NCJ Number
216123
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 369-390
Date Published
August 2006
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the evaluation of a 7-month community-based treatment program for sexual offenders with learning disabilities that addressed sex education, attitudes toward sexual offending, the offending cycle, and relapse prevention.
Abstract
No significant differences were found in attitudes toward sexual offending after treatment. There was some improvement in knowledge about sex and in the acknowledgment of interest in sex. There were also significant improvements in socialization skills (use of leisure time and interpersonal skills). No charges or reconvictions were officially reported for incidents of sexual reoffending by participants during the 12-month follow-up period; however, it was not clear whether this was the result of the treatment or of 24-hour supervision during the follow-up period. Consequently, the authors do not conclude that the treatment was directly responsible for reducing sexual reoffending. In addition, official data sources for reoffending tend to underreport reoffending. Recommendations for future treatment evaluations for sex offenders with learning disabilities are offered. The six men who participated in the treatment program were known to the local National Health Service learning disability services. Evaluators confirmed their learning disabilities with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Before and after treatment, the men were administered the following psychometric measures: the Multiphasic Sex Inventory, the Coping Response Inventory, the Psychiatric Assessment for Adults With a Developmental Disability, and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior scales. These measures were chosen to reflect the goals of the treatment intervention. The characteristics and treatment progress of each of the six participants are described. 4 tables and 75 references