Outcomes in a Community Sex Offender Treatment Program: A Comparison Between Polygraphed and Matched Non-polygraphed Offenders

This study compared a group of 104 adult male sex offenders who received community cognitive-behavioral treatment, correctional supervision, and periodic polygraph compliance exams with a matched group of 104 sex offenders who received the same type of treatment and supervision services but no polygraph exams. Polygraph exams focused on whether participants were following their conditions of community supervision and treatment and had avoided committing new sexual offenses. The two groups were exact pair-wise matched on three variables: (1) Static-99 risk score (Hanson & Thornton 2000, Law and Human Behavior, 24, 119–136), (2) status as a completer of prison sex offender treatment, and (3) date placed in the community. At fixed 5-year follow-up periods, the number of individuals in the polygraph group charged with committing a new non-sexual violent offense was significantly lower than in the no polygraph group (2.9% versus 11.5%). However, there were no significant between-group differences for the number of individuals charged for new sexual (5.8% versus 6.7%), any sexual or violent (8.7% versus 16.3%), or any criminal offense (39.4% versus 34.6%). The results are discussed in terms of their clinical and research implications.     

Assessment of Risk Manageability of Intellectually Disabled Sex Offenders

Background There are no validated risk assessment tools for intellectually disabled (ID) sex offenders, with the exception of the work of Lindsay et al. [Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities (2004) 17 : 267] regarding the prediction of risk for aggressive behaviour of ID offenders in residential settings. ID sex offenders comprise a neglected subgroup, and one that poses unique challenges and rewards for clinicians. Methods and purpose Recent work by Tough [ Tough S. (2001) Validation of Two Standard Assessments (RRASOR, 1997; STATIC‐99, 1999) on a Sample of Adult Males who are Intellectually Disabled with Significant Cognitive Deficits. Master's Thesis, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada] examined the utility of the Rapid Risk Assessment for Sexual Offence Recidivism [RRASOR; Hanson R. (1997) The Development of a Brief Actuarial Risk Scale for Sexual Offence Recidivism, User Report 97‐04. Department of the Solicitor General of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.] and the Static‐99 [Hanson R. K. & Thornton D. (1999) Static‐99: Improving Actuarial Risk Assessments for Sex Offenders, User Report 99‐02. Department of the Solicitor General of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada] for ID sex offenders. She determined that the Static‐99 may overestimate risk in ID sex offenders and that the RRASOR seemed to be a more accurate tool for these offenders. These actuarial tools provide a ‘risk baseline’, which helps in determining treatment intensity and level of supervision, but do not provide much help in designing treatment plans or management strategies based on the needs of the individual client. Hence, all three authors have developed risk management strategies in their work with ID sex offenders based largely on dynamic factors. This work has produced the present assessment. Outcome The present paper outlines a convergent approach which uses the information provided by static actuarial instruments and relevant dynamic factors as an introduction to the formation of a risk management strategies instrument for ID sex offenders. Thirty suggested items, split into four categories (chronic dynamic and acute dynamic for staff and environment; chronic dynamic and acute dynamic for offenders) are listed along with brief explanations of these items.     

What treatment do sex offenders want?

Eighty-seven sex offenders being assessed pretrial and presentence or posttrial for probation/parole were administered a questionnaire inquiring about desire for treatment, acceptable types of treatment and the nature of any problems, as perceived by the offenders. Three groups were examined: sexual aggressors against adult females, incest perpetrators, and pedophilic offenders. In spite of their legal circumstances, only 49.4% of the sex offenders wanted treatment. The preferred therapies were individual psychotherapy, social skills training and group therapy. The most frequently used therapy for sex offenders, namely, aversion conditioning, was among the least acceptable, along with castration, sex drive reducing drug therapy, and, paradoxically, group therapy. Male therapists were preferred more than twice as often as female therapists. Sex offenders saw interpersonal relations and lack of social skills as their major problems. Many were concerned about coping with the sequelae of their crimes. Less than two in five considered their anomalous sexual behavior to be a problem for them. Results suggest that there is considerable disparity between therapists' application of treatment and the offenders' perceptions of their own needs. Improving congruence between therapist and offender-patient goals may enhance treatment compliance and therapy success for sex offenders generally.     

