NCJ Number
192394
Journal
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2002 Pages: 49-65
Editor(s)
Connie Isaac
Date Published
January 2002
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article examines the complex issues of adult sex-offender treatment provider and probation officer collaborative models.
Abstract
With community corrections professionals mandating sex offenders to attend treatment programs, how sex offender treatment providers and supervision probation officers (POs) collaborate in delivering services has become an important area of investigation. Several collaborative models currently exist and range from programs where considerable overlap in the roles of POs and treatment staff exist to those where the roles are more separate. To date, there has been no comprehensive survey to investigate how treatment providers and POs collaborate and view their relationships with each other. Through a random survey, this study examined the beliefs and behaviors of community based adult sex-offender treatment providers concerning various types of provider and PO interactions and collaborative models. Survey results indicated that treatment providers should focus on providing treatment and POs should focus on providing supervision with community safety being the primary goal of intervention with sex offenders. However, community safety can be enhanced when treatment providers and POs collaborate. It was acknowledged that when POs are familiar with the treatment process and treatment providers are familiar with supervision and monitoring requirements their jobs can be performed better. Effective case management can occur when the PO and treatment provider mutually agree upon their goals. The data is this study can assist in stimulating discussion and inform the work of sex offender treatment professionals. References