The Challenge Project: a treatment program evaluation for perpetrators of child sexual abuse

Research on treatment outcome for sex offenders has been poorly designed, with biased sampling, lack of controls, and a failure to define treatment programs, subjects, and outcome measures. This research aimed to compare group and individual treatment outcomes, with particular reference to program compliance and reoffending.

The Challenge Project assessed all 80 convicted perpetrators of child sexual abuse in S.E. London over a 2-year period, and followed them up 1 and 2 years later. The 43 perpetrators who were diverted into the community program received weekly standardized cognitive-behavioral treatment over a 1-year period. Subjects were matched on key variables and entered either group or individual therapy.

Some treatment effects could be demonstrated in both group and individual therapy, particularly if individual changes in test scores were examined. Two variables were significantly associated with poor treatment compliance: A history of sexual and/or violent offending, and a history of childhood sexual victimization. However, only one subject had been convicted of a further sexual offense--possession of child pornography--at follow-up.

The findings may support professionals in deciding how best to allocate scarce resources; and it is intended to extend the outcome study to at least a 5-year follow-up period, to see whether compliance and shifts in psychological measures are a valid predictor of outcome.