Treatment of sex offenders

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friedrich Lösel ◽  
Martin Schmucker
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Evaluation Research ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Group Format ◽  
Positive Treatment Effect ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Positive Treatment ◽  
Risk Need Responsivity

This essay discusses various treatments for sexual offenders and their success in reducing reoffending. Overall, research reveals a positive treatment effect that indicates up to 25 per cent less recidivism in treatment versus control groups. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, relapse prevention, and programs based on the Risk–Need–Responsivity model have the strongest evidence base, although the studies and findings are heterogeneous and outcomes vary depending on many factors. Most promising are programs that involve treatment in the community and in forensic hospitals, delivered in a partly individualized mode, implemented with sound integrity, targeting medium- to high-risk offenders, addressing young individuals, and being evaluated in well-documented small studies. In contrast, programs in prisons, delivered merely in a group format, including low-risk offenders, and evaluations in large samples show smaller or no effects. Recent developments aim to modernize and widen standard programs toward more differentiated interventions, but more sound evaluation research is needed.

Comparing the Central Eight Risk Factors: Do They Differ Across Age Groups of Sex Offenders?

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (13) ◽  
pp. 4278-4294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Wilpert ◽  
Joan E. van Horn ◽  
Cyril Boonmann
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Recidivism Rates ◽  
Dynamic Risk Factors ◽  
Rnr Model ◽  
Risk Need Responsivity ◽  
Reducing Recidivism ◽  
General Recidivism

Following the risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model, cognitive-behavioral therapy is considered most effective in reducing recidivism when based on dynamic risk factors. As studies have found differences of these factors across age, exploring this seems beneficial. The current study investigates the Central Eight (C8) risk factors across six age groups of outpatient sex offenders ( N = 650). Results showed that recidivism rates and age were inversely related from 19 years and up. Half of the C8 did not predict general recidivism at all, substance abuse, antisocial cognition, antisocial associates, and history of antisocial behavior in only one or several age groups. However, factors differed between age groups, with the youngest group demonstrating the most dysfunction in several areas and the oldest group the least. It is concluded that the C8 risk factors seem to lose significance in the older age groups. Results may benefit targeting treatment goals.

The Use of Leuprolide Acetate in the Management of High-Risk Sex Offenders

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 930-951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Gallo ◽  
Jeffrey Abracen ◽  
Jan Looman ◽  
Elizabeth Jeglic ◽  
Robert Dickey
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Dependent Measure ◽  
Leuprolide Acetate ◽  
Offender Treatment ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome

The present study investigates whether leuprolide acetate (Lupron) adds to the efficacy of traditional sex offender treatment. A group of sex offenders receiving both Lupron and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT; n = 25) were compared with a group of sex offenders receiving only CBT ( n = 22). Treated subjects were compared with norms available with reference to the Static-99R, as well as compared with a sample of untreated, nonsexual violent offenders ( n = 81), to provide baseline data regarding risk of violent recidivism. Results indicated that subjects receiving Lupron were at significantly higher risk of recidivism and significantly more likely to be diagnosed with a paraphilia than subjects receiving only CBT, a priori. Both treated groups of sexual offenders recidivated at substantially lower rates than predicted by the Static-99R. Currently, this study represents the only, long-term outcome study on Lupron administration using officially recorded recidivism as the primary dependent measure.

Interventions for the Reduction of Violence by Persons with Serious Mental Illnesses

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin S. Douglas ◽  
Tonia L. Nicholls ◽  
Johann Brink
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Mental Health Courts ◽  
Service Programs ◽  
Risk Need Responsivity ◽  
Mandatory Service ◽  
Serious Mental Illnesses

Violence perpetrated by persons with serious mental illness (SMI), although certainly not the norm among this group, is of clinical and legal import in numerous legal settings. Among these are civil commitment, forensic psychiatry (insanity acquittees), and the criminal justice system. In this chapter, we provide a critical review of interventions and their empirical support that are used to reduce violence among persons with SMI. Promising findings support the use of cognitive behavioral, social learning, and cognitive skills approaches that are consistent with the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) approach to crime and violence prevention. Anger management remains a promising, focused intervention with reasonable support in the literature. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) has substantial general support. Community-based mandatory service programs such as outpatient commitment and mental health courts appear effective. Finally, the evidence base for the violence-reducing effect of certain psychotropic medication, particularly clozapine, is promising yet inconsistent.

Recent Developments in Evaluation Research

1978 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 670-671
Author(s):  
RICHARD F. ELMORE
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation Research ◽  
Recent Developments

Perceptions of Sex Offenders’ Partners: Associated with Perceptions of Offenders and Influenced by Attachment

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason P. Martens ◽  
Jessica L. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Negative Perceptions ◽  
Highly Correlated

Abstract Little research exists on how partners of sex offenders are perceived. Using attachment theory, we hypothesised that one's attachment would generalise to perceptions of sexual offenders and their partners. One hundred and six British adults’ attachment styles were assessed, as well as perceptions of sex offenders and their partners. Generally, perceivers’ attachment avoidance was associated with positive perceptions of both partners and offenders, while attachment anxiety was associated with negative perceptions of partners but positive perceptions of sex offenders. Perceptions of sex offenders and their partners were highly correlated and negative in nature, and sex offenders were more negatively perceived.

scholarly journals The War on Sex Offenders: Community Notification in Perspective

2001 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyn Hinds ◽  
Kathleen Daly
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
The United States ◽  
Community Notification ◽  
Megan's Law ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Campaign ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Naming And Shaming

This article explores the contemporary phenomenon of “naming and shaming” sex offenders. Community notification laws, popularly known as Megan's Law, which authorise the public disclosure of the identity of convicted sex offenders to the community in which they live, were enacted throughout the United States in the 1990s. A public campaign to introduce “Sarah's Law” has recently been launched in Britain, following the death of eight-year old Sarah Payne. Why are sex offenders, and certain categories of sex offenders, singled out as targets of community notification laws? What explains historical variability in the form that sex offender laws take? We address these questions by reviewing the sexual psychopath laws enacted in the United States in the 1930s and 40s and the sexual predator and community notification laws of the 1990s, comparing recent developments in the United States with those in Britain, Canada, and Australia. We consider arguments by Garland, O'Malley, Pratt, and others on how community notification, and the control of sex offenders more generally, can be explained; and we speculate on the likelihood that Australia will adopt community notification laws.

