I took this test. There are no pornographic images used. Just a mix of pictures designed to measure how long you look at each. A computer analyses the results supposedly determining your sexual interest...

http://tinyurl.com/z5pgcg9

My first question would be, "Why?"

Here is a partial clip from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_Assessment

The Abel Assessment for Sexual Interest (also Abel Assessment for Interest in Paraphilias) is an assessment test that is asserted by its developer to measure sexual interest in various subjects – and especially to measure a tendency toward pedophilia.[1] The test was created by Dr. Gene G. Abel in 1995, and has been subsequently revised several times. It has been used as evidence in Northern America when prosecuting sex offenders. It was later reported to be unreliable by independent studies[2] and has been declared inadmissible in court in various jurisdictions.
The test is highly controversial, as the results are often subjective, but not always presented in that manner. There are experts in the field that question the assessment and its methodology.[3][4]
Mental health professionals have used the AASI to civilly commit sex offenders, even though the Assessment is not admissible in many courts in the United States.
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My thing would be:

1. Is he using it to help you get off of the registry? If so that test might not be admissible in court.
2. What other plans does he have for it?
3. Or is it just because?

If you refuse this test are there any ramifications? In other words are there any penalties or sanctions if you refuse?

If he just blows off your questions then I would start questioning him because just from the info that you get off of Wikipedia this is not even a clear cut test and the test in itself is being questioned.

I have never had any experience with the Abel Assessment, but I am sure somebody here has who can give you some advice.

Here is a link to an article about the Abel Assessment----

http://tinyurl.com/jhzvxks

rewdiazepam

Excellent article Rew.

At the very end, the article correctly states that "there is no perfect test". The reason is you can know what you "think" but you cannot nor ever be 100% for sure what the other person next to you is "thinking"

That's why society has such a hard time with this whole ball of wax.

You really have to credit Abel. At least he is doing something, although not perfect, is more than most people can say.

Credit is also due the creator of the innocentdads organization and website.

I cringed and was very appalled when I learned that in the article that complete and utter knuckleheads who are causing grief for the rest of us and are completely opposite to us, are scheming and plotting on how to continue to do what they want to do and don't give a rat's rear end. That's what makes this all so extremely difficult.

We have 100% decided to make the world a better place with no more victims. It's these knuckleheads who help propitiate the belief of "Once one always one."

The test seems to measure something called Visual Reaction Time, measuring how long a person lingers on an image. It also seems to have its share of false positives. I wonder if I'd be an idiot to answer any of the questions truthfully, or linger on any image, if by doing so would make me seem like a deviant?

I know honesty's the best policy, but...

If you have already agreed to the test, there is not much you can do. You can back out, but you would have to give a very good reason why. (e.g. the article that Rew shared or even the Wikipedia page that the test could be ambiguous, etc.)

If you told him that you are deciding, if it were me personally, based on the above info I would seriously throw caution to the wind and lean towards you not taking it because if you accidentally linger on something that you know that you are not wanting to do then the results would be flawed and not in your favor. i mean the test is not even recognized by a LOT of courts.

Is this test recognized as "worthy and reliable" by your local court's jurisdiction?

Because what is the purpose of this test in the first place (based on my first post's questions)?

My son took it. When we were waiting for his sentencing he went voluntarily for an assessment. It's pictures of all kinds of people and 'measures' the time you spend on each image. It's bull shit. But it was part of the day he spent with this center who did it. In the end, not because of just the test, it was suggested that he was not to take sex offender treatment and so, at sentencing, the judge agreed and my son never took SOtreatment, only mental health.
This is not typical tho. I doubt the test helps or hinders.. It's just that we got lucky and the final assessment had that item about treatment. we got lucky with that.

I would stay away from a poly tho.

Steps,

My psychologist is recommending I take it, along with Child Protective Services, to determine my risk level. I have a young daughter at home, and they're both advising I take it so they can see if I can spend more time in my home.

Yeah I took the assessment. I did it in place of the PPG, it was not mandatory for me to take it but my lawyer advised me to do it before I was sentenced so they would have the most leverage to get me the best deal possible. It works like someone else mentioned by visual reaction time (VRT). Which measures how long you look at a certain photo. Oh my test there were no nude photos but it did have sexually suggestive photos and photos of people chained up or tied up or gags all of that bdsm stuff. There are pictures of people in bathing suits--men, women and children. I was found not to have any pedophillic tendencies and that helped my lawyer get me a better sentence.

Personally I would privately take the test and if you get a good result I would share it with the state. If it is not positive I wouldn't share it. That is what my lawyer had me do during the process of when my offense was disclosed. They had me switch therapists from the one I was seeing to a state certified therapist. Then they had me take a poly that showed I didn't have more than one victim. Then I took the Abel test. My lawyer said that we wouldn't present information to the DA unless it reflected positively on me. Luckily for me it did, but the DA wasn't about to charge me as a juvenile even though it happened as a young teen.

I agree. We did it privately and because it came out a good assessment we used it.

I think most tests are not "perfect" A lot depends upon the mindset of the person doing the testing. If someone decides you have a "mental problem" doesn't that move your tier classification up and increase the length of time you will be on the registry?

I took this as part of a psycho sexual evaluation from a court recognized psychiatrist. (Cost me $2,500) I met with him 3 times for a total of about 8 hours. The report was very favorable towards me but both the judge and the prosecution refused to look at it....

My husband took it, along with other assessment tests and was found to be the lowest risk possible. Fat lot of good it did after PA adopted the AWA tho

I agree free, they don't tend to look very favorably on any evidence that an offender is any less than a monster. However Child services can be far worse than a judge and even prosecutors. You don't want to get involved in their kangaroo court system. Unfortunately I think you need to jump through their hoops in this situation.

Abel, PPG, Polygraph...

You will be required to take at least one of these tests multiple times, most likely you will deal with all three as part of your treatment.

My treatment team says "We use them because we have to, they are the only tool we have available."

I don't believe them for a second on that front. Sure, there are no tools that can tell these things, but would you use a hammer to fix a crack in a piece of glass?? The wrong tool for the job is worse than not using a tool.

PPG and Abel screenings (at least in Colorado) are mainly used for a CCA (Child contact assessment) or right before getting off of probation. You are expected to pass them before having contact with a certain child (usually your own).

I have done two Abel screenings and a dozen polygraphs.

The Visual response time is spot on as to how the Abel screen works. Just focus for 15-20 seconds on very obviously adult women (or adult men if that is your stated preference) and quickly pass up anything else.

There will be quite a few pictures of men, women, girls and boys all in regular clothes or modest bathing suits (in my experience in taking the test twice). I never saw any bondage/BDSM things at all on mine, but they could tailor the images to the person.

There will be a slider below the picture for you to "rate" how attracted you are to the human being in that picture. Don't use any in between, use maximum attracted or not attracted at all. This prevents you from worrying about the slider at all, because it is just a diversionary tactic, they pay zero attention to it.

I've never had the pleasure of taking a PPG, but after a little research I was able to have both Abel screenings come out in my favor by doing this to ensure that my thoughts about those pictures were what the test reported.

For me, the worst are the polygraphs by far and the cost associated with them. Each one costs $250. If you get a deceptive on a polygraph you then have to attend a 6 week V.I.P. class that costs $120. Once the class is done you take the polygraph again for $240. Deceptive again sends you back to V.I.P. group for 6 more weeks for $120.

If after that you get a deceptive on the same question for the third time it turns into a specific issue and all of the freedoms you have earned are taken away until you pass the question.