NCJ Number
202786
Date Published
May 2003
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses some of the ethical issues involved in treating sex offenders who have sexually abused children and have been involuntarily enrolled in a treatment program where they have resisted treatment.
Abstract
This paper focuses on the following ethical issues in the treatment of child sex offenders: whether or not the treatment of choice, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is possible when the underlying assumptions of CBT may be violated; whether or not CBT is valid when the central concepts of CBT are themselves flawed; whether or not the therapist is value-free or neutral; whether or not treatment can be effective when individuals are coerced into treatment; and whether or not treatment can be effective when the individual denies that he committed the offense. The author states that he cannot treat someone who denies having the problem being treated. The issue of treatment should not, therefore, be about whether or not they admit they have committed the crime, but rather what their level of risk is in the community if they are released and/or supervised without treatment. The lowering of the level of risk to the community should be the aim of treatment. This can be done by a variety of means, with the easiest being an education program and the more difficult approach being an intensive program of treatment. Treatment can also involve the adoption of techniques designed to motivate the client to become engaged in treatment, since without engagement no treatment can begin. The climate most conducive to engagement is the therapist's unconditional positive regard for the client. 9 references