Refusers, Dropouts, and Completers: Measuring Sex Offender Treatment Efficacy

• NCJ Number: 207368
• Journal: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 48 Issue: 5 Dated: October 2004 Pages: 600-612
• Author(s): James A. Seager; Debra Jellicoe; Gurmeet K. Dhaliwal
• Date Published: October 2004
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This Canadian study measured the effectiveness of an in-prison sex-offender treatment program by comparing the 2-year recidivism rates of program "completers" (n=109) and "noncompleters" (n=37).

Abstract

The treatment program delivered in a medium-security Canadian Federal penitentiary consisted of five distinct but interconnected components: disclosure, empathy for victims, issues of masculinity/femininity, sexuality, and relapse prevention. The format for each component included a review of the relevant literature, a discussion of cognitive distortions, video presentations, and offender group discussions. Completion of each component was accompanied by a "pass" or "fail" for each offender's progress. A final evaluation of the offender's overall progress was based on an evaluation of progress in all the components completed. "Noncompleters" were defined as those who refused treatment or dropped out of the program. "Completers" were those who remained enrolled in the program until the final session, regardless of their progress rating. For the 2-year period following release, study participants were monitored for sexual/violent offenses as measured by both charges and convictions, with charges being a more liberal measure of recidivism than convictions. "Noncompleters" had six times the rate of sexual and violent reoffending of "completers." Among "completers," however, final progress evaluation ratings did not correlate with recidivism rates. Further, "completers" did not differ in their recidivism rates from pretreatment rates predicted by the Static 99, an actuarial measure of anticipated sexual and violent recidivism. The study thus concluded that the treatment program had no impact on recidivism, but rather acted as an extended screening instrument to identify which offenders had the willingness and the capability to complete a treatment program and which offenders did not. Apparently this willingness and capability were linked to recidivism rates, rather than response to program content. 2 tables and 28 references