Introduction to Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Evaluations (June 5, 2025)

The Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy presents:

Introduction to Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Evaluations | June 5, 2025

Online Resources

Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) evaluations are unique and challenging evaluations that are distinct from other forensic evaluations that may address sexually offending. Our speakers have extensive experience performing SVP evaluations across state and federal jurisdictions. Along with an attorney who will provide an overview of the legal context and relevant laws, Dr. Mario Dennis will describe best practices in SVP evaluations, providing crucial information for trainees who want to move from other forensic practice towards this highly specialized niche. Attorney Brock Maust, Esq., (Office of the Attorney General) will provide a legal introduction to SVP evaluations with an overview of the SVP statute in VA and its relation to other state statutes. Finally, Dr. Anita Schlank (who holds extensive experience in SVP context and treatment of sexual offenders) will provide an overview of treatment for the SVP population, which is essential knowledge for those performing SVP evaluations. 

Please contact us for detailed information about the days schedule.

Learning Objectives

• Learn the statutory criteria of a sexually violent predator (SVP) in Virginia and the various steps in the SVP process.
• Identify the primary components of a SVP evaluation.
• Identify the most common diagnoses in SVP evaluations, and become familiar with diagnostic challenges and controversies.
• Identify components of an assessment of risk for sexual violence, including commonly used instruments.

The Instructors

Mario Dennis, PhD, received his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1980. He was a psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at James Madison University until 1989, and was then in the private practice of clinical and forensic psychology in Harrisonburg, Virginia, until 2003. He was also the director of the Shenandoah Valley Sex Offender Treatment Program during that time and conducted forensic evaluations of sex offenders all over the Commonwealth. In December 2003 he was named the Clinical Director of the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation (VCBR), a position he held until 2010. In that position, Dr. Dennis established the treatment program for Sexually Violent Predators. In 2010 he was named Director of Forensic Services for VCBR. In that position, he oversees the preparation of annual review reports of civilly committed Sexually Violent Predators and provides testimony in annual review hearings. He has lectured at the ILPPP on the forensic evaluation of individuals charged with sexual offenses since 1992.

Brock Maust, Esq., is an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General for Virginia. Brock has been with the Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment ("SVP") Section since April 2017. Prior to joining the SVP Section, Brock served as an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in Newport News, Virginia, assigned to the violent crimes unit, from 2007 until 2017 when he left to accept his current position. Brock graduated from Old Dominion University with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. Thereafter, he graduated from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University.

Daniel Murrie, PhD, serves as Director of UVA's Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy.  He is also a Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences in the UVA School of Medicine.  He oversees the ILPPP’s training programs in forensic evaluation and the postdoctoral fellowship in forensic psychology.  As a clinician, he performs forensic evaluations through the ILPPP’s Forensic Psychiatry Clinic.  As a scholar, his research and teaching address a variety of topics in forensic psychology, particularly topics addressing reliability, bias, and quality improvement in forensic evaluation.

Anita Schlank, PhD, ABPP, received her PhD in clinical psychology (with a forensic specialty) from the Law/Psychology Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and is board-certified in forensic psychology. Dr. Schlank has been assessing and treating sexual offenders since 1984 and is the editor of the five-volume book series entitled The Sexual Predator. She is also the Adult Clinical Representative on the Board of Directors for the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA) and is on the Board of Directors for the Sex Offender Civil Commitment Providers’ Network (SOCCPN). She was the Clinical Director of the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation (Virginia’s treatment program for individuals adjudicated Sexually Violent Predators [SVPs]) for 12 years. Currently, she is treating SVPs released into the community and completing forensic evaluations through her private practice.

Neither the instructors nor the program planning committee (Daniel Murrie, Ph.D., Lucy Guarnera, Ph.D., & Angela Torres, Ph.D.,) have any conflicts of interest or commercial support to disclose.

Continuing Education

Participants are eligible for up to 6 hours of continuing education credits (CEUs) approved by the American Psychological Association (APA). ILPPP is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. ILPPP maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

You must join by 9:15 am and stay for the duration of the presentation in order to recevie the CE credits.

We are currently in the process of offering continuing education for attorneys. Unfortunately, we cannot offer continuing education for psychiatrists or social workers/LPCs at this time. Please contact us with any questions.

Training Fees

$250: Standard Registration

$125: DBHDS/CSB Employees*

*If you are a DBHDS/CSB employee, please use this promo code to get the reduced price: INTROSVP2025

Please note that the reduced price is available only for DBHDS and CSB emplyees, rather than all state employees, because DBHDS partially sponsors this training program. 

Occasionally, large facilities or state agencies outside of Virginia want to send a team of trainees, for whom we can arrange a discounted group rate. Please contact our training coordinator Camilla Beeley at ydt2qs@uvahealth.org to discuss such arrangements.