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Abstract

This meta-analytic review examined the effectiveness of psychological treatment for sex offenders by summarizing data from 43 studies (combined n = 9,454). Averaged across all studies, the sexual offence recidivism rate was lower for the treatment groups (12.3%) than the comparison groups (16.8%, 38 studies, unweighted average). A similar pattern was found for general recidivism, although the overall rates were predictably higher (treatment 27.9%, comparison 39.2%, 30 studies). Current treatments (cognitive-behavioral, k = 13; systemic, k = 2) were associated with reductions in both sexual recidivism (from 17.4 to 9.9%) and general recidivism (from 51 to 32%). Older forms of treatment (operating prior to 1980) appeared to have little effect. Future directions for improving the quality of sex offender treatment outcome evaluations are discussed.

How to Integrate the Good Lives Model Into Treatment Programs for Sexual Offending

“…The purpose of this paper is to provide overarching guidelines on how to integrate the GLM with the RNR and cognitive behavioral 4 therapy (CBT) in sex offender treatment programs. As a point of clarification, the GLM and RNR represent overarching rehabilitation theories that inform treatment aims and targets, while CBT is an empirically supported treatment modality for addressing treatment targets (e.g., Hanson et al, 2002). In other words, the GLM and RNR specify what to do in treatment, and CBT informs how.…”

Sex Offender Policy and Prevention

“…Despite being a large and heterogeneous population, sex offenders got "one size fi ts all" treatment and were subsequently written off as untreatable when that fl awed methodology failed to produce appreciable results. To this day, one of the most pervasive sex offender myths is that of untreatability, despite promising evidence that treatment can lower rates of recidivism (Hanson et al, 2002 ). Under that purview, however, long terms of incarceration are the only way to interrupt the cycle of offending and keep the public safe.…”

“…Treatment, which seems to have a positive impact in reducing recidivism (Hanson et al, 2002 ), is inconsequential as long as the offender is behind bars. To keep offenders in prison longer, various sentencing schemes have been devised, including determinate sentencing and mandatory minimums.…”

“…Determinate sentencing was partially developed in response to the belief that correctional rehabilitation is not effective, which, at the time, was not necessarily inaccurate or unfounded. However, recent innovations in offender treatment are worlds away from those being utilized in the 1970s and 1980s, and newer forms of treatment have been shown to be those that produce the largest treatment effects (Hanson et al, 2002 ).…”

“…Traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques are employed widely throughout the corrections system to restructure the thoughts and subsequent actions of offenders by teaching more effective methods of thinking and coping (Spiegler & Guevremont, 2010 ). By focusing on dynamic risk factors like sexual deviance, antisocial orientation and intimacy defi cits (Hanson & Morton-Bourgon, 2005 ), and making adaptations to account for the client's learning style, cultural background, and level of motivation (Langevin & Curnoe, 2007 ), modern rehabilitative practices are gaining a great deal of support (Hanson et al, 2002 ;Looman et al, 2005 ;Lösel & Schmucker, 2005 ;McGrath, Cumming, Livingston, & Hoke, 2003 ;McGrath, Hoke, & Vojtisek, 1998 ;Scalora & Garbin, 2003 ).…”