scholarly journals Volunteering With Sex Offenders: The Attitudes of Volunteers Toward Sex Offenders, Their Treatment, and Rehabilitation

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 659-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Kerr ◽  
Ruth J. Tully ◽  
Birgit Völlm
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
General Public ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Offender Treatment ◽  
Offender Rehabilitation ◽  
Sex Offender Treatment ◽  
Attitudes Toward Sex

The general public has been shown to hold negative attitudes toward sexual offenders, sex offender treatment, and the rehabilitation of sexual offenders. It appears pertinent to the success of sex offender management strategies that utilise volunteers that selected volunteers do not share these attitudes. Here, volunteers for Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA), a community-based initiative supporting the reintegration of sex offenders, completed three validated psychometric measures assessing attitudes toward sex offenders in general and toward their treatment and rehabilitation. Responses were compared with a U.K. general public sample. The results showed that volunteers held more positive attitudes toward sex offenders, sex offender treatment, and sex offender rehabilitation than the U.K. general public sample. The significance of these findings is discussed alongside directions for future research.

Evaluation of New Jersey's Sex Offender Treatment Program at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center: Preliminary Results

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen M. Zgoba ◽  
Wayne R. Sager ◽  
Philip H. Witt
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Prison Population ◽  
Correctional Facility ◽  
Treatment Center ◽  
Offender Treatment ◽  
Sexual Offense ◽  
Sex Offender Treatment ◽  
Sexual Offenses

This study examined 10-year sexual and non-sexual offense recidivism for sex offenders released from New Jersey's general prison system and from the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center (ADTC), New Jersey's correctional facility and treatment center for repetitive-compulsive sexual offenders. The study found that sexual offenders released from the ADTC had significantly lower rates of committing both non-sexual offenses and any offense, compared with the general prison population of sex offenders. For both groups, the 10-year sexual offense reconviction rates were relatively low, 8.6% for the ADTC offenders and 12.7% for the general prison sexual offenders, while reoffense rates for non-sexual offenses were 25.8% and 44.1% for ADTC and general prison sex offenders, respectively.

Treating Sex Offenders in Prison

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devon L. L. Polaschek ◽  
Kristina M. Blackwood
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Cognitive Strategies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Offender Treatment ◽  
Behavioral Strategies ◽  
Sex Offender Treatment ◽  
Criminogenic Needs ◽  
Composite Risk ◽  
General Recidivism

This essay considers the challenges associated with managing and treating sex offenders within the prison setting. What is known from scientific research about the most effective approaches to treating sex offenders is reviewed, followed by the major rehabilitation theories. The role of assessment with sex offenders (e.g., interviews, composite risk and need assessments for both sexual and general recidivism, penile plethysmography) as well as the challenges and limitations of conducting assessments with incarcerated sex offenders are also discussed. The various approaches to sex offender treatment are critiqued, including physiological strategies, behavioral strategies, cognitive strategies, and relapse prevention. Each phase of treatment (preparation, addressing criminogenic needs, planning for the future) is considered separately, and directions for future research are considered.

The Impact of Interpersonal Style and Interpersonal Complementarity on the Therapeutic Alliance Between Therapists and Offenders in Sex Offender Treatment

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachael Watson ◽  
Michael Daffern ◽  
Stuart Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Therapeutic Alliance ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Offender Treatment ◽  
Offender Rehabilitation ◽  
Sex Offender Treatment ◽  
Interpersonal Style ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs ◽  
Interpersonal Complementarity ◽  
The Impact

Therapist and treatment process variables affect the effectiveness of offender rehabilitation programs. This study examined the influence of therapists’ and offenders’ interpersonal styles (IPSs) and interpersonal complementarity on therapeutic alliance (TA). Seventy-five sex offenders and their therapists evaluated each other’s IPSs and the TA after 3 weeks of treatment. Offenders evaluated the TA more positively than therapists. Regarding the impact of IPS, therapist affiliation was positively correlated and therapist control was negatively correlated with offenders’ ratings of the TA; in other words, offenders evaluated the TA more strongly when therapists were perceived as affiliative, and weaker when therapists were viewed as controlling. Offender affiliation was positively correlated with therapists’ ratings of TA; in other words, therapists evaluated the TA more strongly when offenders were viewed as more affiliative; perceptions of offender control were unrelated to offenders’ ratings of TA. Complementarity in IPS between offenders and therapists did not affect TA.

Measuring the effectiveness of sex offender treatment

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 2062-2062
Author(s):  
J. Endrass ◽  
A. Rossegger ◽  
F. Urbaniok
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Treatment Effectiveness ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Offender Treatment ◽  
Sex Offender Treatment ◽  
Recidivism Rates ◽  
Therapy Effectiveness ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Sex Offense

Depending on the subject of the evaluation different outcome measures are necessary. Generally recidivism rates are considered to be state of the art in the assessment of forensic therapy effectiveness. In this context, recidivism can be defined differently. Thus a definition may include only new convictions for a specific type of offense or any offense or may even include new charges as well. In the evaluation of sex offender treatments it is often considered to be self-evident to define recidivism as a reconviction or new charge for a sex offense. Some authors however argue - not without reason - to include any type of violent offense in the definition. The evaluation of treatment effectiveness suggests however, also including therapeutic criteria such as level of openness of the patient. Especially openness about sexual fantasies relevant to the sex offense may be a key factor in the treatment of sex offenders. It is suggested that future research in the area include such ‘softer’ criteria as well.

