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Sex Offender Situational Competency Test (SOSCT) Pretreatment and Posttreatment Effects for Inpatient Sex Offenders in Hypothetical High-Risk Situations

NCJ Number
243420
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 52 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2013 Pages: 16-28
Author(s)
John R. Reddon; Shelly Takacs; Stephen Hogan
Date Published
January 2013
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated relapse prevention skill acquisition within the context of a comprehensive treatment program.
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to evaluate relapse prevention skill acquisition within the context of a comprehensive treatment program involving group psychotherapy, relapse prevention programming, and other essential psychoeducational components. The Sex Offender Situational Competency Test (SOSCT) was administered pretreatment and posttreatment to 139 convicted adult sex offenders in intensive inpatient treatment for 5.7 to 22.9 months. The SOSCT measures the ability to recognize high-risk situations and the effectiveness of the coping skills generated. Participants were presented with differing scenarios depending on their sex-offender subtype (75 heterosexual child molesters, 23 homosexual child molesters, and 36 rapists of women). Posttreatment scores on the SOSCT improved significantly (p less than .0005) but neither the sex offender group effect (p greater than .357) nor the interaction between treatment time and group (p greater than .097) obtained statistical significance. It is very unlikely that the SOSCT improvements obtained simply result from participation in relapse prevention programming. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.