Sex Offender Registration: Implications and Difficulties for Ireland

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Marie McAlinden
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Sex Offender Registration ◽  
Socially Constructed ◽  
Justice Process ◽  
Criminal Justice Process ◽  
The Media

This paper explores the implications and difficulties of a system of sex offender registration for the two jurisdictions of Ireland. From the orthodox perspective, registration appears justified. Sexual offending has increase and this is used by the media to generate a ‘moral panic’. However, in terms of Blumer's (1971) developmental perspective, sexual offenders in the community have been socially constructed in Ireland, as a problem requiring specific action. This perspective most adequately explains the formulation of legislation. Arguments expounded in favour of registration include the supposedly high recidivism among sex offenders, the inadequacy of supervision provisions and the resulting need to ‘track’ the offender for public protection. Yet a plethora of obstacles which were not considered at the time the legislation was being formulated, such as cost and inadequate policing resources, may impede its effectiveness in aiding law enforcement and reduce it to symbolic significance only. Given these difficulties, I argue that registration is not an appropriate response to the problem of released sexual offenders in Ireland. Rather, from the social constructionist perspective, I suggest that it is better to ‘treat’ the sex offender through less formal and stringent means in the community, away from the criminal justice process.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Zoledronic Acid in Patients with Systemic Osteoporosis and Problem of «Non Respondents» to the Treatment

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 39-43
Author(s):  
S. S Rodionova ◽  
Yu. V Buklemishev
Keyword(s):  
Bone Formation ◽  
Treatment Effect ◽  
Biochemical Tests ◽  
Zolendronic Acid ◽  
Bone Formation Markers ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Positive Treatment Effect ◽  
Positive Treatment ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Mineral Bone Density

Prospective study of zolendronic acid efficacy was performed in 112 patients with systemic osteoporosis. Study results confirmed the presence of patients who did not response to the treatment: in 15.7 % of observations reduction of mineral bone density (BMD) continued to progress. No significant differences in initial deviations of resorption and bone formation markers, peculiarities of calcium homeostasis were detected in “non respondents”. At the same time by the 12th month after treatment initiation the relationship between BMD increase with preservation of marked decrease of resorption marker (deoxypyridinoline) and bone formation marker (osteocalcin) was noted, that pointed out the expediency of prognostic model creation. Evaluation of the influence of certain risk factors (age, results of blood and urine biochemical tests, data of densitometry including the results of femoral neck BMD in some patients) using discriminant analysis showed that 81.5% of patients were correctly referred to the groups of patients who responded and not responded to treatment. Out of all initially studied parameters the most significant were 7 that in 78.6% of cases (method sensitivity) enabled to identify the patients with negative treatment effect and in 82.1% of cases (method specificity) - with positive treatment effect.

scholarly journals Anti-libidinal medication among sex offenders: a descriptive study from a specialized outpatient unit in Bordeaux (France)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florent Cochez ◽  
Nicolas Thoumy ◽  
Jean-Philippe Cano
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Pharmacological Therapy ◽  
The Past ◽  
Outpatient Unit ◽  
Court Ordered Treatment

Enhancements in the treatment of sexual offenders has been taking place for over four decades. The development of pharmacological therapy has helped to reduce the risk of re-offense and has demonstrated its utility in combination with psychotherapy. However further studies to demonstrate the efficacy of these therapies are required. We conducted a retrospective study in a unit that provides care for sexual offenders (court ordered treatment or voluntary treatment). Among the 224 patients at ERIOS over the past 15 years, we identified 23 patients who had received anti-libidinal treatment (ALM) at some point in their care. The results, obtained from only 22 informative files, indicate that 16 patients presented no notion of deviant fantasy or behavioral relapse under medication. This study also highlights the comorbidities and offers a perspective regarding the improvement in prescribing this type of pharmacological therapy.

scholarly journals Sex Offenders: Treat or Punish? (Community Quick Survey on Sex Offenders)

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-148
Author(s):  
Rossy Sintya Marthasari
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Death Penalty ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Pharmacological Therapy ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Ordinary People ◽  
Chemical Castration

The aim of this study was to collect data of what ordinary people think on chemical castration and the proper punishment for sex offenders. An online survey was conducted through a questionnaire (N = 36; 19 males and 17 females). Average age was between 19 and 61; all participants have heard and known about sexual harassment. Results showed that 21% of respondents concluded that the Internet was the main cause, 36% accused the pornographic films, 18% said that the harassment was due to how the victims behave and dress themselves, and 21% said that psychopathological factors also played a role. Most of the respondents advised that the proper punishment should be death penalty (47%), while 29% chose the chemical castration and 20% chose imprisonment. Since psychoterapy (in this context cognitive-behavioral therapy) combined with pharmacological therapy has shown better outcome compared to monotherapy, the author considers to involve cognitive behavioral therapy as part of rehabilitation, so psychotherapy should be part of punishment in lieu of chemical castration. Causes underlying the sexual harassments especially the psy-chological aspects are discussed.

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