NCJ Number
214944
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: July-August 2006 Pages: 378-393
Date Published
July 2006
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article argues that sex offender treatment should focus on the promotion of “good lives” goals rather than on isolated risk factors.
Abstract
Overall, the argument holds that a focus on risk management is powerful and clinically useful in treating the sex offender population, but in itself is insufficient to deliver significant reductions in criminal behavior. Instead, a comprehensive therapeutic approach should be adopted that contains both approach and avoidance goals that can be used to develop an integrated good lives plan. This plan carefully considers the environments into which offenders will be released as well as their individual characteristics. The focus of therapy becomes that of equipping clients with the internal and environmental conditions necessary to implement their good lives plan. It is through this process that dynamic criminogenic risk factors are reduced. Thus, this approach has shifted the focus of sex offender treatment from primarily addressing criminogenic risk to addressing the attainment of life goals. The authors begin their argument by introducing the concepts of risk and goals and their relationship with one another. The relationship between criminogenic needs and goals is also examined, with a focus on the etiology, treatment, and motivation of the offender. Four classes of criminogenic needs are identified: sexual self-regulation, offense supportive cognitions, level of interpersonal functioning, and general self-management problems. The authors illustrate how the promotion of goals would reduce the criminogenic risk factors suggested in each of the four classes of criminogenic needs. In short, the authors posit that it is possible to significantly reduce recidivism among offenders by helping them live better lives rather than by focusing on isolated risk factors. References