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Sexual offender treatment efficacy revisited.
1Sex Offender Treatment Program, Oshkosh Correctional Institution, Wisconsin 54903-3530, USA.
Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment
|May 21, 1999
Summary
This study analyzed 79 sexual offender treatment studies with 10,988 subjects. Findings suggest treatment can reduce recidivism rates, offering hope for rehabilitation efforts.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Criminology
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Debate exists regarding the efficacy of sexual offender treatment.
- Some argue treatment is effective, while others believe it is too early to determine.
- Current research lacks sufficient data for definitive meta-analytic conclusions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze a large dataset of sexual offender treatment outcome studies.
- To identify patterns in recidivism rates based on various factors.
- To provide empirical data to inform the debate on treatment efficacy.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive review of 79 sexual offender treatment outcome studies.
- Inclusion of 10,988 subjects across the reviewed studies.
- Analysis of recidivism rates for treated versus untreated offenders, categorized by offender age, victim age, offense type, treatment type, treatment location, treatment decade, and follow-up length.
Main Results:
- Recidivism rates were investigated across multiple demographic and treatment-related variables.
- Patterns were identified by combining data from treated and untreated subjects within each category.
- The analysis provides a foundation for more detailed future investigations.
Conclusions:
- The study synthesizes data from a substantial number of sexual offender treatment studies.
- Results offer insights into factors influencing treatment outcomes and recidivism.
- Clinical implications are derived from the analyzed patterns to inform practice and policy.