenders' parental and adult attachment difficulties and assessed the extent to which these were associated with preferences for therapists' interpersonal qualities. One-hundred and twelve adult male child sexual offenders were invited to provide self-report data on their attachment histories, adult attachments and preferences for therapists' interpersonal qualities. A weak relationship between childhood and adulthood secure attachment was found, suggesting that attachment at the time of offending may be more relevant than childhood attachment to the aetiology of sexual offending. Participants valued a range of therapists' qualities previously identified as important for positive treatment change. Therapist trust and genuineness were perceived as particularly important by those with attachment difficulties, demonstrating the need for these qualities in offender programmes where attachment difficulties would be expected. There were some differences in the preferences for therapists' qualities between participants with different adult attachment types, highlighting the importance of responsivity factors in treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]