NCJ Number
68543
Editor(s)
J GUNN
Date Published
1978
Length
93 pages
Annotation
THESE PROCEEDINGS FROM THE FIRST SPECIAL HOSPITALS RESEARCH UNIT (GREAT BRITAIN) SYMPOSIUM FOCUS ON SEXUAL OFFENDERS AND THE RESEARCH ABOUT THEM THAT HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE IN SPECIAL HOSPITALS.
Abstract
TWO PAPERS GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM IN SPECIAL HOSPITALS, THE DIFFICULTIES IN TRYING TO CLASSIFY SEX OFFENDERS, AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSES COMMITTED BY THESE OFFENDERS. THE CRIMINOLOGY OF SEXUAL OFFENDING IS DISCUSSED IN THE CONTEXT OF HOW COURTS REACT TO THE SEX OFFENDER AND WITH REGARD TO THE MAJORITY OF SUCH OFFENDERS WHO NEVER REACH A MEDICAL FACILITY. AN APPROACH TO ASSESSING SEXUAL DEVIANCY IS DESCRIBED THAT INVOLVES EXAMINING PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO PICTURES AND FILMS, WHILE ANOTHER APPROACH DISCUSSED INVOLVES A NEW SEXUAL ORIENTATION ASSESSMENT FORMULA. THE REPERTORY GRID TECHNIQUE FOR INVESTIGATING THE INTERPERSONAL PERCEPTION OF SEXUAL OFFENDERS IS EXPLORED, WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON FEMALE PEDOPHILES. CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES ARE STUDIED AS THEY OCCUR IN SPECIAL HOSPITAL POPULATIONS. TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE REPORTED, INCLUDING ONE THAT USES AUTOMATED AVERSION THERAPY, ANOTHER THAT USES A BEHAVIORALLY ORIENTED SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM, AND YET ANOTHER THAT PROPOSES APPLYING SELF-CONTROL TRAINING PROCEDURES TO THE PROBLEM OF MODIFYING SEXUAL INTEREST WITH MALE SEX OFFENDERS. FINALLY, FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED THAT REFLECT ON THE USE OF DRUGS, INCLUDING HORMONES, CYPROTERONE, AND TRANQUILIZERS IN SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT. REFERENCES, GRAPHS, DIAGRAMS, AND FIGURES SUPPLEMENT THE TEXT.