Pellowski, Jan S.Jan S.PellowskiBergner-Köther, RalfRalfBergner-Köther0009-0009-5404-9305Schmidt, StefanieStefanieSchmidtPeschka, LasseLassePeschka0000-0003-4941-7950Hock, Michael FriedolfMichael FriedolfHock0000-0003-1038-3431Briken, PeerPeerBrikenFranqué, Fritjof vonFritjof vonFranqué2026-07-012026-07-0120261664-1078https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/115873Introduction: Currently, risk assessment instruments are only valid for people who have already been convicted of a criminal offense. These tools are not applicable in the case of people who present themselves in a therapeutic context and with concerns about reusing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but without court order. This raises the question of how professionals can appropriately assess the risk of recidivism for this group of people. Following an exploratory approach, this study aims to identify key variables for the future development of a risk assessment instrument specifically designed for CSAM users in nonmandated, prevention-oriented settings. Methods: The study examined 131 male persons from two sites of the Do Not Offend (DNO) network (German translation: Kein Täter werden), who had used CSAM in their history. The instruments STATIC-C and CPORT/CASIC were applied exclusively based on the Information provided by the participants at the time of admission and in part retrospectively. The evaluation period was examined with regard to the self-reported CSAM recidivism. Results: Only the CASIC was able to predict the criterion, while there was no significant relationship with the STATIC-C and the CPORT without the CASIC. Using the external criterion-related strategy of scale construction, the items No children (not having children of one’s own) and Previous undetected use of CSAM as well as the CASIC items Never married, Interest in child pornography spanned two or more years and Possessed child pornography videos and the CPORT item Admission or diagnosis of sexual interest in children (clinical diagnosis) were identified as promising for future scale construction. Discussion: The results are discussed with regard to their clinical significance and the validity of a new instrument.engCASICchild pornographychild sexual exploitation materialCPORTdark fielddo not offendrecidivismrisk assessmentarticle10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1764052