Effective Treatment Techniques for Sex Offenders

• NCJ Number: 140351
• Journal: Psychiatric Annals Volume: 22 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1992) Pages: 315-319
• Author(s): B K Schwartz
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

Sex offender treatment programs may emphasize behavioral reconditioning, cognitive-behavioral techniques, family systems approaches, or the addiction model and are most effective when they are available in the community and in institutions.

Abstract

Successful programs recognize that they are part of the overall criminal justice system and that a systems approach advocating cooperation between police, the courts, child protective services, public and private treatment, victim services, prison, parole, and probation will provide more effective treatment. Judges should not have to choose between public safety and treatment because programs are not available in local prisons. Further, the public should not have to pay for the high cost of imprisoning an individual who can be treated in the community. Those who specialize in treating sex offenders must be adequately trained, and their role must be clearly defined. In the State of Washington, professionals from various theoretical approaches have agreed that treatment goals for sex offenders should address clients' deviant sexual urges and recurrent, deviant sexual fantasies in order to prevent sexual reoffense; educate clients and individuals who constitute part of their support systems about the objective risk of reoffense; teach clients how to use self-control methods to avoid sexual reoffending; consider the effects of trauma and past victimization as factors in reoffense potential; address clients' thought processes that facilitate sexual offense and other victimizing or assaultive behavior; modify clients' thinking errors and cognitive distortions; ensure that clients have accurate knowledge about the effect of sexual offenses on victims, their families, and the community; sensitize clients to the effects of sexual abuse on victims; address clients' personality traits and deficits in terms of reoffense potential; help clients develop coping skills; and integrate clients' families in the therapy process. Specific goals of specialized sex offender treatment programs are noted, and the integrative treatment model developed by Washington's Department of Corrections is described. 24 references