NCJ Number
217176
Date Published
November 2006
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report provides an overview of current research, professional literature, and practice trends relative to treatment for sexually abusive individuals.
Abstract
A comprehensive approach to managing individuals who have committed sex offenses requires the consideration and integration of a number of key components, including the critical and very promising role of treatment. In response to the growing body of research on those who perpetrate sex crimes, the face of treatment has begun to change in important ways. The future of treatment may indeed reflect more tailored and ultimately more effective interventions for adults and juveniles. Treatment will need to take into consideration the diversity both within and across these populations. In summary, the available evidence suggests that these interventions hold promise for reducing recidivism both among adults and juveniles who have committed sex offenses. Specialized treatment has been a mainstay of sex offender management approaches for several decades. However, due to the heightened attention to sex crimes and its impact on victims and communities, there has been a push for a more punitive response. This punitive response has begun to overshadow the important role of treatment in sex offender management efforts. In an attempt to better illuminate the treatment of sex offenders for those who have a stake in sex offender management, this report examines the unique features of treatment for sex offenders, the conceptualization of treatment, modernizing treatment, and evidence on treatment effectiveness. References