Stephen Brake, Ph.D.
The concept of risk will be briefly defined and key risk factors for sex offense recidivism will be discussed. Several instruments or tools used to determine whether a risk factor is present or absent will be described – this will include a discussion of psychological tests and physiological measures such as polygraph, penile plethysmograph, and viewing time measures. Actuarial risk assessment guidelines used to formally assign a risk “level” will be briefly discussed. The presentation will emphasize what risk assessments can and cannot tell you. It will be designed to offer information to mental health professionals and non-mental health professionals (probation and parole officers, investigators) who wish to learn the basics of risk assessment.
Darlene Ellison
Darlene Ellison has over 20 years of experience in the combined fields of child psychology and business, as well as serving as a volunteer in the areas of child abuse and domestic violence prevention. Darlene brings a unique twist to victim recovery as a result of her own experience as the ex-wife of a child predator, arrested in 2005 in an undercover FBI operation of NAMBLA. She has raised her two children, the "secondary victims" in this scenario, to hold their heads high and make a difference in the lives of others. In her efforts to teach parents, grandparents, educators and caregivers about the dangers of child predators, Darlene has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 20/20 and Dateline NBC, as well as in Dallas' D Magazine. She is the author of the recently published, "The Predator Next Door...Detect, Protect and Recover from Betrayal," and speaks nationally on child abuse prevention.
Ashley Lind, Ph.D.
Ashley Lind, Ph.D. completed her doctoral studies under Garry Landreth at the University of North Texas and specializes in play therapy with traumatized children. With more than 18 years of clinical experience, Dr. Lind currently serves as the Senior Director of Clinical Services at the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. Her research focus and recent publications are specific to intervention with families coping with abuse related issues.
Sarah Torres
Sarah is a Bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor and Forensic Evaluator. At the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center, Sarah works in coordination with Child Protective Services and Dallas County Police agencies to investigate allegations of child abuse through forensic evaluations. Sarah also leads a Spanish-speaking parent support group. She is currently working towards licensure as a Registered Play Therapist and has over 4 years of experience in counseling and forensic evaluations. In addition to over 300 hours of training in the child abuse field, Sarah has a Bachelor's degree in Spanish and a Master's degree in Counseling from Baylor University.
Lt. Bill Walsh
Lt. Walsh was a 26-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department, where he was a lieutenant and served as the commander of the Crimes against Children Unit. In 1989, he started the annual Crimes against Children Conference that is held annually in Dallas. Also in 1989, he co-founded the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center, one of the largest programs in the country. Currently he is a consultant for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Internet Crimes against Children Training and Technical Assistance Program. Bill has received many awards for his professional achievement, including being selected as both the 1990 Dallas Police Officer of the Year and the 1998 Dallas Police Supervisor of the Year. He is he only Dallas police officer who has ever won both awards. He has also received the State of Texas Special Achievement Award for Public Service and the 1999 Crime Victims Service Award from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) in the U.S. Department of Justice. Walsh is the Conference Coordinator for the annual Crimes Against Children Conference.