Picture of Mark Olver

Mark Olver B.A. (Hons) (Simon Fraser), Ph.D. (Saskatchewan)

Professor, Registered Doctoral Psychologist

Faculty Member in Psychology and Health Studies

Office
Arts 69

Research Area(s)

  • The assessment of recidivism risk and dangerousness and how risk can be managed or reduced and recidivism prevented.
  • How correctional clients make changes to their offending behavior, and to what extent these personal changes, especially if they are risk relevant, translate into subsequent reductions in recidivism
  • The effectiveness of specialized sexual offense treatment in reducing recidivism, and evaluating program-specific treatment change and its relationship to risk and recidivism reduction
  • Psychopathic persons and the extent to which this population can make risk related changes and move on to lives that are characterized by less violence

About me

Research Interests: 

Sexual violence risk assessment and treatment, psychopathy, human sexuality and sexual diversity, recidivism prediction, criminal attitudes, justice involved youth

 

Sample Publications (for complete list see Publications - some reference details may be incomplete depending on stage of publication):

Cheng, J.*, Olver, M. E., Haag, A. M., & Wormith, J. S. (2022).  Trajectories and outcomes of those Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder through a Canadian forensic system. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health.
Corabian, G., Hogan, N. R., & Olver, M. E.* (2022). University campus attitudes toward persons with a history of adult sexual violence and their correlates with policy, treatment, and management. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
Hogan, N. R.*, & Olver, M. E. (2021). Consistency and construct validity of the five-level system for risk communication using static and dynamic Tools: An investigation using the Static-99R and VRS-SO. Assessment.
Olver, M. E.*, Kingston, D. A., Laferty, E. K., & Seto, M. C. (2022). Psychometric properties of common measures of hypersexuality in an online Canadian sample. Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Olver, M. E.*, Mundt, J. C., Hogan, N. R., Coupland, R. B. A., Eggert, J. E., Higgs, T., Lewis, K., Cortoni, F., Gordon, A., Morgan, P. J., & Wong, S. C. P.* (2022). Assessing dynamic violence risk: Common language risk levels and recidivism rates for the Violence Risk Scale. Psychological Assessment.
Sparks, B., Zidenberg, A. M., & Olver, M.E. (2022). Involuntary celibacy: A review of incel ideology and experiences with dating, rejection, and associated mental health and emotional sequelae. Current Psychiatry Reports.
Wirove, R. L., Olver, M. E.*, & Haag, A. M. (2022, in press). Discrimination and calibration properties of the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide-Revised in a Not Criminally Responsible provincial population. Assessment.
Zidenberg, A. M.*, Dutrisac, S., & Olver, M. E. (2022). “No Ragrets”: Public perceptions of tattooed mental health professionals. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice.
Lovatt, K. M., Stockdale, K. S., & Olver M. E.* (2022). Dynamic violence risk, protective factors, and therapeutic change in a diverse sample of court adjudicated youth. Psychological Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001071
Azizian, A.*, Olver, M. E., Rokop, J., & D’Orazio, D. (2021). A preliminary analysis of sexual recidivism and predictive validity of Static-99R in men discharged from state hospitals pursuant to California’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) act. Sexual Abuse. Ahead of print publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10790632211019726
DeMatteo, D.*, & Olver, M. E.* (2021). Use of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised in legal contexts: Validity, reliability, admissibility, and evidentiary issues. Journal of Personality Assessment. [Shared lead and corresponding authorship] Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2021.1955693
Elchuk, D. L., McPhail, I.V.*, & Olver, M. E.* (2021). Stigma-related stress, complex correlates of disclosure, mental health, and loneliness in minor attracted people. Stigma and Health. Ahead of print publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000317
Hegel, J., Pelletier, K., & Olver, M. E.* (2021). Predictive Properties of the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) in a Northern Canadian Prairie Sample. Criminal Justice and Behavior. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548211033631
Myburgh, J. O., & Olver, M. E.* (2021). A cluster analytic examination and validation of adult victim sexual offending subtypes in two Canadian samples. Sexual Offending: Theory, Research, and Prevention.
Olver, M. E.* (2021). Dynamic sexual offense risk assessment using the VRS-SO with indeterminate sentenced men. Sexual Offending: Theory, Research, and Prevention.
Olver, M. E.*, & Riemer, E. K. (2021). High psychopathy men with a history of sexual offending have protective factors too: But are these risk relevant and can they change in treatment? Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 89, 406-420.
Olver, M. E.*, & Stockdale, K. C. (2021). Sexual violence risk assessment with Indigenous men: Context, controversies, and current findings. Current Psychiatry Reports, 23:48, 1-10.

Olver, M. E.*, Thornton, D., & Beggs Christofferson, S. M. (2021). Understanding the latent structure of dynamic risk: Seeking empirical constraints on theory development using the VRS-SO and the theory of dynamic risk. Sexual Abuse. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/10790632211002858
Prince, J., Lovatt, K., Stockdale, K. C., & Olver, M. E.* (2021). Predictive properties of a general risk-need measure in diverse justice involved youth: A prospective field validity study. Criminal Justice and Behavior. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548211004669
Rojas, E. Y., & Olver, M. E.* (2021). Juvenile psychopathy and community treatment response in youth adjudicated for sexual offenses. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X21994066
Sambrooks, K.*, Olver, M. E., Page, T., & Gannon, T. A. (2021). Firesetting reoffending: A meta-analysis. Criminal Justice and Behavior. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548211013577
Tyler, N.*, Gannon, T. A., & Olver, M. E. (2021). Does treatment for sexual offending work? Current Psychiatry Reports, 23:51, 1-8.
Zidenberg, A. M.*, Rine, S., & Olver, M. E. (2021). Correctional and forensic contexts of d/Deaf persons: Implications for assessment and treatment. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1080/10509674.2021.1948945
Olver, M. E.*, Stockdale, K. C., & Simourd, D. J. (2021). Assessment and modification of general criminal attitudes among sexual offenders. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 48, 459-480.
Schafers, C.*, Olver, M. E., & Wormith, J. S. (2021). Dynamic appraisal of intimate partner violence risk and need: Results from an outpatient treatment program. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 48, 481-501.
Wielinga, F., Margeotes, K., & Olver, M. E.* (2021). Clinical and risk relevance of intimacy and loneliness in a treated sample of men who have offended sexually. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 27, 35-51.


Publications

correctional treatment psychopathy risk assessment sexual offenders treatment change

Some reference details may be incomplete depending on stage of publication. Student co-authors under my supervision at the time of the research are underlined. Corresponding author marked with asterisk.

