Mapping risk and protective factors: a comparison of the SAPROF-SO and common dynamic risk instruments

Assessment of protective factors may help bridge the gap between Risk, Need, Reponsivity-based assessment and strengths-based therapy. The aim of the current paper was to explore whether the Structured Assessment of PROtective factors against Sexual Offending (SAPROF-SO) identified potential therapy foci equivalent to those identified with commonly used dynamic risk assessment tools. First, we directly compared item content of the SAPROF-SO and dynamic risk assessment instruments. Second, we generated composite cases from community and prison-based therapy settings in Aotearoa New Zealand where the SAPROF-SO was used alongside a dynamic risk tool. Pretreatment SAPROF-SO and dynamic risk assessment tools were rated, and potential therapy foci inferred from the respective tools were compared and contrasted. We observed considerable conceptual and practice-level overlap. The SAPROF-SO identified potential therapy foci equivalent to those identified using dynamic risk tools, alongside foci not identified with the dynamic tools and aligned with strengths-based approaches to therapy.PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT The Structured Assessment of PROtective Factors against Sexual Offending (SAPROF-SO) is a clinician-rated measure of protective factors that mitigate reoffence risk. In this paper we mapped therapy foci identified by the SAPROF-SO and dynamic risk assessment tools. The SAPROF-SO identified therapy foci equivalent to those identified using dynamic risk tools, supporting use of the SAPROF-SO in therapy planning.