20 Hours / 20 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on the Evaluation of Risk for Sexual Violence using the SVR-20 V2 is presented by Stephen Hart, Ph.D. in partnership with Protect International Risk and Safety Services.

Sexual violence—and, in particular, the diversity of both sexual violence and the people who commit sexual violence—presents tremendous challenges for professionals responsible for assessment and treatment. Actuarial risk assessment methods, which focus on identifying risk levels based on statistical profiles, do little to assist in the identification of critical risk factors or the development of management plans in a given case. In this program, Dr. Hart discusses the use of structured professional judgment (SPJ) guidelines in sexual violence risk assessment. He begins by reviewing the SPJ approach, highlighting its potential strengths with respect to developing case formulations and management plans. Next, he describes the Sexual Violence Risk-20 Version 2 (SVR-20 V2) and its administrative procedures, focusing on its application to developing formulations (case conceptualizations) and management plans. Finally, participants practice the administration of the SVR-20 V2 in case studies.


Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the SPJ approach to violence risk assessment
  • 2 Describe the diversity of sexual violence
  • 3 Describe diversity of people who commit sexual violence
  • 4 Describe the challenges professionals face during assessment and treatment
  • 5 Describe the risk levels based on statistical profiles
  • 6 Describe the administration procedures for the SVR-20 V2
  • 7 Describe the use of the SVR-20 V2 for developing case conceptualizations and management plans
  • 8 Demonstrate administration of the SVR-20 V2
  • 9 Describe the SVR-20 V2 through case studies
  • 10 Describe the strengths of the structured professional judgment approach in guiding the development of case formulations and management plans for sexual violence risk
  • Intended Audience

    This comprehensive training is designed for professionals at any stage of their career who are interested in or currently engaged in sexual violence risk assessment. It is suitable for individuals specializing in forensic psychology, criminal justice, victim services, clinical work, and related disciplines who are considering the implementation of the SVR-20 or similar tools. The program provides essential knowledge and practical skills for those working with or supporting populations at risk for or impacted by sexual violence.

    • Mental Health Professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, social workers)
    • Forensic psychologists and clinicians
    • Criminal justice professionals (probation, parole, law enforcement, corrections)
    • Victim services providers and advocates
    • Health care professionals (nurses, physicians, allied health)
    • Social service agency staff
    • Security and risk management personnel
    • Educators and school counselors
    • Human resources professionals
    • Anyone working with or supporting populations at risk for or impacted by sexual violence
  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.

    • Beginner: New to sexual violence risk assessment or unfamiliar with structured professional judgment (SPJ) approaches and the SVR-20 V2; seeking foundational knowledge of sexual violence diversity, risk factors, and assessment challenges.
    • Intermediate: Some experience with violence risk assessment; familiar with basic actuarial methods but seeking to deepen understanding of SPJ guidelines, case formulation, and management planning using the SVR-20 V2.
    • Advanced: Experienced in sexual violence risk assessment; seeking to refine skills in administering the SVR-20 V2, integrating SPJ approaches into complex case conceptualizations, and developing nuanced management plans.
  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who participate in this training typically work in environments where the assessment, management, or support of individuals at risk for or impacted by sexual violence is a core responsibility. These settings are often multidisciplinary and may involve collaboration across mental health, criminal justice, healthcare, social services, and educational systems. Workplaces range from secure forensic hospitals and correctional facilities to community mental health centers, victim advocacy organizations, schools, and social service agencies. The practice setting is characterized by the need for careful risk assessment, case formulation, and the development of management plans tailored to diverse populations and complex cases.

    • Forensic psychiatric hospitals and secure treatment units
    • Community mental health clinics
    • Probation and parole offices
    • Correctional institutions (prisons, jails, juvenile detention centers)
    • Law enforcement agencies
    • Victim advocacy and crisis response centers
    • Hospital emergency departments and sexual assault response teams
    • Social service agencies supporting at-risk youth or families
    • School counseling offices and educational institutions
    • Human resources departments in large organizations
    • Security and risk management offices in public or private sectors

Presented By

Stephen D. Hart, PhD

Dr. Stephen D. Hart obtained BA, MA, and PhD degrees in psychology at the University of British Columbia. He has been on faculty in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University since 1990, and has held the rank of Professor since 2001. He also served as a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Bergen in Norway between 2000 and 2021. His expertise is in the field of clinical-forensic psychology, with a special focus on the assessment of violence risk and psychopathic personality disorder. He has co-authored more than 250 books, chapters, and articles. He has served as editor of two scientific journals; a member of the editorial board of eight journals; and ad hoc reviewer for more than 40 journals. He has served as an executive committee member of several professional organizations, including President of the American Psychology-Law Society and the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services. He has received various distinctions for his professional work, including the Career Achievement Award from the Society of Clinical Psychology, the Saleem Shah Award for Early Career Research Excellence in Psychology and Law from the American Psychology-Law Society and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology, and the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals. He maintains an active practice in violence risk assessment. He has consulted with government agencies from more than 25 countries; led more than 500 training workshops around the world; and given expert evidence before courts, tribunals, inquests, review boards, and parliamentary committees in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Stephen D. Hart, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Approaches: Participants learn about the use of structured professional judgment (SPJ) guidelines in sexual violence risk assessment
    SPJ approach
    Strengths
    Case Formulations
    Management plans

  • Guidelines: Participants will learn about the Sexual Violence Risk-20 Version 2 (SVR-20 V2) and its administration procedures
    Applications
    Formulations
    Management plans

We are proud to partner with

Protect International Risk and Safety Services

Protect International Risk and Safety Services

We are proud to partner with Protect International Risk and Safety Services for this training. Protect International's threat assessment professionals are internationally recognized experts that have developed some of the world's most widely used and best-validated threat assessment tools. Protect International provides services and products related to violence risk assessment and management, also known as threat assessment and management. Protect International services and products include threat assessment training and support, case assessment and management, legal consultation, policy review and development, and program evaluation and research; along with threat assessment manuals, worksheets, licenses, and software applications for those tools.

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).



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) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 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), SW CPE 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 and 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. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #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. CONCEPT Professional Training 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.