Refereed Journal Articles:

Cheng, J.*, Olver, M. E., Haag, A. M., & Wormith, J. S. (2022).  Trajectories and outcomes of those Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder through a Canadian forensic system. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health.
Corabian, G., Hogan, N. R., & Olver, M. E.* (2022). University campus attitudes toward persons with a history of adult sexual violence and their correlates with policy, treatment, and management. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
Hogan, N. R.*, & Olver, M. E. (2021). Consistency and construct validity of the five-level system for risk communication using static and dynamic Tools: An investigation using the Static-99R and VRS-SO. Assessment.
Olver, M. E.*, Kingston, D. A., Laferty, E. K., & Seto, M. C. (2022). Psychometric properties of common measures of hypersexuality in an online Canadian sample. Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Olver, M. E.*, Mundt, J. C., Hogan, N. R., Coupland, R. B. A., Eggert, J. E., Higgs, T., Lewis, K., Cortoni, F., Gordon, A., Morgan, P. J., & Wong, S. C. P.* (2022). Assessing dynamic violence risk: Common language risk levels and recidivism rates for the Violence Risk Scale. Psychological Assessment.
Sparks, B., Zidenberg, A. M., & Olver, M.E. (2022). Involuntary celibacy: A review of incel ideology and experiences with dating, rejection, and associated mental health and emotional sequelae. Current Psychiatry Reports.
Wirove, R. L., Olver, M. E.*, & Haag, A. M. (2022, in press). Discrimination and calibration properties of the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide-Revised in a Not Criminally Responsible provincial population. Assessment.
Zidenberg, A. M.*, Dutrisac, S., & Olver, M. E. (2022). “No Ragrets”: Public perceptions of tattooed mental health professionals. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice.
Lovatt, K. M., Stockdale, K. S., & Olver M. E.* (2022). Dynamic violence risk, protective factors, and therapeutic change in a diverse sample of court adjudicated youth. Psychological Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001071
Azizian, A.*, Olver, M. E., Rokop, J., & D’Orazio, D. (2021). A preliminary analysis of sexual recidivism and predictive validity of Static-99R in men discharged from state hospitals pursuant to California’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) act. Sexual Abuse. Ahead of print publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10790632211019726
DeMatteo, D.*, & Olver, M. E.* (2021). Use of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised in legal contexts: Validity, reliability, admissibility, and evidentiary issues. Journal of Personality Assessment. [Shared lead and corresponding authorship] Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2021.1955693
Elchuk, D. L., McPhail, I.V.*, & Olver, M. E.* (2021). Stigma-related stress, complex correlates of disclosure, mental health, and loneliness in minor attracted people. Stigma and Health. Ahead of print publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000317
Hegel, J., Pelletier, K., & Olver, M. E.* (2021). Predictive Properties of the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) in a Northern Canadian Prairie Sample. Criminal Justice and Behavior. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548211033631
Myburgh, J. O., & Olver, M. E.* (2021). A cluster analytic examination and validation of adult victim sexual offending subtypes in two Canadian samples. Sexual Offending: Theory, Research, and Prevention.
Olver, M. E.* (2021). Dynamic sexual offense risk assessment using the VRS-SO with indeterminate sentenced men. Sexual Offending: Theory, Research, and Prevention.
Olver, M. E.*, & Riemer, E. K. (2021). High psychopathy men with a history of sexual offending have protective factors too: But are these risk relevant and can they change in treatment? Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 89, 406-420.
Olver, M. E.*, & Stockdale, K. C. (2021). Sexual violence risk assessment with Indigenous men: Context, controversies, and current findings. Current Psychiatry Reports, 23:48, 1-10.
Olver, M. E.*, Thornton, D., & Beggs Christofferson, S. M. (2021). Understanding the latent structure of dynamic risk: Seeking empirical constraints on theory development using the VRS-SO and the theory of dynamic risk. Sexual Abuse. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/10790632211002858
Prince, J., Lovatt, K., Stockdale, K. C., & Olver, M. E.* (2021). Predictive properties of a general risk-need measure in diverse justice involved youth: A prospective field validity study. Criminal Justice and Behavior. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548211004669
Rojas, E. Y., & Olver, M. E.* (2021). Juvenile psychopathy and community treatment response in youth adjudicated for sexual offenses. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X21994066
Sambrooks, K.*, Olver, M. E., Page, T., & Gannon, T. A. (2021). Firesetting reoffending: A meta-analysis. Criminal Justice and Behavior. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548211013577
Tyler, N.*, Gannon, T. A., & Olver, M. E. (2021). Does treatment for sexual offending work? Current Psychiatry Reports, 23:51, 1-8.
Zidenberg, A. M.*, Rine, S., & Olver, M. E. (2021). Correctional and forensic contexts of d/Deaf persons: Implications for assessment and treatment. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1080/10509674.2021.1948945
Olver, M. E.*, Stockdale, K. C., & Simourd, D. J. (2021). Assessment and modification of general criminal attitudes among sexual offenders. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 48, 459-480.
Schafers, C.*, Olver, M. E., & Wormith, J. S. (2021). Dynamic appraisal of intimate partner violence risk and need: Results from an outpatient treatment program. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 48, 481-501.
Wielinga, F., Margeotes, K., & Olver, M. E.* (2021). Clinical and risk relevance of intimacy and loneliness in a treated sample of men who have offended sexually. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 27, 35-51.
Coupland, R. B. A., & Olver, M. E.* (2020). Assessing dynamic violence risk in a high risk treated sample of violent offenders. Assessment, 27, 1886-1900.
Coupland, R. B. A., & Olver, M. E.* (2020). Assessing protective factors in treated violent offenders: Associations with recidivism reduction and positive community outcomes. Psychological Assessment, 32, 493-508.
DeSorcy, D. R., Olver, M. E., & Wormith, J. S. (2020). Working alliance and psychopathy: Linkages to treatment outcome in a sample of treated sexual offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 35, 1739-1760.
Eher, R.*, Hofer, S., Buchgeher, A., Turner, D., & Olver, M. E. (2020). The predictive properties of psychiatric diagnoses and the change of dynamic risk assessed by the VRS-SO in forensically admitted and released sexual offenders. Frontiers of Psychiatry, 10 (922), 1-7.
Hare, R. D., Olver, M. E.*, Stockdale, K. C., Neumann, C. S., Mokros, A., Baskin-Sommers, A., Brand, E., Folino, J., Gacono, C., Gray, N. S., Kiehl, K., Knight, R., Leon-Mayer, E., Logan, M., Meloy, J. R., Roy, S., Salekin, R. T., Snowden, R., Thomson, N., Tillem, S., Vitacco, M., & Yoon, D. (2020). The PCL-R and capital sentencing: Reply to DeMatteo et al. (2020b). Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 26, 519-522.
Higgs, T.*, Olver, M. E., Nunes, K., & Cortoni, F. (2020). Risk relevance of psychometric assessment in high risk violent offenders. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 25, 219-236.
Kingston, D. A.*, Olver, M. E., Levaque, E., Sawatsky, M., Seto, M. C., & Lalumière, M. L. (2020). Establishing Canadian metrics for self-report measures used to assess hypersexuality. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 29, 65-78. [co-first authored manuscript between Kingston and Olver]
