Johnson County Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program - A Pretrial Diversion Model, Olathe, Kansas (From Innovations in the Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse Cases, P 43-83, 1981, Josephine Bulkley, ed. - See NCJ-94313)

• NCJ Number: 94316
• Author(s): H Swann; D Coffey; R Courtney; D Moore; K Moriarity
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 41 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche as NCJ-94313.

Annotation

The Johnson County Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program (CSATP) (Kansas) is designed to coordinate the detection, prosecution, and treatment of intrafamilial child sexual offenders and their families.

Abstract

The CSATP is administered by the Johnson County Mental Health Center, receiving funding from the Kansas State Social and Rehabilitation Services, the County Mental Health Center, and client fees. Before an offender is accepted into this pretrial diversion program, he must acknowledge responsibility for the sexually abusive acts. Admission to the program occurs after charges are filed but prior to formal adjudication. The defendant signs a diversion agreement that commits him to perform certain responsibilities during the program period. Initial crisis services include medical services, social/mental health services, and referrals for individual services. The program's basic theoretical orientation is that of a family systems model. All treatment services are designed to (1) overcome family members' denial and collusion to avoid confronting the sexual abuse; (2) aid the offender in accepting full responsibility and acknowledging this directly to the child; (3) strengthen the family unit through marital and sexual counseling, developing recognition of adequate family roles, and family therapy; and (4) aid the child in handling guilt and associated growth issues. Treatment progress is monitored, and treatment is terminated under the authority of the district attorney when it appears that treatment objectives have been met. Some indications of the program's effectiveness are that of the 36 offenders arrested for incest in the county since April 1980, none have dropped out of treatment, and none have been reported for sexual misconduct. The couples that have remained married (81 percent) have reported improvements in their relationships due to the program. Legislation relevant to the program, program forms, and details of program procedures are appended.