NCJ Number
152075
Journal
Treatment Quarterly Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1992) Pages: 12-18
Date Published
1992
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article describes the role that families of juvenile sex offenders have in helping prevent their child from reoffending after release.
Abstract
Family involvement in treatment must begin at intake. The presence of the family at intake can best be achieved through a referral network by which the program establishes that family attendance is expected. The family should be informed about treatment components and be drawn into treatment contributions by asking them about their observations and perceptions of their child's behavior and attitudes. Between intake and the time that the youth has successfully discussed his committing offense with his group members, there is a time period during which most families should be allowed to visit the facility and receive support and education from the program staff. After the youth can face his offense and accept responsibility for it, he must talk about it with his family. With this stage of family involvement begins the work of relapse prevention. Program staff assist the family in identifying interactional cycles that increase the likelihood that the youth will repeat the offending behavior. A transition network is developed with the family that will help them manage risk and facilitate healthy behavior by their child.