NCJ Number
216212
Journal
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2006 Pages: 249-258
Date Published
July 2006
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Using a sample of 72 sex offenders treated in a high intensity sex offender program, this study tested the validity and reliability of the Criminal Sentiments Scale (CSS), which purports to measure attitudes and values that pertain to and support criminal conduct (Andrews and Bonta, 2003).
Abstract
Overall, the findings indicate that the CSS in an internally consistent tool for the assessment of criminal sentiments among sex offenders; however, it predicts nonsexual reoffending but not sexual reoffending. The CSS was a robust predictor of nonsexual violent and nonviolent reoffending; and it correlated significantly with the General Statistical Information on Recidivism Scale, which assesses nonsexual reoffending risk. Similar analyses, however, failed to show that the CSS could not reliably predict sexual reoffending, nor did it correlate with a tool that assessed risk for sexual reoffending, i.e., the Static 99. Using the CSS at pretreatment and posttreatment in an accredited sex offender treatment program produced changes in the CSS total and subscale scores in the expected direction; however, with a control group, researchers were unable to attribute the observed changes to the effects of treatment. Suggestions are offered for future research. The 72 sex offenders who were treated in a sex offender program completed the CSS before and after treatment, and they were followed up for approximately 3 years. 3 tables and 32 references