[The new law on strengthening the rights of victims of sexual abuse and its implications for the forensic-psychiatric assessment of sexual offenders].

OBJECTIVES

Highlighting practical implications and research aspects of forensic-psychiatric assessments in the context of the new law on strengthening the rights of victims of sexual abuse.

METHODS

Based on a clinical case we report implications for the forensic-psychiatric assessment.

RESULTS

The new law now requires an expert to evaluate the necessity and the subject's motivation to receive a given treatment. Up to now, the majority of sexual offenders were assumed to be responsible for their actions and in most cases a forensic-psychiatric assessment was not required. For this reason, guidelines for forensic-psychiatric assessments are urgently needed.

CONCLUSION

The number of forensic-psychiatric assessments is likely to increase substantially and a relevant-case law is still lacking.