NCJ Number
156388
Journal
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: (July 1995) Pages: 221-227
Date Published
1995
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The Sex Offender Treatment Rating Scale (SOTRS) is proposed as a potential process and outcome measure for sex offender treatment.
Abstract
Using the SOTRS, therapists evaluate insight, deviant thoughts, awareness of situational risks, motivation, victim empathy, and offense disclosure. Ratings in these areas are combined to produce a single treatment progress score. To assess SOTRS internal consistency and reliability, pairs of therapists providing treatment for 122 court-referred male sex offenders in 15 therapy groups completed the SOTRS twice at 5-month intervals. Subjects had been convicted of sexual offense charges and referred for treatment as a condition of probation or parole. They were enrolled in an outpatient treatment program at the Center for the Treatment of Problem Sexual Behavior in Middletown, Connecticut. Results showed that internal consistency, inter-rater agreement, and test-retest reliability of the SOTRS were high. While further studies are needed to validate the SOTRS against recidivism criteria, the scale can presently be used for staff development, treatment planning, program evaluation, and quality assurance objectives. The SOTRS can quantify therapist perceptions of client responses to important aspects of cognitive-behavioral sex offender treatment and facilitate case discussion and treatment review. 24 references