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Dr. Gerald R. Hover

Dr. Gerald R. Hover. From Research to Reality. What’s working and What’s not working?. Today I will wish to know what you think is working and/or not working in your country in terms of laws, procedures, and public policies regarding sex offenders.

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Dr. Gerald R. Hover

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  1. Dr. Gerald R. Hover From Research to Reality

  2. What’s working and What’s not working?

  3. Today I will wish to know what you think is working and/or not working in yourcountry in terms of laws, procedures, and public policies regarding sex offenders.

  4. I will also be asking what you believe are the next steps for you and your nation to take.

  5. I will now summarize the U.S. state of affairs.

  6. Discordant information

  7. It is getting better and it is getting worse.

  8. Signs of Improvement: Harris and Hansen (2004), N=4,724 “After 15 years 76% of sex offenders are not charged with another sex offence.”

  9. Why? • Economic prosperity • More detectives and social workers • Longer sentences • Better community supervision, i.e., more offender specific • Psychotropic medications • More willing offenders

  10. And • Sex Offender treatment works • Hansen, Gordon, Harris, Murphy, Quinsey, and Seto, 2002 • 17% of the untreated offenders reoffended • 10% of those sex offenders in sex offender treatment reoffended • Effect Size = .40 • Meaning the treated offenders were 40% better • Good results, but not great

  11. But let us compare other Effect Sizes: • Chemotherapy for breast cancer is 8% • Anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin) are at 14% • By pass surgery for artery blockage is 15% • Nicotine Patches are at 18% • Clozapine (schizophrenia medication) is at 20% • Viagra is at 38% • From: Marshall & McGuire 2003, • Meyer, Finn, Gyde, • Kay,Dies, Gismdn, Kubiszyn, & Reed, 2001

  12. Is sexual abuse becoming worse?

  13. Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victims Survey, 2005 Substantiated a decline of 51% in sexual abuse reports between 1991 & 2005

  14. And in May, 2011 Tabachnick & Klein published a report for ATSA: “A Reasonable Approach: Reshaping Sex Offender Policy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse”

  15. Adapted from Tabachnick & Klein, 2011

  16. The vast majority of sexual assault goes unreported. Why?

  17. Hypothesis: Our laws are not driven by science.

  18. The vast majority of sex offender laws: • Lengthen incarceration • Add electronic monitoring • Require community notification • Restrict where offenders can live

  19. Other Variables: • Charges are pled down to lesser crimes • Some folks distrust our law enforcement officers & our criminal justice system & believe not all are treated fairly. • Some victims are fearful and/or ashamed at not having been able to stop someone they love from offending them.

  20. The uninteded consequences: • Victims do not report crimes to the police • Perpetrators are unable to return to the home they own • New housing is both distant from services & remote from support • Ancillary services are decreased or hard to access • Offenders are less connected to support people • Larger numbers of homeless sex offenders

  21. What Works? • Stability • Housing • Employment • Pro-social associates • Matching our response to risk & not treating all offenders alike • Specialized treatment for sex offenders

  22. Your three questions are:

  23. (1) What is happening in your nation that is working?

  24. (2) What is occurring that is not working?

  25. (3) What are your next steps?

  26. Contact Information gerald.hover@doc.wa.gov 360-794-2419

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