McPhail, I. V.*, & Olver, M. E. (2020). Interventions for pedohebephilic interests in sexual offenders against children: A meta-analytic review. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 47, 1319-1339.
McPhail, I. V.*, Olver, M. E., Nicholaichuk, T. P., & Haynes, A. (2020). Convergent and predictive associations of three measures of pedophilic interest. Sexual Abuse. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063220968042
Mossière, A. M.*, Olver, M. E., & Marche, T. (2020). Psychopathy, emotionality, and offending. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, 31, 520-540.
Olver, M. E.*, Beggs Christofferson, S. M., Nicholaichuk, T. P., & Wong, S. C. P. (2020). Predictive properties of the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offense version as a function of age. Assessment1-23. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191120914405
Olver, M. E.*, Kelley, S. M., Kingston, D. A., Beggs Christofferson, S. M., Thornton, D., & Wong, S.C. P. (2020). Incremental contributions of static and dynamic sexual violence risk assessment: Integrating Static-99R and VRS-SO common language risk levels. Criminal Justice and Behavior. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854820974400
Olver, M. E.*, Kingston, D. A., & Sowden, J. N. (2020). An examination of latent constructs of dynamic sexual violence risk and need as a function of Indigenous and non-Indigenous ancestry. Psychological Services. Ahead of print publication https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000414
Olver, M. E., Marshall, L. E., Marshall, W. L., & Nicholaichuk, T.P. (2020). A long-term outcome assessment of the effects on subsequent re-offense rates of a prison-based CBT/RNR sex offender treatment program with strength-based elements. Sexual Abuse, 32, 127-153.
Olver, M. E.*, Nicholaichuk, T. P., Kingston, D. K., & Wong, S. C. P. (2020). A prospective multisite examination of dynamic sexual violence risk: An extension and update to Olver, Nicholaichuk, Kingston, and Wong (2014). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 88, 362-371. 
Olver, M. E.*, & Stockdale, K. C. (2020). Assessing and managing offense analogue and offense replacement behaviors in correctional settings. Advancing Corrections, 10(3), 42-55.
Olver, M. E. * & Stockdale, K. C. (2020). Evaluating changes in men who have sexually offended: Linkages to assessment and management. Current Psychiatry Reports, 22(22), 1-10.
Olver, M. E., Stockdale, K. C., Neumann, C. S.*, Hare, R. D., Mokros, A., Baskin-Sommers, A., Brand, E., Folino, J., Gacono, C., Gray, N. S., Kiehl, K., Knight, R., Leon-Mayer, E., Logan, M., Meloy, J. R., Roy, S., Salekin, R. T., Snowden, R., Thomson, N., Tillem, S., Vitacco, M., & Yoon, D. (2020). Reliability and validity of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised in the assessment of risk for institutional violence: A cautionary note on DeMatteo et al. (2020). Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 26, 490-510.
Rojas, E. Y., & Olver, M. E. (2020). Validity and reliability of the Violence Risk Scale-Youth Sexual Offense version. Sexual Abuse, 32, 826-849.
Sparks, B., Wielinga, F., Jung, S., & Olver, M. E. (2020). Risk and criminogenic needs of individuals who perpetrated intimate partners sexual violence offenses. Sexual Offending: Theory, Research, and Prevention, 15(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.5964/sotrap.3713
Gannon, T. A.*, Olver, M. E., Mallion, J. S., & James, M. (2019). Does specialized psychological treatment for offending reduce recidivism? A meta-analysis examining staff and program variables as predictors of treatment effectiveness. Clinical Psychology Review, 73, 101752
Cheng, J., Haag, A. M., & Olver, M. E. (2019). Predictors of HCR-20:V3 summary risk ratings. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 26, 682-692.
Hogan, N. R.*, & Olver, M. E. (2019). Static and dynamic assessment of violence risk among discharged forensic patients. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 46, 923-938.
Olver, M. E., & Eher, R. (2019). Predictive properties and factor structure of the VRS-SO: Results from an Austrian sample. European Journal of Psychological Assessment. doi:10.1027/1015-5759/a000551 [E-pub ahead of print]
Sewall, L. A., & Olver, M. E.* (2019). Psychopathy and treatment outcome: Results from a sexual violence reduction program. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 10, 59-69.
Simourd, D. J.*, & Olver, M. E. (2019). Prescribed correctional treatment dosage: Cautions, commentary, and future directions. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 58, 75-91.
Toop, C.*, Olver, M. E., & Jung, S. (2019). Forensic assessment with the PAI in correctional samples: Implications for RNR. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 46, 866-883.
Hogan, N. R.*, & Olver, M. E. (2018). A prospective examination of the predictive validity of five structured instruments in the assessment of inpatient violence risk in a secure forensic hospital setting. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 17, 122-132.
Kingston, D. A.*, & Olver, M. E. (2018). Psychometric examination of treatment change among mentally disordered offenders: A risk-need analysis. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 45, 153-172. 
Kingston, D. A.*, & Olver, M. E., McDonald, J., & Cameron, C. (2018). A randomized controlled trial of a cognitive skills program for mentally disordered offenders. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 28, 369-382.
Kingston, D. A.*, Walters, G. D., Olver, M. E., Levaque, E., Sawatsky, M., & Lalumière, M. L. (2018). Understanding the latent structure of hypersexuality: A taxometric investigation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47, 2207-2221.
McDonald, M. S.*, Neumeier, M., & Olver, M. E. (2018). From linear care plan through concept map to concepto-plan: The creation of an innovative and holistic care plan. Nurse Education in Practice, 31, 171-176.
McPhail, I. V.*, Olver, M. E., Brouillette-Alarie, S., & Looman, J. (2018). Taxometric analysis of the latent structure of pedophilic interest. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47, 2223-2240.
Olver, M. E.*, Coupland, R. B. A., & Kurtenbach, T. J. E. (2018). Risk-need-responsivity applications of the MMPI-2 in sexual offender assessment. Psychology, Crime & Law, 24, 806-830.
Olver, M.E.*, & Helmus, L. M. (2018). Canadian content, contexts, current practices, and controversies in sexual violence risk assessment. Sexual Offender Treatment, 1/2, 1-10.
Olver, M. E.*, & Kingston, D. A. (2018). Discrimination and calibration properties of the Level of Service Inventory-Ontario Revision in a correctional mental health sample. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 46, 5-23.
Olver, M. E.*, Mundt, J. C., Thornton, D., Beggs Christofferson, S. M., Kingston, D. A., Sowden, J. N., Nicholaichuk, T. P., Gordon, A., & Wong, S. C. P. (2018). Using the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offense Version in sexual violence risk assessments: Updated risk categories and recidivism estimates from a multisite sample of treated sexual offenders. Psychological Assessment, 30, 941-955.
Olver, M. E.*, Neumann, C. S., Kingston, D. A., Nicholaichuk, T. P., & Wong, S. C.P. (2018). Construct validity of the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offender version instrument in a multisite sample of treated sexual offenders. Assessment, 25, 40-55.
Olver, M. E.*, Neumann, C. S., Sewall, L. A., Lewis, K., Hare, R. D., & Wong, S. C. P. (2018). A comprehensive examination of the psychometric properties of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised in a Canadian multisite sample of Indigenous and non-Indigenous offenders. Psychological Assessment, 30, 779-792.
Olver, M. E.*, & Sewall, L. A. (2018). Cross-validation of the discrimination and calibration properties of the VRAG-R in a treated sexual offender sample. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 45, 741-761.
Olver, M. E.*, Sowden, J. N., Kingston, D. A., Nicholaichuk, T. P., Gordon, A., Beggs Christofferson, S. M., & Wong, S. C. P. (2018). Predictive accuracy of Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offender version risk and change scores in treated Canadian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 30, 254-275.
Sewall, L. A., & Olver, M. E.* (2018). Sexual offender treatment outcomes among psychopathy subtypes. Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, 4, 161-173.
Coveney, A. N., & Olver, M. E.* (2017). Defense mechanism and coping strategy use associated with self-reported eating pathology in a nonclinical sample. Psychreg Journal of Psychology, 1(2), 18-39.
Howell, M. J., Beggs Christofferson, S. M.*, & Olver, M. E. (2017). Evaluating the inter-rater reliability of the Violence Risk Scale – Sexual Offense Version (VRS-SO) in a community-based treatment setting. Sexual Offender Treatment, 13 (1), 1-14.
Marshall, W. L.*, Marshall, L. E., & Olver, M. E. (2017). An evaluation of a strength-based approach to the treatment of sex offenders: A review. Journal of Criminal Psychology, 7, 221-228.
McPhail, I. V.*, Olver, M. E., & Brooks, C. (2017). Taking the pulse: Perceptions of crime trends and community safety and support for crime control methods in the Canadian Prairies. Journal of Community Safety and Well-being, 2, 43-50.
Olver, M. E.*, & Jung, S. (2017). Incremental prediction of intimate partner violence: An examination of three risk measures. Law and Human Behavior, 41, 440-453
Olver, M. E.*, & Stockdale, K. C. (2017). Convergent and predictive validity of the Jesness Inventory in a sample of serious juvenile offenders. Assessment, 24, 865-884.
Sowden, J. N., & Olver, M. E.* (2017). Use of the Violence Risk Scale Sexual Offender Version and the Stable 2007 to assess sexual offender treatment change. Psychological Assessment, 29, 293-303.
Sowden, J. N., & Olver, M. E.* (2017). Sexual offender treatment readiness, responsivity, and change: Linkages to treatment completion and recidivism. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 13, 97-108. *Winner of International Association of Forensic Nurses 2017 Research Article of the Year
Yang, M.*, Guo, B., Olver, M. E., Polaschek, D., & Wong, S. C. P. (2017). Assessing associations between changes in risk and subsequent re-offending: An introduction to relevant statistical models. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 44, 59-84.
Burt, G. N., Olver, M. E.*, & Wong, S. C. P. (2016). Investigating characteristics of the nonrecidivating psychopathic offender. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 43, 1741-1760.
DeSorcy, D. R., Olver, M. E.*, & Wormith, J. S. (2016). Working alliance and its relationship to treatment completion, recidivism, and ancestry in a sample of treated sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 28, 291-313. 
Dyer, T., & Olver, M. E.* (2016). The interrelationships of self-reported psychopathic traits, sexual fantasy, and hypersexuality in an adult community sample. Sexual Offender Treatment, 12 (2), 1-18.
Hogan, N. R., & Olver, M. E.* (2016). Assessing risk for aggression in forensic psychiatric inpatients: An examination of five measures. Law and Human Behavior, 40, 233-243.
Kingston, D. A.*, Olver, M. E., Harris, M., Booth, B. D., Gulati, S., & Cameron, C. (2016). The relationship between mental illness and violence in a mentally disordered offender sample: Evaluating criminological and psychopathological predictors. Psychology, Crime, and Law, 22, 678-700.
Olver, M. E.* (2016). Treatment of psychopathic offenders: Evidence, issues, and controversies. Journal of Community Safety and Well-being, 1, 75-82.
Olver, M. E.* (2016). Some considerations on the use of actuarial and related forensic measures with diverse correctional populations. Journal of Threat Assessment and Management, 3, 107-121.
Olver, M. E.*, Klepfisz, G., Stockdale, K. C., Kingston, D. A., Nicholaichuk, T. P., & Wong, S. C. P. (2016). Some notes on the validation of VRS-SO static scores. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 22, 147-160.
White, B. A.*, Olver, M. E., & Lilienfeld, S. O. (2016). Psychopathy: A primer on its relevance, nature, assessment, development, and treatment. The Behavior Therapist, 39, 154-161.
Simourd, D. J.*, Olver, M. E., Brandenburg, B. (2016). Criminal attitudes among incarcerated offenders: Examination of a structured treatment program. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 60, 1425-1445.
Eher, R.*, Olver, M. E., Heurix, I., Schilling, F., & Rettenberger, M. (2015). Predicting sexual re-offense in pedophilic child molesters: Exploring the utility of risk assessment instruments and clinical diagnoses. Law and Human Behavior, 39, 571-580.
Woods, P.*, Olver, M. E., & Mueller, M. (2015). Implementing violence and incident reporting measures on a forensic mental health unit. Psychology, Crime, and Law, 21, 973-986.
Kingston, D. A.*, Olver, M. E., Harris, M., Wong, S. C. P., & Bradford, J. M. (2015). The relationship between mental disorder and recidivism in sexual offenders. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 14, 10-22.
Olver, M. E.*, Beggs Christofferson, S. M., & Wong, S. C. P. (2015). Evaluation and applications of the clinically significant change method with the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offender version: Implications for risk-change communication. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 33, 92-110.
Olver, M. E.*, Sewall, L. A., Sarty, G. E., Lewis, K., & Wong, S. C. P. (2015). A cluster analytic investigation and external validation of psychopathic offender subtypes in a multisite sample of Canadian federal offenders. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 124, 355-371.
Olver, M. E.*, & Wong, S. C. P. (2015). Short and long-term recidivism prediction of the PCL-R and the effects of age: A 24-year follow-up. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 6, 97-105.
Riopka, S. J., Coupland, R. B. A., & Olver, M. E.* (2015). Self-reported psychopathy and its association with criminal thinking styles and self-reported delinquency in a sample of university undergraduates. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 47, 216-225.
Wong, S. C. P.*, & Olver, M. E. (2015). Risk reduction treatment of psychopathy: Application to the mentally disordered. CNS Spectrums, 20, 303-310.
Brad, C. A., Coupland, R. B. A., & Olver, M. E.* (2014). An examination of mental health, hostility, and typology in homicide offenders. Homicide Studies, 18, 323-341.
Guebert, A. F., & Olver, M. E.* (2014). An examination of criminogenic needs, mental health concerns, and recidivism in a sample of violent young offenders: Implications for risk, need, and responsivity. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 13, 295-310.
Kingston, D. A.*, Yates, P. M., & Olver, M. E. (2014). The self-regulation model of sexual offending: The relationship to within-treatment change and post-treatment recidivism. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 26, 429-449.
Nicholaichuk, T. P.*, Olver, M. E., Gu, D., & Wong, S. C. P. (2014). Age, actuarial risk, and long-term recidivism in a national sample of sex offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 26, 406-428.
Olver, M. E.*, Beggs Christofferson, S. M., Grace, R. C., & Wong, S. C. P. (2014). Incorporating change information into sexual offender risk assessments using the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offender version. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 26, 472-499.
Olver, M. E.*, Kingston, D. A., Nicholaichuk, T. P., & Wong, S. C. P. (2014). A psychometric examination of treatment change in a multisite sample of treated Canadian federal sexual offenders. Law and Human Behavior, 38, 544-559.
Olver, M. E.*, Nicholaichuk, T. P., Kingston, D. A., & Wong S. C. P. (2014). A multisite examination of sexual violence risk and therapeutic change. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82, 312-324.
Olver, M. E.*, Nicholaichuk, T. P., & Wong, S. C. P. (2014). The predictive and concurrent validity of a psychometric battery used to assess sex offenders in a treatment program: An 18-year follow up. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 20, 216-239.
Olver, M. E.*, Stockdale, K. C., & Wormith, J. S. (2014). Thirty years of research on the Level of Service scales: A meta-analytic examination of predictive accuracy and sources of variability. Psychological Assessment, 26, 156-176.
Stockdale, K. C.*, Olver, M. E., & Wong, S. C. P. (2014). Validity and reliability of the Violence Risk Scale-Youth Version in a diverse sample of violent young offenders. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 41, 114-138.
Lewis, K.*, Olver, M. E., & Wong, S. C. P. (2013). The Violence Risk Scale: Predictive validity and linking treatment changes with recidivism in a sample of high risk offenders with psychopathic traits. Assessment, 20, 150-164 
Mitchell, D.*, Tafrate, R. C., Hogan, T., & Olver, M. E. (2013). An exploration of the association between criminal thinking and community program attrition.  Journal of Criminal Justice, 41, 81-89.
Nicholaichuk, T. P.*, Olver, M. E., Gu, D., & Takahashi, Y. (2013). Correctional careers of dangerous offenders. The Criminal Law Quarterly, 59, 487-497.
Olver, M. E.*, Lewis, K., & Wong, S. C. P. (2013). Risk reduction treatment of high risk psychopathic offenders: The relationship of psychopathy and treatment change to violent recidivism. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 4, 160-167.
Olver, M. E.*, Neumann, C. S.*, Wong, S. C. P., & Hare, R. D. (2013). The structural and predictive properties of the PCL-R in Canadian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal offenders. Psychological Assessment, 25, 167-179
Olver, M. E.*, Nicholaichuk, T. P., Gu, D., & Wong, S. C. P. (2013). Sex offender treatment outcome, actuarial risk, and the aging sex offender in Canadian corrections: A long-term follow-up. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 25, 396-422.
Olver, M. E.*, & Wong, S. C. P. (2013). Treatment programs for high risk sexual offenders: Program and offender characteristics, attrition, treatment change, and recidivism. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 18, 579-591.
Olver, M. E.*, & Wong, S. C. P. (2013). A description and research review of the Clearwater Sex Offender Treatment Program. Psychology, Crime & Law, 19, 477-492.
Wong, S. C. P.*, Olver, M. E., & Nicholaichuk, T. P. (2013). Assessing risk change in sexual offender treatment using the Violence Risk Scale - Sexual Offender version: A brief overview. Sexual Offender Treatment, 8 (1), 1-8.
Hanson, R. K.*, Letourneau, E. J., Olver, M. E., Wilson, R. J., & Miner, M. H. (2012). Incentives for offender research participation are both ethical and practical. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 39, 1391-1404.
Olver, M. E.*, Stockdale, K. C.*, & Wong, S. C P. (2012). Short and long-term prediction of recidivism using the YLS/CMI in a sample of serious young offenders. Law and Human Behavior, 36, 331-344. [co-first authorship]
Wong, S. C. P.*, Gordon, A., Gu, D., Lewis, K., & Olver, M. E. (2012). The effectiveness of violence reduction treatment for psychopathic offenders: Empirical evidence and a treatment model. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 11, 336-349.
Helmus, L.*, Babchishin, K. M., Camilleri, J. A., & Olver, M. E. (2011). Forensic psychology opportunities in Canadian graduate programs: An update of Simourd and Wormith's (1995) survey. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 52, 122-127.
Olver, M. E.*, Preston, D. L., Camilleri, J. A., Helmus, L., & Starzomski, A. (2011). A survey of clinical psychology training in Canadian federal corrections: Implications for psychologist recruitment and retention. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 52, 310-320.
Olver, M. E.*, Stockdale, K. C., & Wormith, J. S. (2011). A meta-analysis of predictors of offender treatment attrition and its relationship to recidivism. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79, 6-21.
Simourd, D. J.*, & Olver, M. E. (2011). Use of the Self-Improvement Orientation Scheme-Self Report (SOS-SR) among incarcerated offenders. Psychological Services, 8, 200-211.
Olver, M. E.*, & Wong, S. C. P. (2011). Predictors of sex offender treatment dropout: Psychopathy, sex offender risk, and responsivity implications. Psychology, Crime, and Law, 17, 457-471.
Olver, M. E.*, & Wong, S. C. P. (2011). A comparison of static and dynamic assessment of sexual offender risk and need in a treatment context. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 38, 113-126.
Olver, M. E.*, & Barlow, A. A. (2010). Public attitudes towards sex offenders and their relationship to personality traits and demographic characteristics. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 28, 832-849.
Olver, M. E.*, & Stockdale, K. C. (2010). Psychopathy and youth violence: Research, controversies, and clinical utility. British Journal of Forensic Practice, 12 (2), 3-13.
Stockdale, K. C.*, Olver, M. E.*, & Wong, S. C. P. (2010). The Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version and adolescent and adult recidivism: Considerations with respect to gender, ethnicity, and age. Psychological Assessment, 22, 768-781. [co-first authorship]
Canales, D. D., Olver, M. E.*, & Wong, S. C. P. (2009). Construct validity of the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offender version for measuring sexual deviance. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 21, 474-492.
Olver, M. E.*, Stockdale, K. C., & Wormith, J. S. (2009). Risk assessment with young offenders: A meta-analysis of three assessment measures. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 36, 329-353.
Olver, M. E.*, & Wong, S. C. P. (2009). Therapeutic responses of psychopathic sexual offenders: Treatment attrition, therapeutic change, and long term recidivism. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77, 328-336. 
Olver, M. E.*, Wong, S. C. P., & Nicholaichuk, T. (2009). Outcome evaluation of a high intensity sex offender treatment program. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24, 522-536.
Olver, M. E.*, Wong, S. C. P., Nicholaichuk, T., & Gordon, A. (2007). The validity and reliability of the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offender version: Assessing sex offender risk and evaluating therapeutic change. Psychological Assessment, 19, 318-329.
Wormith, J. S.*, Olver, M. E., Stevenson, H. E., & Girard, L. (2007). The long term prediction of offender recidivism using diagnostic, personality, and risk/need approaches to offender assessment. Psychological Services 4, 287-305.
Olver, M. E.*, & Wong, S. C. P. (2006). Psychopathy, sexual deviance, and recidivism among sex offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 18, 65-82.
Simourd, D. J.*, & Olver, M. E. (2002). The future of criminal attitudes research and practice. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 29, 427-446.
Wormith, J. S.*, & Olver, M. E. (2002). Offender treatment attrition and its relationship with risk, responsivity, and recidivism. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 29, 447-471.
Edens, J. F.*, Hart, S. D., Johnson, D. W., Johnson, J. K., & Olver, M. E. (2000). Use of the Personality Assessment Inventory to assess psychopathy in offender populations. Psychological Assessment, 12, 132-139. [authorship order is alphabetical]


Book Chapters:

Morgan, R. D., & Olver, M. E. (2022). Envisioning the future of correctional psychology administration, training, practice, and research. To appear in P. Magaletta, M. Ternes, & M. Patry (Eds.) The history and future of correctional psychology. Springer.
Olver, M. E., & Riemer, E. K. (2022). Interrelations of psychopathy, sexual violence, and protective factors to recidivism. To appear in C. R. Martin, V. B. Patel, & V. R. Preedy (Eds.) Anger, aggression, and violence: Causes, pathology and treatments. Springer.
Olver, M. E., Rine, S., & Fairholm, M. (2022). What works for assessing recidivism risk in people convicted of intimate partner violence. To appear in L. A. Craig, L. Dixon, and T. A. Gannon (Eds.) The Wiley handbook of what works in offender rehabilitation: An evidence-based approach to theory, assessment and treatment (2nd Edition). Wiley.
Olver, M. E., & Stockdale, K. C. (2022). Correctional programming: Evidence-based programs, policies, and practices. To appear in Verona, E., & Fox, B. (Eds.) Handbook of Evidence-Based Criminal Justice Practices. Routledge.
Olver, M. E. (2022). Best practices in sexual recidivism risk assessment. To appear in R. Tully, G. Bohall, and J. Singh (Eds.) Best practices in sexual offender assessment and management. Springer.
Olver, M. E., & Riemer, E. K. (2022). Personality disorders, psychopathy, and sexual offending. To appear in R. Tully, G. Bohall, and J. Singh (Eds.) Best practices in sexual offender assessment and management. Springer.
Olver, M. E. (2022). Treatment of psychopathic offenders: A review of research, past, and current practice. In M. Paulino, P. Marques, and L. Alho (Eds.) Psychopathy and criminal behavior: Current trends and challenges. Elsevier.
Olver, M. E., & Stockdale, K. C. (2022). Can “gender neutral” risk assessment tools be used with women and girls? If so, how? In S. L. Brown and L. Gelsthorpe (Eds.) The Wiley handbook on what works with female offenders: A critical review of theory, practice, and policy. Wiley.
Olver, M. E., & Wong, S. C. P. (2020). Two treatment and change oriented risk assessment tools: The Violence Risk Scale and the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offense version. In K. S. Douglas and R. Otto (Eds.) Handbook of violence risk assessment, second edition (pp. ). Routledge. [Substantial chapter revision for second edition of the handbook]
Hogan, N. R., & Olver, M. E. (2019). Mental illness as a predictor of crime and recidivism. In R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (2: 872-875). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Hogan, N. R., & Olver, M. E. (2019). Mental health treatment planning. In R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (2: 862-865). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Olver, M. E. (2019). Mixed sexual offenders. In R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (2: 904-906). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Olver, M. E. (2019). Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide. In R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (3: 1339-1342). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Olver, M. E. (2019). Statistical Information on Recidivism scale. In R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (4: 1459-1462). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Olver, M. E. (2019). Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offender version (VRS-SO). In R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (4: 1644-1646). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Olver, M. E. (2020). Personality-based violence risk assessment. In J. S. Wormith, L. A. Craig, and T. Hogue (Eds.) What works in violence risk assessment: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 203-222). Cichester, UK: Wiley.
Olver, M. E., & Stockdale, K. C. (2019). Criminal risk Assessment: Juvenile offending. In R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (1: 290-293). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Olver, M. E., & Stockdale, K. C. (2019). Offender treatment attrition. In R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (3: 984-987). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Olver, M. E., & Stockdale, K. C. (2019). Offender treatment attrition and retention: Responsivity issues. In R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (3: 987-990). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Olver, M. E., & Wong, S. C. P. (2019). Offender risk and need assessment: Theory, research, and applications. In D. Polaschek, A. Day, and C. Hollin (Eds.) The handbook of correctional psychology (461-475). Cichester, UK: Wiley.
Olver, M. E., & Wong, S. C. P. (2019). Psychopathic offenders: Ineffective treatment programs. In R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (3: 1156-1159). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Olver, M. E., & Wong, S. C. P. (2019). Psychopathic offenders: Promising treatment programs. In R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (3: 1159-1163). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Olver, M. E., & Wong, S. C. P. (2019). Psychopathic offenders: Treatment challenges and controversies. In R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (3: 1163-1166). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Olver, M. E., & Wong, S. C. P. (2019). Psychopathic offenders: Treatment of. To appear in R. D. Morgan (Ed.) The SAGE encyclopedia of criminal psychology (3: 1149-1152. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Olver, M. E. (2018). Psychopathy and sex offender recidivism. In M. Delisi (Ed.) Routledge international handbook of psychopathy and crime (pp. 598-609). New York, NY: Routledge.
Olver, M. E. (2018). Can psychopathy be treated?  What the research tells us. In E. Jeglic and C. Caulkins (Eds.) New frontiers in offender treatment – The translation of evidence-based practices to correctional settings (pp. 287-306). New York, NY: Springer.
Olver, M. E., & Stockdale, K. C. (2018). Assessment and treatment of violent offenders. In M. Ternes, P. Magaletta, and M. Patry (Eds.) The practice of correctional psychology (pp. 143-172). New York, NY: Springer.
Olver, M. E. & Wong, S. C. P. (2018). Psychopathy and risk assessment. In M. Delisi (Ed.) Routledge international handbook of psychopathy and crime (pp. 665-683). New York, NY: Routledge.
Olver, M. E., & Stockdale, K. C. (2017). Young high risk forensic populations: Assessment treatment, and risk management. In J. L. Ireland, D. A. Ireland, N. Gredecki, and M. Fisher (Eds.) International handbook of forensic psychology in secure settings (pp. 5-24)Oxon, UK: Taylor & Francis.
Wong, S. C. P., Stockdale, K. C., & Olver, M. E. (2017). Violence reduction treatment of psychopathy. In P. Sturmey (Ed.) The Wiley handbook of violence and aggression (pp. 1-14). Cichester, UK: Wiley.
Olver, M. E. (2016). The risk-need-responsivity model and sexual offender treatment. W. L. Marshall and L. Marshall (Eds.) The Wiley-Blackwell handbook on the assessment, treatment, and theories of sexual offending (Volume: Treatment) (pp. 1313-1329). Cichester, UK: Wiley.
Olver, M. E., & Wong, S. C. P. (2016). Assessing treatment change in sex offenders. L. A. Craig and M. Rettenberger (Eds.) The Wiley-Blackwell handbook on the assessment, treatment, and theories of sexual offending (Volume: Assessment) (pp. 787-810). Cichester, UK: Wiley.
Olver, M. E., & Wong, S. C. P. (2015). Assessing sexual violence risk and evaluating change with the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offender version. A. Phenix and H. Hoberman (Eds.) Sexual offenders: Diagnosis, risk assessment, and management (pp. 547-569). New York: Springer.
Olver, M. E., & Wong, S. C. P. (2014). Assessment and treatment of sex offenders. In L. Grossman and S. Wallfish (Eds.) Translating research into practice: A desk reference for practicing mental health professionals (pp. 477-481). New York, NY: Springer.
Olver, M. E., & Daniels, T. (2013). Working outside the box with incarcerated men. In A. B. Rochlen and F. E. Rabinowitz (Eds.) Breaking Barriers in Counseling Men: Insights and Innovations (pp. 135-145)New York, NY: Routledge
Wong, S. C. P., & Olver, M. E. (2010). Two treatment and change oriented risk assessment tools: The Violence Risk Scale and the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offender version. In R. Otto and K. S. Douglas (Eds.) Handbook of violence risk assessment (pp. 121-146). New York: Routledge.
Wong, S. C. P., Olver, M. E., & Stockdale, K. C. (2009). The utility of static and dynamic factors in risk assessment, prediction, and treatment. In J. Andrade (Ed.) Handbook of violence risk assessment and treatment: New approaches for mental health professionals (pp. 83-120). New York, NY: Springer.


Teaching & Supervision

Teaching Interests: Courses Taught

Psychology 110 (120/121): Introduction to Psychology

Psychology 222: Personality

Psychology 223: Abnormal Psychology

Psychology 230: Criminal Behavior

Psychology 472/473: Honors Seminar

Psychology 812: Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Psychology

Psychology 813: Assessment I (T1): Personality Testing and Clinical Interviewing

Psychology 814: Assessment I (T2): Intelligence and Psychoeducational Assessment

Psychology 902: Clinical Psychology Practicum

 

Research and Clinical Supervision

My graduate and honors students, as would be anticipated, carry out projects consistent with my research interests (see Research Page) and some of their projects have included: 1) validating a youth sexual violence treatment planning and risk assessment measure on a sample of youth convicted for sex offending, 2) examining the relationship of treatment readiness and change to long-term recidivism in a sample of men treated for sex offending at the RPC, 3) psychopathic persons, including the response of high psychopathy persons with sex offense conviction histories to treatment and the portrayal of violent psychopathic persons in the media, 4) treatment change and protective factors in treated men convicted for violence offenses and links to institutional and community violence, 5) dynamic risk assessment of institutional aggression in psychiatric inpatients, and 6) public perceptions of persons who commit sex offenses, their response to risk management efforts, and the potential policy implications therein.  

I am a clinical psychologist by training and prior to my academic appointment at the U of S, I worked as a clinician fulltime with justice involved youth for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (Saskatoon area), did contract assessment work at the RPC, and worked for a year at Stony Mountain Institution just north of Winnipeg. I continue to be clinically active and participate in training and supervision, including some clinical work with correctional clients.

 

Current Graduate and Honors Students Supervised

Madison Fairholm (Yr 1 MA-Ph.D. transfer, Clinical Psychology): topic: Intimate partner violence risk assessment

Emily Riemer (Yr 3 Ph.D., Clinical Psychology): topic: Psychopathy and links to treatment changes in sexual violence risk and protective factors

Sydney Rine (Yr 5 Ph.D., Clinical Psychology): topic: Violence risk assessment and management in persons found NCRMD

Fernando Larrea (Yr 6 Ph.D., Culture, Health, and Human Development): topic: Pedophilia and its association with child sexually explicit material use 


Previous Graduate Students and Thesis Title (convocation year)

Darryl Quinlan (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, fall, 2022). Is martial arts training beneficial to mental health? The devil is in the details. External examiner: Dr. Kim Dorsch

Brandon Sparks (Ph.D., Culture, Health, and Human Development, fall 2022). Swiping away tears: Incels, dating applications, and social supports. External examiner: Dr. Heather Moulden

Farron Wielinga (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, fall 2022). Use of dynamic risk to assess sexual violence risk in a community-supervised sample of men with sexual violence convictions. External examiner: Dr. Alberto Choy

Carissa Augustyn (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, spring 2022). An examination of psychopathy, self-reported treatment change, and recidivism in a sample of federally incarcerated men who have sexually offended. External examiner: Dr. Jeffrey Abracen

Nicole Callan (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, spring 2022). Dangerous offenders: An analysis of judicial sentencing decisions. External examiner: Dr. Thomas Dalby

Alexandra Zidenberg (Ph.D., Applied Social Psychology, fall 2021). Toward a greater understanding of the assessment, psychological correlates, and management of human perpetrated sexual behaviour toward animals. External examiner: Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic. 

