NCJ Number
209917
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 13 Issue: 3/4 Dated: 2004 Pages: 125-138
Date Published
2004
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article provides an introduction to the literature on the treatment of juvenile sex offenders (JSOs), noting at the outset that there are few empirical studies that have examined the treatments described.
Abstract
The primary goal of sexual offender therapy is for offenders to reintegrate into society as productive individuals. This article lists the National Adolescent Perpetrator Network's (1988) 19 issues that should be addressed in the treatment of JSOs. Although a JSO may be the identified client in need of treatment, many others are also typically involved in the treatment in some way. In the research literature, there are no indications that JSOs in treatment were self-referred; therefore, involvement of referral sources and other parties complicates the development of a positive working alliance with JSOs. This article identifies some of these parties and how they may be involved in treatment. Existing research literature suggests a comprehensive treatment program that consists of a variety of therapeutic interventions used simultaneously. Research has identified the primary interventions practiced across treatment settings as consisting of a combination of various cognitive-behavioral techniques as well as psychoeducational and pharmacological/biological interventions. The modalities include individual, family, and group therapy settings, as well as inpatient settings. One of the most recent meta-analyses on the effectiveness of JSO treatments suggests that cognitive-behavioral treatments and systemic interventions are associated with a reduction in both sexual and nonsexual recidivism. 37 references