4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Evaluating Risk in Child Pornography Offenders is presented by Kostas A. Katsavdakis, PhD, ABPP, in partnership with The American Academy of Forensic Psychology.

The focus of this program is the assessment of persons found in possession of child pornography, including those with no known history of contact offenses. After a brief discussion of relevant ethical and legal considerations, reviewed are interviewing techniques and Forensic assessment instruments for use in these evaluations. Next reviewed are risk factors for offending, followed by a discussion of how emerging technology and encryption systems are used to solicit and exploit child victims.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe key legal and ethical issues specific to assessing child pornography offenders
  • 2 Describe and use tools that are of value with respect to structuring judgments about offense risk with child pornography offenders
  • 3 Describe risk and motivating factors for child pornography offenders
  • 4 Describe how emerging technology, including the “Dark Web” is utilized to solicit and exploit victims

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals involved in the forensic assessment of individuals found in possession of child pornography. The program addresses the evaluation of sexual offending risk, the impact of emerging technology-related risks, and the application of ethical and legal considerations in forensic practice.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Psychologists
    • Psychiatrists
    • Social Workers
    • Counselors
    • Other Allied Mental Health Professionals

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for mental health professionals at various stages of experience in forensic assessment related to child pornography offenses.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to forensic assessment of child pornography offenders and seek foundational knowledge of legal, ethical, and risk assessment principles.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience with forensic assessment or related clinical work and are looking to deepen their skills in using structured tools, interviewing techniques, and understanding risk factors and technology-facilitated offenses.

  • Practice Setting

    Practitioners work in secure, legally mandated forensic mental health environments, conducting court-related evaluations, structured interviews, and risk assessments for technology-facilitated sexual offenses under strict ethical and legal safeguards. Their work spans institutional and outpatient contexts within the criminal justice system, collaborating with legal, supervision, and digital forensics teams to prepare reports and testimony.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Forensic hospitals and clinics
    • Correctional and detention mental health units
    • Court-affiliated forensic evaluation services
    • Community-based outpatient forensic assessment centers
    • Private forensic practices contracted by courts/probation
    • Academic medical center forensic programs
    • Teleforensic evaluations conducted under court order
Presented By

Kostas A. Katsavdakis, PhD, ABPP

Kostas A. Katsavdakis, Ph.D., ABPP is board-certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology, is an Associate Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and is in independent practice in New York. He has evaluated defendants charged with violent sexual and violent non-sexual offenses. Dr. Katsavdakis also conducts threat assessments for the United States Attorney’s Office Work Trauma Services.  In addition to his forensic work, he also treats adults and juveniles.


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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Discuss relevant ethical and legal considerations

  • Review interviewing techniques and Forensic assessment instruments for use in these evaluations

  • Review risk factors for offending

  • Discuss how emerging technology and encryption systems are used to solicit and exploit child victims

We are proud to partner with

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

We are proud to partner with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for this training. AAFP is a non-profit organization of board-certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research, and practice. The Academy does this by providing high-quality continuing education workshops, providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.

Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.