The relationship between developmental variables, personality disorder, and risk in sex offenders

Previous research on the evaluation of the Challenge Project, a community treatment program for sex offenders in southeast London, identified the potential role of key developmental variables as enhancing actuarial risk measures to identify individuals at highest risk for community failure. The aim of the current study was to assess the relationship between developmental variables and later personality dysfunction in adult-hood, and the contribution of these factors to assessing risk for sexual recidivism, in a wider group of sex offenders managed in the community by the probation service. Over an 8-month period, 241 participants were assessed, including 162 child molesters and 79 rapists. A wide range of background data were collected, including the administration of several psychometric measures. A strong relationship was found between key developmental variables and adult mental health and personality difficulties, as well as a range of risk measures. The implications of the findings for further research are discussed.     

Denial and minimization among sex offenders

Defensiveness in sex offenders (DISO), although a very common phenomenon, is poorly understood by clinicians. Three explanatory models of DISO are explored. Thepathogenic model postulates from a psychodynamic perspective massive repression and denial are operative in the service of ego functions. Thecriminogenic model associates deception with the antisocial characteristics of sex offenders. Theadaptational model assumes that the sex offender is faced with a highly adversarial setting and chooses defensiveness based on its expected utility. Models of malingering are compared and implications of DISO for clinical treatment and management are discussed.     

Motivational tools to improve probationer treatment outcomes

BackgroundMotivational interviewing (MI) is a promising practice to increase motivation, treatment retention, and reducing recidivism among offender populations. Computer-delivered interventions have grown in popularity as a way to change behaviors associated with drug and alcohol use.Methods/DesignMotivational Assistance Program to Initiate Treatment (MAPIT) is a three arm, multisite, randomized controlled trial, which examines the impact of Motivational interviewing (MI), a motivational computer program (MC), and supervision as usual (SAU) on addiction treatment initiation, engagement, and retention. Secondary outcomes include drug/alcohol use, probation progress, recidivism (i.e., criminal behavior) and HIV/AIDS testing and treatment among probationers. Participant characteristics are measured at baseline, 2, and 6 months after assignment. The entire study will include 600 offenders, with each site recruiting 300 offenders (Baltimore City, Maryland and Dallas, Texas). All participants will go through standard intake procedures for probation and participate in probation requirements as usual. After standard intake, participants will be recruited and screened for eligibility.DiscussionThe results of this clinical trial will fill a gap in knowledge about ways to motivate probationers to participate in addiction treatment and HIV care. This randomized clinical trial is innovative in the way it examines the use of in-person vs. technological approaches to improve probationer success.Trial registrationNCT01891656.     

Violent Juvenile Sex Offenders Compared with Violent Juvenile Nonsex Offenders: Explorative Findings From the Pittsburgh Youth Study

Only a limited number of studies have compared the psychosocial characteristics of juvenile sex offenders and nonsex offenders. The results of these studies have often been contradictory. Furthermore, studies in normal population groups are rare and most of those studies have been conducted in specific populations. This paper reports on the findings of a prospective, longitudinal study, the Pittsburgh Youth Study, in which violent male sex offenders (n = 39) were compared with violent nonsex offenders (n = 430) based on 66 demographic and psychosocial characteristics. The findings show that the sex offenders resembled the nonsex violent offenders with respect to nearly all child, family, peer and demographic risk factors. Some suggestions are made with regard to future research.     

A Prospective Study of the Impact of Polygraphy on High-Risk Behaviors in Adult Sex Offenders

This study examined whether polygraph testing would result in sex offenders engaging in fewer high-risk behaviors. Fifty adult male sex offenders taking part in community treatment programs were allocated into 2 groups: Polygraph Aware subjects were told they would receive a polygraph examination in 3 months regarding their high-risk behaviors, while Polygraph Unaware subjects were told their behavior would be reviewed in 3 months. Relevant behaviors for each subject were established at baseline interviews, following which both groups were polygraphed at 3 months. All subjects were polygraphed again at 6 months. The hypothesis was that subjects in the Polygraph Aware group would have engaged in fewer high-risk behaviors, based on their self-report during the examination. