Forensic psychologist Samantha Stein recently shared her experiences working with some of California’s most dangerous sex offenders, revealing the emotional and ethical challenges she faced during her career. Since beginning her work in 1997, she has dedicated herself to evaluating whether individuals convicted of serious sexual crimes should be released after serving their sentences or confined indefinitely under the Sexually Violent Predator Act.
Daily Challenges and Emotional Toll
Stein’s day would start early in her San Francisco home, where she dressed in what she referred to as her “forensic psychologist uniform,” a blend of professional attire that also served as an emotional barrier. Each day, she would travel long distances to various prisons and psychiatric hospitals, engaging with individuals who had committed heinous acts. “It was emotionally challenging to be exposed to the worst of what human beings can do to each other,” she reflected during a recent interview.
Initially, her first visit to a prison was a shock. She had expected prisoners to be confined to their cells but found them mingling freely within the facility. Stein described the atmosphere as “noisy, overcrowded, and depressing,” a stark contrast to her everyday life. Her role required her to evaluate a range of offenders, including child molesters and psychopaths, making decisions that could determine their future freedom.
Making Tough Decisions
Throughout her career, Stein conducted 120 evaluations over an 18-month period, with only 10% of the individuals meeting the criteria for indefinite confinement. One particularly disturbing case involved an offender who, during their interview, boasted about their sexual exploits before engaging in inappropriate behavior. “It was a little scary, but mostly angering,” she recounted, emphasizing the impulsivity of such offenders and how it informed her evaluations.
While most offenders behaved respectfully during their meetings—likely aware of the stakes involved—there were moments that left her feeling vulnerable. She recalled a meeting with a six-time rapist that instilled fear in her due to the time it took for a guard to respond should she press her emergency buzzer. Despite these risks, she maintained her professional integrity, often approaching each session with skepticism to avoid being manipulated.
“When you change the life of someone who is a violent criminal, you not only change that person’s life, but all of the potential lives that they interact with.”
Stein’s work took a psychological toll on her personal life as well. After long days filled with harrowing stories, returning home to her family was often challenging. She relied on yoga, meditation, and family routines to help detach from the distressing experiences she faced at work. “Even as I was driving home, I would be thinking about the cases,” she admitted, noting the importance of consciously leaving work behind at her doorstep.
Ultimately, the weight of her experiences led Stein to reassess her career path. After nearly two decades of confronting the darker aspects of human behavior, she made the difficult decision to step back from her role. “I felt like there was too much darkness and that I needed to do something more hopeful and positive,” she stated. Yet, she remains proud of her contributions to society, believing her evaluations helped to make the community safer.
Stein’s reflections and insights are detailed in her newly published book, Evil At Our Table: Inside the Minds of the Monsters Who Live Among Us. The book encapsulates her experiences and the difficult decisions she faced, emphasizing the need to understand offenders as human beings rather than mere criminals. “That perspective is essential for true prevention to happen,” she concluded.