scholarly journals “Mr S, you do have sexual fantasies?” The Parole Hearing and Treatment of a Sex Offender at the Turn of the 21st Century

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dany Lacombe
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Treatment Program ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Offender Treatment ◽  
Sex Offender Treatment ◽  
Sexual Fantasies ◽  
Parole Board ◽  
Clear Sign ◽  
Prevention Plan

How does the Parole Board decide a sex offender is rehabilitated and can be released into the community? This case study of a parole hearing reveals the significance the Parole Board gives to a sex offender’s management of his arousal as a clear sign of his rehabilitation. To explain the Board’s preoccupation with a sex offender’s sexual fantasies and arousal, I draw on a prison ethnography of a sex offender treatment program. Rehabilitation as risk management relies on the development of a crime cycle and relapse prevention plan designed to grasp the connection between fantasies, arousal and offending. I argue the parole hearing and treatment program exist in a symbiotic relationship that fabricates the sex offender into a species larger than life, one at risk of offending all the time. Key words: rehabilitation, sex offenders, parole, sexual fantasies, ethnography, prison.

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.

A Preliminary Descriptive Model of Expertise Related Competence in Child Sexual Offending

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Patrice A Bourke
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Sexual Offender ◽  
Developmental Model ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Offender Rehabilitation

<p>Child sexual offending is a great area of concern to the public and researchers alike. The damaging effects of Child Sexual Abuse are numerous and frequently enduring. Research in sexual offending has tended to focus on therapeutic interventions and effectiveness as well as the aetiological aspects of offending. Much of this research has focused on offender deficits associated with sexual crimes that are the target of intervention programs. There has been little attention paid to the view that sexual offenders appear to learn from their previous offending and in some cases acquire a considerable degree of offence related competency. In other words, some sexual offenders appear to develop high levels of expertise. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are 'expert' offenders within the child sexual offending arena who display greater competence in utilising grooming techniques, selecting targets, interpreting and evaluating social and environmental cues, and who possess extensive offence scripts. In this exploratory study, 47 male child sexual offenders were interviewed in New Zealand prison based Sexual Offender Rehabilitation Units about their offences as well as their lives prior to and post offending. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Grounded Theory to generate a model of offence specific decision making. Results indicated that child sex offenders vary on the above dimensions and effectively span the range from 'novice' to 'expert' offenders with respect to the quality of their decision making and their domain relevant knowledge structures. By using the general principles of expertise as a conceptual framework, a developmental model of expertise in child sex offenders in New Zealand was constructed. The implications of the constructed model for theory and treatment are discussed and suggestions are made for the direction of future research.</p>

A Preliminary Descriptive Model of Expertise Related Competence in Child Sexual Offending

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Patrice A Bourke
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Sexual Offender ◽  
Developmental Model ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Offender Rehabilitation

<p>Child sexual offending is a great area of concern to the public and researchers alike. The damaging effects of Child Sexual Abuse are numerous and frequently enduring. Research in sexual offending has tended to focus on therapeutic interventions and effectiveness as well as the aetiological aspects of offending. Much of this research has focused on offender deficits associated with sexual crimes that are the target of intervention programs. There has been little attention paid to the view that sexual offenders appear to learn from their previous offending and in some cases acquire a considerable degree of offence related competency. In other words, some sexual offenders appear to develop high levels of expertise. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are 'expert' offenders within the child sexual offending arena who display greater competence in utilising grooming techniques, selecting targets, interpreting and evaluating social and environmental cues, and who possess extensive offence scripts. In this exploratory study, 47 male child sexual offenders were interviewed in New Zealand prison based Sexual Offender Rehabilitation Units about their offences as well as their lives prior to and post offending. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Grounded Theory to generate a model of offence specific decision making. Results indicated that child sex offenders vary on the above dimensions and effectively span the range from 'novice' to 'expert' offenders with respect to the quality of their decision making and their domain relevant knowledge structures. By using the general principles of expertise as a conceptual framework, a developmental model of expertise in child sex offenders in New Zealand was constructed. The implications of the constructed model for theory and treatment are discussed and suggestions are made for the direction of future research.</p>

Prison-based sex offender treatment programs in the post sexual psychopath era

1995 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia M. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Behavioral Treatment ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Treatment Programs ◽  
Offender Treatment ◽  
Sex Offender Treatment ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Treatment Methods ◽  
State Prisons ◽  
New Generation

Throughout the 1980s sex offender treatment programs proliferated in state prisons in the wake of repealed sexual psychopath legislation, driven by much favorable publicity over novel cognitive and behavioral treatment methods. This article examines the scope and likely impact of the new generation of sex offender treatment programs and concludes that heightened optimism may be premature. The new programs embody the same defects that the repeal of psychopath legislation was intended to correct. The enterprise of sex offender treatment would benefit from participation of social scientists outside of the treatment field in research on sex offenders.

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