Managing and Treating Sex Offenders: Key Elements and Ethical Practices

1. Elements of Sex Offender-Specific Treatment: Learning Objectives • Identify some of the components of sex offender-specific treatment • Identify the four domains of sex offender-specific treatment • Identify several ethical issues in the treatment of sex offenders Short Version: Section 3

2. Two Facets of Sex Offender Management: Addressing both External and Internal Controls • External Controls: • Probation/Parole • Supervision • Polygraph • Testing • Registration/ • Notification • Use of • Community • Networks • Internal Controls: • The Four Domains of Treatment: • Sexual Interests • Distorted Attitudes • Interpersonal Functioning • Behavior Management External Controls Internal Controls Short Version: Section 3

3. Characteristics of Sex Offender-Specific Treatment • Explicit, empirically-based model of change • Expected to reduce recidivism • Social learning theory-based • Targets factors closely linked to sex offending (criminogenic needs) • Cognitive-behavioral techniques Short Version: Section 3

4. Treatment is Skills Oriented • Skills to avoid sex offending • Skills to engage in legitimate activities • “Skills oriented treatment” includes: • Defining the skill • Identifying the usefulness of the skill • Modeling the skill • Practicing the skill • Giving feedback • Practicing the skill again Short Version: Section 3

5. How Long Should Sex Offender Treatment Last? • Until recently, answers to this question were based only opinion—there is now research that addresses this question • Different offenders require different lengths of treatment • Higher levels of denial, sexual deviancy, and risk require longer, more intense treatment Short Version: Section 3

6. Monitoring and Quality Control of Treatment are a Must • Monitoring of: • Program activities • Clients Short Version: Section 3

7. Treatment of the Denying Sex Offender • Denial is common among sex offenders • But, admitting is vital to treatment • Sex offenders who do not admit at some point can’t be treated • Therefore, treatment of denial is usually necessary to make a client ready for sex offender treatment Short Version: Section 3

8. The Four Domains of Treatment • Sexual Interests • Distorted Attitudes • Interpersonal Functioning • Behavior Management Short Version: Section 3

9. Behavior Management—The Fourth Domain of Treatment Sex offending is, by definition, mismanagement of behavior by the offender. Thus, the purpose of intervening in this treatment domain is to assist offenders to manage their behavior in responsible and non-victimizing ways. We will discuss two methods: • Covert Sensitization • Relapse Prevention Short Version: Section 3

10. Goals of Covert Sensitization • To reduce the attractiveness of sexual assault by having the offender focus on the negative social consequences he faces • To have offenders explore all of the consequences of their actions—in particular the negative consequences which offenders so often refuse to recognize Short Version: Section 3

11. Relapse Prevention • First used in the treatment of alcohol and other drug abuse • If behavior could be managed to avoid certain situations, then relapse was less likely • Applied now in the treatment of sex offenders Short Version: Section 3

12. Rationale for Relapse Prevention • Sex offenders who believe that treatment will eliminate their risk for reoffense are more likely to recidivate • Offenders who understand that they are never “cured,” recognize offense precursors, and avoid high risk thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are more likely to remain offense-free Short Version: Section 3

13. Adjunctive Therapies • Marital and family therapy • Family education seminars and couples groups • Substance abuse treatment • Educational/vocational supports • Individual therapy (usually for other issues) Short Version: Section 3

14. Ethical Practice Standards • Balancing the safety of the community with the offender’s privacy • Informed consent • Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) is the major professional organization that speaks to ethical practice standards in this field • ATSA has issued a “Code of Ethics” as well as practice standards and guidelines • www.atsa.com Short Version: Section 3

15. A Major Ethical Issue: Informed Consent At a minimum, sex offenders entering treatment should have spelled out to them—preferably in writing: • The purpose and nature of treatment • Its expected duration • Its anticipated benefits, costs, and risks • Limitations of confidentiality Short Version: Section 3