Treatment Of Sex Offenders

Running head: TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 1

Behavioral intervention to the treatment of sex offenders

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TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 2

Behavioral and cognitive treatment remains the most widely accepted intervention for

sexual offender treatment. One of the behavioral interventions applied to sexual offenders is

relapse prevention. This approach has long been the predominant approach used (Yates, 2013).

This intervention assists the sexual offenders to identify, anticipate and prevent high-risk

situations. These are mainly those situations which could lead to lapses. The intervention deals

with teaching the patients to cope with the high-risk situations or problems that may come in

their way. This model is, however, giving way to other new intervention models.

The Good Lives Model is another behavioral intervention model that is used for the

treatment of sexual offenders. This intervention model proposes that sexual offenders just like

other humans seek to acquire fundamental primary human goods (Yates, 2013). They are goal-

directed as well. Examples of these primary human goods include friendship, happiness, being

dependent, sexual pleasure, and attaining peace of emotional and mind equilibrium. The Good

Lives Model framework suggests that sexual offenders may utilize different substances to

regulate their moods in attaining these primary human goods. Good Lives Model approach

focuses on assisting sexual offenders to attain these valued and important life goals. This is done

in non-harmful and pro-social ways. As such, the offenders do not lapse because they become

fulfilled with the needs they were seeking. Unlike the relapse prevention, this model utilizes

approach rather than avoidance of the real problems that lead to recidivism. The approach rather

than solely focusing on the behaviour and activities that the client cannot engage, the treatment,

in this case, include working hard to attain those important goals.

All the interventions for sexual offenders are not effective. The most effective programs

follow the principles of risk, need, and responsivity (RNR) (Hanson and Helmus & Hodgson,

2009). The programs stated above have been successful in helping sexual offenders. The

TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 3

effectiveness of these programs depends on the people administering the interventions. Studies,

however, show that cognitive behavioral programs are more effective than psychological ones. A

positive treatment effect on sexual and another recidivism was felt after using the behavioral

interventions.

One of the challenges that has been witnessed when applying these interventions is the

offender’s unwillingness to participate. Some sex offenders do not like the idea of having a

person monitoring their behaviour (Gubrium & Jrvinen, pg. 219, 2014). At times this becomes a

source of that person reoffending another individual. One of the ethical consideration when

applying these approaches is ensuring that the physician does not overstep his/her boundaries.

This means that the offender has the right to choice. The offender can accept or decline anything.

Forceful actions should not be used on the offender.

Treatment of cognitive distortion is one of the most important cognitive intervention for

sexual offenders. Cognitive distortions are incorrect beliefs and attitudes which support

behaviour that is offensive. For example, a pedophile may think that engaging in sexual activity

is educating a child, or that he/she is acting in the child’s best interest which has never been the

case. Studies have shown that offenders hold certain beliefs and attitude which justifies their

offending behaviour. Cognitive restructuring is one of the methods that has been effective in

changing the beliefs and attitudes of offenders.

Emotion management is another cognition intervention that has been used for sexual

offenders. Emotional management has become one of the most relevant topics in sex offenders

research. Emotional management targets anger then addressing negative emotional states which

are related to offending behavior. To control the offender's behaviour, his or her affective states

is identified and how such a person experiences and copes with the negative emotions. Sexual

TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 4

offenders have been found to lack social skills. Interventions have focused on the general skills

of the offender such as communication and assertiveness. Additionally, initiating and

maintaining consenting relationships between sexual offenders that are suitable partners has been

found to be effective.

The integration of these approaches to the treatment programs for sex offenders is

essential in ensuring that they do not repeat the same mistakes. Sex offenders are maligned in the

society after they have been released from prison or any other detention programs (Salisbury, &

Routledge, 2015). The slander they receive makes them feel bitter and unwanted in the society.

This is one of the factors which makes them repeat their actions. Some of these programs target

the issues which led them to perform such acts in the first place. By targeting factors such as the

slander they receive, or alienation, the sexual offenders relax and they can focus on other

important things such as fulfilling their primary human goods which include happiness and mind

& emotional equilibrium. Some of the programs also helps them to integrate into the society. By

using cognitive interventions, it helps the sexual offender psychologically. They get determined

to achieve their goals and avoid scenarios which may cause a relapse. All sexual programs

should include these programs, or rather, integrating these approaches to sexual offender’s

treatment programs.

Cognitive-behavioral treatment for sex offenders has been effective in reducing

recidivism. According to ((Hanson and Helmus & Hodgson, 2009). there is a positive treatment

effect on sexual offenders when cognitive-behavioral treatment is used. Additionally, the

recidivism rate has reduced when these interventions were used. Other psychological approaches

perform worse in terms of recidivism compared to cognitive-behavioral interventions. As such, it

can be identified that cognitive intervention is the is the best way in which sexual offenders can

TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 5

be helped in the society. All the other approaches have their advantages as well, however, these

approaches are not as effective as a cognitive intervention when it comes to its positive effect on

recidivism. The same case applies for behavioral interventions. It is much better than the rest of

the psychological approach when determining the recidivism rate. The two approach reduce

recidivism at a higher rate.

The correctional policy has been known to have a negative effect on sexual offenders.

The horror that most incarcerated fellows face is harrowing the trauma that they face makes them

be withdrawn from the society. Most are tortured by their fellow prisoners and others by prison

warders. Additionally, the seclusion they face worsens the situation. By the time the sex

offenders are re-introduced into the society, they have been destroyed by the prison life. They

become withdrawn from the society. This is one of the factors that has increased the rate of

recidivism. Correctional policy needs to be designed in a way in which the incarcerated can feel

like normal individuals instead of feeling unwanted. It is only in such ways that the sex offenders

can adapt to the normal way easily and faster. Other ways can be used such as support groups to

help those that have been in a correctional facility to adapt to the outer world (Salisbury, &

Routledge, 2015).

TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 6

References

Yates, P. M. (2013). Treatment of sexual offenders: Research, best practices, and emerging

models. International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, 8(3-4), 89.

Hanson, R. K., Bourgon, G., Helmus, L., & Hodgson, S. (2009). The principles of effective

correctional treatment also apply to sexual offenders a meta-analysis. Criminal justice

and behavior, 36(9), f865-891.

Van, V. P., Salisbury, E. J. (2015). Correctional counseling and rehabilitation. London:

Routledge.

Gubrium, J. F., & Jrvinen, M. (2014). Turning troubles into problems: Clientization in human

services. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

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