NCJ Number
95714
Date Published
1985
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This executive summary highlights 10 innovative treatment programs for adult sex offenders that reflect a highly eclectic and multidisciplinary approach to retraining males involved in rape, child molestation, and nuisance offenses such as exhibitionism.
Abstract
After reviewing the contents of the original study, the summary identifies principles that the programs share. These include a complete and individualized assessment plan to determine an offender's needs and appropriate treatment setting, a re-education and resocialization process, and a posttreatment support group along with access to therapy. In addition, these programs require that each sex offender accept responsibility for his offense and learn to intervene in his offense pattern at its very first sign to stop the antisocial behavior. The summary surveys two nonresidential programs, noting that such programs treat only nuisance offenders, some pedophiles, and incest offenders because of concerns for community safety. Most residential programs for sex offenders are in prisons or mental health facilities, with prisons being the least favored setting because of the labeling, value system, and lack of opportunity to assume value system, and lack of opportunity to assume responsibility. The eight models described in the summary range from the optimum autonomous facility, Alpha Human Services in Minneapolis, to an independent prison facility in New Jersey, and to others housed within prisons or mental institutions. Each description covers the numbers and types of patients treated, the treatment program, security considerations, and success rates. Five references and four sources of additional information are supplied. For the full report, see NCJ 96499.