NCJ Number
178201
Journal
Corrections Technology and Management Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 1999 Pages: 54-56
Date Published
1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Hawaii is the only State that offers a treatment program to all incarcerated sex offenders and to those who remain in the State after release; the program has been so successful that only 1 percent of the inmates who have completed the treatment plan during and after incarceration have returned to prison.
Abstract
Those who choose to participate in the plan while in prison meet for group therapy once a week. All participants must complete at least 60 hours in group therapy. At least 2 hours a week are required after release. The program continues to evolve based on the combined information and experiences of therapists and parole officers. Hawaii has therapy groups in every prison in the State; each group has about eight participants. Therapy includes basic social skills designed to enhance self-esteem. Some sessions emphasize inmates' strengths, as well as peer evaluations of their antisocial behavior, so that the inmates realize that they can learn the skills to prevent relapse. The program uses no medications, although some inmates may be taking medications prescribed by a physicians. Wives, relatives, or the offender's children may receive counseling. Most treatment participants are required also to enter a drug or alcohol abuse program. Inmates go on work release if jobs can be found. Sex offenders scheduled for parole or probation are registered with the local police. Curfew is a useful method of preventing relapse temptation. Electronic monitoring is used for some offenders. The polygraph is administered to each sex offender approximately every 90 days. All parole officers who work with sex offenders receive special training. The treatment program currently has about 80 sex offenders. Photograph