NCJ Number
56095
Journal
Community Mental Health Journal Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1978) Pages: 147-152
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
PROGRAM ORIENTATION, TREATMENT SETTING, PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT, PREDICTING DANGEROUSNESS, AND TRAINING AND RESEARCH ARE THE SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN PLANNING COMMUNITY TREATMENT FOR SEX OFFENDERS.
Abstract
IN CALIFORNIA AND GREAT BRITAIN, PLANS ARE BEING MADE TO MOVE THE TREATMENT SETTING FOR MANY SEX OFFENDERS FROM LARGE STATE HOSPITALS TO COMMUNITY SITES. IN MAKING THIS TRANSITION, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AN INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAM BE PLANNED FOR EACH OFFENDER. A GOOD PROGRAM FOR SEX OFFENDERS WILL CONTAIN MORE THAN TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. TRAINING IN RELATING EFFECTIVELY WITH OTHERS, PARTICULARLY WITH FEMALES FOR MALE OFFENDERS, SHOULD BE AN INTEGRAL FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM. MODELING THE EFFECTIVE ACTIONS OF OTHERS AND LEARNING ASSERTIVE SKILLS ARE LIKELY TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN THIS AREA. THERE ARE MAJOR ADVANTAGES TO HAVING ALL SEX OFFENDERS TOGETHER AS A GROUP, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR SPECIFIC THERAPY AND TRAINING. DURING THE INITIAL PHASE OF TREATMENT, THE THERAPIST SHOULD OBTAIN A COMPLETE HISTORY AS HE FORMS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PATIENT. ALL OF THE LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME BEARING ON THE OFFENSE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. IN PLANNING APPROPRIATE THERAPY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHETHER THE OFFENDING BEHAVIOR IS SPORADIC OR COMPULSIVE. THE THERAPIST SHOULD PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO SUCH AREAS AS WHEN THE PATIENT FIRST LEARNED ABOUT SEX, PARENTAL ATTITUDES TOWARD SEX, HISTORY OF SEX PLAY WITH CHILDREN OR ADULTS, ABUSE OF OTHER CHILDREN, ABUSE BY PARENTS OR BY OTHER ADULTS, TORTURE OF ANIMALS, MASTURBATION AND ASSOCIATED FANTASIES, EARLY SIGNALS OF DISTRESS, ATTITUDES TOWARD PUBERTY AND CHANGE IN BODY IMAGE, AND ETHICAL BELIEFS CONCERNING SEXUAL BEHAVIOR. THE PREDICTION OF DANGEROUSNESS IS AN IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT IN MOVING PATIENTS TOWARD ADVANCED STAGES OF TREATMENT, BUT SEVERAL OBSTACLES TO ACCURATE PREDICTIONS EXIST. HOWEVER, SOME CLUES TO DANGEROUSNESS INCLUDE A TRIAD OF JUVENILE BEHAVIORS THOUGHT TO BE PREDICTIVE OF FUTURE VIOLENCE-ENURESIS, FIRESETTING, AND CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. IN THE AREA OF TRAINING, THE SKILL OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL TREAT SEX OFFENDERS AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL MAY BE ENHANCED BY TRAINING AT A LARGER HOSPITAL SPECIALIZING IN THIS WORK. EXTENSIVE, BROADLY BASED RESEARCH INTO THE ETIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF AGGRESSIVE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IS IMPERATIVE. REGARDING FACILITY SECURITY FOR HOSPITALS IN BOTH GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES, SEVERAL LEVELS OF SECURITY ARE APPROPRIATE, INCLUDING A LOCKED FACILITY, A HALFWAY HOUSE, AND AN OUTPATIENT UNIT. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)