NCJ Number
60032
Date Published
1976
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THIS ANNUAL REPORT OF A SPECIALIZED TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR SEXUAL OFFENDERS STATES THAT THE SEX OFFENDER CAN BE TAUGHT TO CONTROL HIS IMPULSE TO COMMIT SEXUAL OFFENSES.
Abstract
IN 1966, A TREATMENT CENTER PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED AT WESTERN STATE HOSPITAL IN WASHINGTON WITH ABOUT 20 PATIENTS. IN 1976, THE CENTER EVALUATED OR TREATED 320 PERSONS, WITH 158 OF THESE NEW CASES AS PART OF A FOLLOWUP PROGRAM, 120 OUTPATIENTS WERE GIVEN WEEKLY TREATMENT. A COMPOSITE STUDY WAS MADE COMPARING NEW REFERRALS WITH AN EARLIER GROUP OF PATIENTS FROM 1970. THE COMPOSITE PROFILE BASED ONLY ON THE 158 NEW REFERRALS, SHOWED THAT THE TYPICAL SEX OFFENDER IS EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY MALADJUSTED, OF AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE, UNEMPLOYED, HAS A HISTORY OF ALCOHOL ABUSE, AND OFTEN IS PREOCCUPIED WITH SEXUAL FANTASIES. COMPARED TO THE 1970 GROUP, THE EDUCATION LEVEL FOR THE 1976 GROUP WAS HIGHER, WITH THE OFFENDER BEING YOUNGER AND HAVING A HIGHER INTELLIGENCE AND LOWER RECOMMITAL RATE. FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT RECENT PATIENTS HAVE BETTER TREATMENT POTENTIAL THAN EARLIER GROUPS. COSTS TO THE HOSPITAL FOR THE PROGRAM HAVE BEEN LOW SINCE TWO-THIRDS OF TREATMENT PATIENTS FREELY CONTRIBUTE THEIR LABOR TO THE HOSPITAL. VOLUNTEERS ALSO HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE TREATMENT PROCESS. AN EFFECTIVE SECURITY SYSTEM HAS LOWERED THE PATIENT ESCAPE RATE TO 0.9 PERCENT. THUS, THE PROGRAM HAS INTEGRATED SECURITY PROCEDURES INTO THE TREATMENT PROCESS AND REDUCED ESCAPES WITHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING ITS TREATMENT BENEFITS FOR THE SEXUAL OFFENDER. EXTENSIVE TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)