Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS)
The SOTIPS is a dynamic risk instrument used to assess risk, treatment and supervision needs, and progress among adult male sex offenders. It comprises 16 dynamic risk factors scored at intake and after that every six months on a 4-point scale ranging from minimal to no need for improvement to a very considerable need for improvement. The SOTIPS is designed for use by trained mental health professionals and probation and parole officers. The SOTIPS should be combined with a static risk measure such as VASOR-2 or Static-99R. The SOTIPS Manual is available for use at no cost.
Manual
McGrath, R. J., Cumming, G. F., & Lasher, M. P. (2013). Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS) Manual. Middlebury, VT: Author. Download SOTIPS Manual.
Coding Sheet
Selected SOTIPS Training Sponsors
- Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Probation and Pretrial Services
- Alaska Department of Corrections
- Arkansas Department of Corrections
- Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers
- California Eastern District, U.S. Probation
- Cameron and Willacy County Texas Community Supervision and Corrections Department
- Center for the Treatment of Problem Sexual Behavior
- Colorado Department of Corrections
- Colorado Division of Probation Services and Colorado Division of Parole
- Connecticut Department of Corrections and Court Services
- DuPage County Illinois Probation and Court Services
- Global Institute for Forensic Research
- Iowa Department of Correctional Services
- Kentucky Federal Probation
- Maine Department of Corrections
- Maricopa County Arizona Probation Department
- Massachusetts Office of Mental Health
- Massachusetts Probation Service
- Missouri Mental Health Center and Missouri Sex Offender Civil Commitment Program
- Missouri Probation and Parole Department
- Montana Department of Corrections
- Montana Federal Probation and Pretrial Services
- Nebraska Probation Programs
- New Hampshire Department of Corrections
- New York City Probation Department
- Swedish Prison and Probation Service
- Utah Department of Corrections, Probation, and Parole
- Vermont Department of Corrections
- Vermont Division of Developmental Disabilities Services
- Wisconsin Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers
SOTIPS Training Workshop
This one-day workshop focuses on using case studies to learn how to score and use the SOTIPS. The SOTIPS is a 16-item, provider-administered, dynamic measure designed to aid clinicians and probation and parole officers assess risk, treatment and supervision needs, and progress among adult male sex offenders. The theory and research support for the scale will be reviewed as well. The workshop will include using the scale with a static risk measure such as the Static-99R or VASOR-2.
Train the Trainer Workshop
This two-day workshop is for up to 12 trainees who have completed authorized SOTIPS training and at least 10 SOTIPS assessments on individuals who have committed a sexual offense. Trainees review SOTIPS scoring criteria, the SOTIPS Trainer Manual, training tips, and frequently asked questions on day one. Also, trainees conduct a mock SOTIPS training on day one and receive feedback from one of the SOTIPS co-developers. On day two, trainees deliver a one-day SOTIPS training to agency staff. Based upon training competency, trainees will be authorized to train staff at their agency.
Research Reports
Listed from earliest to most recent:
McGrath, R. J., Lasher, M. P., & Cumming, G. F. (2011). A model of static and dynamic sex offender risk assessment (Document No. 236217). Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice. Download Report.
McGrath, R. J., Lasher, M. P., & Cumming, G. F. (2012). The Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS): Psychometric properties and incremental validity with the Static-99R. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 24, 431-458. Download Paper.
Lasher, M. P., McGrath, R. J., Cumming G. F., & Wilson, D. (2015). Collaborative treatment planning using the Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS): Concordance of therapist evaluation and client self-evaluation. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 14, 1-9. Download Paper.
Lasher, M. P., & McGrath, R. J. (2017). Desistance from sexual and other violent offending among child sexual abusers: Observations using the Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS). Criminal Justice and Behavior. 44, 416-431. Download Paper.
Stinson, J. D., Becker, J. V., & McVay, L. A. (2017). Treatment progress and behavior change following two years of inpatient treatment: A pilot investigation of safe offender strategies. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 29, 3-27. Download Abstract.
Miner, M.H., Robinson, B. E., Newstrom, N., & Strobel-Ayres, C. (2018). Evaluation of the implementation of the Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS). (Document 251747). Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice. Download Report.
Hanson, R. K., et al., (2021). Does reassessment improve prediction? A prospective study of the Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS). International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 65, 1775-1803.
Wielinga, F. E. (2022). Use of dynamic risk instruments to assess sexual violence risk in a community-supervised sample of men with sexual offense convictions (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Miner, M. H., et al., (2023). Reliability and factor structure of the Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale. Sexual Abuse, 35, 83-102.
Elliott, I., & Hambly, O. (2023). Horizon and iHorizon: Psychometric analyses of the Success Wheel Measure. Ministry of Justice, London, England.
