Treatment Retention in a Prison-Based Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program

• NCJ Number: 220999
• Journal: Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 19 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2007 Pages: 333-346
• Author(s): Bernadette Pelissier
• Date Published: December 2007
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study assessed the role of static factors (e.g., history of violence, type of offense, and various demographic factors), a dynamic factor (motivation to change sexually deviant behavior), and an administrative factor (time between initial commitment to prison and admission to the treatment program) in predicting treatment retention within a prison-based sex offender treatment program.

Abstract

The study found that higher scores on motivation to change sexually deviant behavior upon entering treatment was associated with retention in treatment. Other factors significantly related to retention in treatment were higher levels of education and admission to treatment within 3 months of initial commitment to prison. The importance of initial motivation to change suggests the value of having motivational enhancement interventions. Also, individuals discharged from the treatment program for disciplinary reasons could be sent to a program that addresses their motivational issues and prepares them for reentry into treatment. The fact that individuals with higher educational levels showed better retention in treatment suggests that attention be given to the reading and comprehension levels of program materials. More rapid involvement in sex offender treatment programs after prison admission could be facilitated by placing those on the waiting list into an outpatient program before admission to the residential program when it is anticipated that admission to the residential program will take longer than 3 months. The study sample consisted of 251 individuals who were admitted to a residential prison-based sex offender treatment program, 46 percent of whom completed the program. Treatment was voluntary. The Stages of Change Questionnaire was used to measure motivation for change. The instructions and some items of the motivation survey were adapted to refer to sexual problems. 3 tables and 40 references