NCJ Number
243154
Date Published
2011
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This chapter describes the inmate sex offender treatment program (SOTP) in Washington State, followed by an outline of the components of the transition program for high-risk sex offenders as they enter their communities after release, with attention to family support seminars.
Abstract
Because of the lengthy waiting list, most incarcerated sex offenders enter treatment when they are within 18 months of release. All offenders accepted into the program are expected to continue to receive services in the community. Community aftercare services are available upon release for up to 3 years as part of the SOTP. The SOTP uses relapse prevention techniques within a cognitive-behavioral paradigm. Treatment focuses on teaching prosocial skills and attitudes, as well as training offenders when to use these skills to avoid offending. Although treatment must address the unique needs of each offender, common treatment goals include increasing acceptance of responsibility for one's behavior, identifying offense "triggers," and learning adaptive skills in managing stress. Also emphasized are how to communicate effectively in resolving problems, managing sexual arousal, and avoiding risky situations. Recognizing that the chance of a sex offender remaining offense-free over the long term is improved if the offender has an informed and vigilant support system, transition services include family support seminars. The seminars instruct participants in risk management and safe communities; the importance of their positive support in preventing reoffending; the importance of the integration of institutional treatment, community treatment/supervision, and other community-based resources; and the importance of family members' collateral contacts with parole officers, thereby increasing information about the offender in order to facilitate supervision needs. 1 table and 6 references