Treatment outcome study: Seventeen years after sexual offender treatment

AbstractSexual offending is frequently seen by the lay person as being a result of an innate abnormality that is relatively fixed and unchangeable. Accordingly, sexual offenders are seen as more likely to recidivate than other types of offenders. In fact, this is not the case, and most sexual offenders do not re-offend. Also, contemporary research has shown that treatment programs driven by cognitive behaviour therapy significantly reduce rates of sexual offender recidivism. Nevertheless, while there has been a great deal of research on the treatment of child sexual offenders, the treatment of rapists has received comparatively less attention. Thus, the main aim of this article is to summarise current knowledge of sexual offender treatment, paying specific attention to the needs of rapists. In particular, we pay attention to the content of sexual offender treatment programs, and the relevance of this content to rape. We also discuss therapeutic issues of relevance for rapist treatment that are typically ignored or underestimated in the research literature. Finally, based upon our analysis of the literature, we present a schematic overview of rape treatment and identify important areas for further research.

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The Importance of Contextual Issues within Sexual Offender Treatment

International Perspectives on the Assessment and Treatment of Sexual Offenders ◽

10.1002/9781119990420.ch15 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 299-312 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jayson Ware

Keyword(s):

Sexual Offender ◽

Offender Treatment ◽

Sexual Offender Treatment

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Sexual offender treatment outcomes among psychopathy subtypes

Journal of Criminological Research Policy and Practice ◽

10.1108/jcrpp-11-2017-0035 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 161-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lindsay A. Sewall ◽

Mark E. Olver

Keyword(s):

Sexual Offenders ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Sexual Offender ◽

Offender Treatment ◽

Cognitive Disability ◽

Sexual Offender Treatment ◽

Treatment Change ◽

Content Type ◽

Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽

General Recidivism

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine sexual offender treatment responses as a function of psychopathy subtype. Design/methodology/approach Measures of sexual violence risk, treatment change and outcome variables were coded retrospectively on a sample of 86 high Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) scoring sexual offenders. Psychopathy subtypes were identified through cluster analysis of PCL-R facet scores. Findings Two subtypes were identified labeled classic and aggressive. They were comparable in their level of risk and need and did not differ in rates of treatment completion or change. The aggressive subtype had higher rates of violent and general recidivism and higher frequencies of major mental disorder and cognitive disability. Results of Cox regression survival analysis demonstrated that treatment-related changes in risk were associated with reductions in violent recidivism for the aggressive, but not classic, psychopathy variant. Practical implications Psychopathy is a heterogeneous syndrome. Moreover, psychopathic offenders can demonstrate risk relevant treatment changes. PCL-R facet profiles have important responsivity implications. However, not all psychopathic offenders fare poorly in treatment. Originality/value This is one of very few studies to examine treatment response and links to outcome among psychopathic offenders, particularly as this relates to subtype.

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