NCJ Number
170506
Journal
Corrections Management Quarterly Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1998) Pages: 45-54
Date Published
1998
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article presents the results of an evaluation of the efficacy of treatment of juvenile sex offenders in both specialized and non-specialized settings.
Abstract
Sex offender treatment for a cohort of male sex offenders was significantly different from other settings, particularly in terms of its substantial reliance on group therapy and its emphasis on the instant offense and offense-related behavior, including denial, victim awareness, understanding of motives and antecedent events, cognitive restructuring, interpersonal skills, and stress/anxiety management. The study used multiple measures of outcome including community transition, attitudes and cognitive responses to a variety of interview questions, and official measures of recidivism. Findings suggest that specialized sex offender treatment is more effective than non-specialized treatment and that specialized programs show more promise for providing long-term public safety than logistically convenient generic options, including security or surveillance without intensified treatment. The data also suggest that sex offender treatment works for juveniles. Sex offending is apparently learned behavior that can be unlearned in appropriate settings. Tables