Jeremy Cheng (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, fall 2021). Evaluating tribunal decision to release or detain those Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder. External examiner: Dr. Ashley Batastini 

Kristine Lovatt (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, fall 2020). An examination of risk, need, and protective factors among Saskatchewan young offenders: Implications for risk management and community reintegration. (co-supervised with Dr. Keira Stockdale) External examiner: Dr. Jodi Viljoen

Robi Wirove  (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, fall 2020). Being found Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder in Alberta: Population gender differences and violence prediction with the VRAG-R. External examiner: Dr. Daryl Kroner

Ian McPhail (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, fall 2020). Conceptual and empirical issues in pedohebephilic interest. External examiner: Dr. Raymond Knight

Gabriela Corbian (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, fall 2017): Public perceptions of policy for sex offender intervention and reintegration. External examiner: Dr. Kevin Nunes

Neil Hogan (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, fall 2016). Assessing risk for inpatient violence on high-security psychiatric units. External examiner: Dr. Tonia Nicholls

Darryl Quinlan (M.A., Clinical Psychology, spring 2016). Is humor good for your health? Examining the associations of hostility and humor styles to resting blood pressure. External examiner: Dr. Kent Kowalski

Lindsay Sewall (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, fall 2015). The treatment of psychopathic sexual offenders: Exploring the influence of risk change, subtype, and adaptation on recidivism. External examiner: Dr. Adelle Forth

Richard Coupland (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, spring 2015). An examination of dynamic risk, protective factors, and treatment-related change in violent offenders. External examiner: Dr. Devon Polaschek

Matthew Burnett (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, spring 2014). Psychopathy: Exploring Canadian mass newspaper representations thereof and violent offender talk thereon. External examiner: Dr. Thomas Dalby

Justina Sowden (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, spring 2014). Examining the relationship of risk, treatment readiness, and therapeutic change to recidivism in a sample of treated sex offenders.  External examiner: Dr. Kevin Nunes

Danielle DeSorcy (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, spring 2013). Working Alliance and its Relationship with Aboriginal Ancestry, Psychopathy, Treatment Completion, and Recidivism in a Sample of Federal Sex Offenders. (Co-supervised with Dr. Steve Wormith) External examiner: Dr. Guy Bourgon

Erika Rojas (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, spring 2013). Violence Risk Assessment with Youth who have Sexually Offended: A Psychometric Examination of the Violence Risk Scale: Youth Sexual Offender Version (VRS: YSO). External examiner: Dr. James Worling

 

Previous Honors Students and Thesis Title (convocation year)

Jennifer Hegel (2020). Psychometric properties of the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment in a Northern Saskatchewan population.

Jessica Prince (2020). Predicting Recidivism using the Level of Service Inventory-Saskatchewan Version: Implications for Gender and Ancestry.

Desiree Elchuk (2019). Mental health and offence-related behavior in pedohebephilic individuals: Associations with interpersonal relationships, sexual functioning, internalized pedophobia, and loneliness. (Co-supervised with Ian McPhail)

Emily Riemer (2019). Profiles of protective factors in psychopathic sexual offenders and their associations with treatment outcome. 

Ashley Coveney (2016). Examining the Interrelationships of Eating Behaviours, Personal Attitudes, and Stress Responses.

Tessa Dyer (2016). Self-Reported Psychopathy, Sexual Fantasies, Interests, and Behavioral Urges.

John-Etienne Myburgh (2015). Cluster analysis of rapist subtypes using the VRS-SO.

Andrea Guebert (2013). An Examination of Criminogenic Needs, Mental Health Concerns, and Substance Abuse in a Sample of Violent Young Offenders.

Samantha Riopka (2013). Self-Reported Psychopathy and its Association with Criminal Thinking Styles and Motivation to Change in a Sample of University Undergraduates. (Co-supervised with Richard Coupland)

Curtis Brad (2012). Psychological Characteristics of Sexual Murderers. (Co-supervised with Richard Coupland).

Ashley Viklund (2010). Validity and Reliability of the VRS-SO.

Marisha Wagner (2009). Cognitive Profiles and Criminal Behavior.

Donaldo Canales (2008). An Examination of the Concurrent Validity of Psychometric and Phallometric Measures of Sexual Deviance.

 

 

Research

Adult Forensics Forensic Psychology Psychopathology Sex offender risk assessment and treatment criminal attitudes psychopathy recidivism prediction risk sexual deviance young offenders

Sexual violence risk assessment and treatment, psychopathy, human sexuality and sexual diversity, recidivism prediction, criminal attitudes, justice involved youth

My research interests are quite broad and varied. Essentially I am interested in anything having to do with correctional and forensic assessment and treatment, youth and adult. More specifically, I am interested in the assessment of recidivism risk and dangerousness and how risk can be managed or reduced and recidivism prevented. Of particular interest to me is how correctional populations make changes to their offending behavior, and to what extent these personal changes, especially if they are risk relevant, translate into subsequent reductions in recidivism. Much of my work has been with men who have histories of sexual offending, including to what extent increasing age (and aging) matters to mitigate risk, the effectiveness of specialized sexual offense treatment in reducing recidivism, and evaluating program-specific treatment change and its relationship to risk and recidivism reduction. These interests have extended to psychopathic persons and the extent to which this population can make risk related changes and move on to lives that are characterized by less violence. This body of work has occurred largely in partnership with the Correctional Service of Canada and the Regional Psychiatric Centre (RPC). I also have an interest in meta-analysis of applied issues in clinical-forensic psychology and have completed projects examining issues such as the predictive efficacy of major risk assessment tools with youth and adult justice populations, juvenile psychopathy, and the prediction of correctional treatment attrition and its relationship to recidivism.

Education & Training

B.A. (Hons), Simon Fraser University, 1997

Ph.D., University of Saskatchewan, 2003

Pre-doctoral internship, Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba, 2002-2003

Registered Doctoral Psychologist (SKCP #634) 2003-present (full practice with APE)