Multisystemic therapy for juvenile sexual offenders: 1-year results from a randomized effectiveness trial.

Abstract

In spite of the serious and costly problems presented by juvenile sexual offenders, rigorous tests of promising interventions have rarely been conducted. This study presents a community-based effectiveness trial comparing multisystemic therapy (MST) adapted for juvenile sexual offenders with services that are typical of those provided to juvenile sexual offenders in the U.S. Youth were randomized to MST (n = 67) or treatment as usual for juvenile sexual offenders (TAU-JSO; n = 60). Outcomes through 12 months post recruitment were assessed for problem sexual behavior, delinquency, substance use, mental health functioning, and out-of-home placements. Relative to youth who received TAU-JSO, youth in the MST condition evidenced significant reductions in sexual behavior problems, delinquency, substance use, externalizing symptoms, and out-of-home placements. The findings suggest that family-and community-based interventions, especially Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Elizabeth J. Letourneau, Family Services Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, McClennan Banks Building 4 th Floor, 326 Calhoun St. STE MC406, Charleston, South Carolina, 29425. Electronic mail may be sent to letourej@musc.edu. The second author is a board member and stockholder of MST Services, LLC, the Medical University of South Carolina-licensed organization that provides training in MST. The third author is a board member of MST Associates, LLC, the organization that provides training in MST for youth with problem sexual behaviors. Publisher's Disclaimer:The following manuscript is the final accepted manuscript. It has not been subjected to the final copyediting, fact-checking, and proofreading required for formal publication. It is not the definitive, publisher-authenticated version. The American Psychological Association and its Council of Editors disclaim any responsibility or liabilities for errors or omissions of this manuscript version, any version derived from this manuscript by NIH, or other third parties. The published version is available at http://www.apa.org/journals/fam/. Policy discussions regarding the legal and treatment dispositions of adolescents arrested for sexual offenses have been contentious, with some policy makers and treatment professionals arguing for lifelong placement on sexual offender registries and extended residential treatment (e.g., J. Ring, quoted in Michels, 8/16/2007), and others emphasizing the generally low recidivism rates of such youth and their need for strength-focused, community-based services (e.g., Chaffin, 2008). Regardless of these different perspectives, however, virtually all stakeholders agree that the scope of sexual offending by juveniles is substantial and warrants the development of effective interventions. NIH Public AccessRegarding the scope and consequences of adolescent sexual offending, official records indicate that minors account for about 20% of all serious sexual crimes (Pastore & M...

A Review Following Systematic Principles of Multisystemic Therapy for Antisocial Behavior in Adolescents Aged 10–17 Years

“…For example, in the United Kingdom, about a quarter of those referred could not be contacted or refused to consent to assessment. This was a similar proportion in the referrals of both Weiss et al (2013) and Letourneau et al (2009). It is possible that this proportion may represent those families with more chaotic lives who are less willing to cooperate with services and whose profiles could be substantially different from those who do agree.…”

“…Four of these were rated "strong" (Asscher Butler et al 2011;Sawyer and Borduin 2011;Sundell et al 2008); four others were rated as "good" Letourneau et al 2009;Ogden and Hagen 2006;Weiss et al 2013) and three were rated "weak" (Glisson et al 2010;Henggeler et al 2006;Timmons-Mitchell et al 2006).…”

“…Some studies reported low rates of missing data (e.g., at 2 year follow-up 94% of participants completed assessment measures, Letourneau et al 2009); whereas other studies had relatively high rates of non-completion (e.g., in Glisson et al 2010, just over half of participants (57.0%) completed the 18 month assessment measures). Only one study provided no information on drop outs (Timmons-Mitchell et al 2006).…”

Offender Types and Criminality Dimensions in Male Juveniles Convicted of Sexual Offenses

“…Because of these findings, some authors concluded that JSO do not need specialized sexual treatment and may profit from intensive family and social interventions as general antisocial youth do (Letourneau et al, 2009;Ronis & Borduin, 2007). However, other studies found differences between JSO and general 4 juvenile delinquents, especially regarding reduced social functioning and earlier beginning of their criminal careers (Bullens, Van Wijk, & Mali, 2006).…”

Confronting Child and Adolescent Sexual Abuse

“…They must conduct investigations and manage juvenile offend ers in a way that best prevents reoffending. Fortunately, several intervention strate gies have proven effective in reducing recidivism among teenage sex offenders, and communities should acquaint them selves with these approaches (Borduin and Schaeffer, 2001;Reitzel and Carbonell, 2007;Letourneau et al, 2009). Good results have also been reported across a number of short-term interventions with juvenile offenders younger than age 12 (Chaffin et al, 2008).…”