Assessment and Treatment of Sexual Offenders (From Sexual Aggression and the Law, P 41-52, 1983, Simon N Verdun-Jones and Alfred A Keltner, eds. - See NCJ-92464)

• NCJ Number: 92468
• Author(s): W L Marshall; G G Abel; V L Quinsey
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: Simon Fraser University
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

Sexual offenders are characterized by difficulties in social functioning and by deviant sexuality and can generally be effectively treated.

Abstract

Treatment programs should begin with an objective assessment of the patient's weaknesses and strengths in both the social and sexual areas. The assessment of social competence should focus on objective behavioral observations rather than on clinicians' judgments. In a large proportion of cases, however, deviant sexuality is the basic problem underlying sexual assault. The best way to assess deviant sexuality is to measure erectile changes when the offender is viewing or hearing depictions of various sexual activities. Responses to the deviant stimuli are compared to responses to appropriate sex. The clinician then attempts to modify the deviant responses to eliminate the main basis for sexual assault. Covert sensitization and satiation should be the preferred methods, because the offender can use them without help from the therapist and because they reduce the ethical difficulties presented by other techniques. However, some offenders will require electrical or odor aversion, which contain more elements of punishment. Clinicians should proceed carefully in choosing and using a treatment approach and should be guided by a thorough assessment of the underlying problem. Thirteen references are listed.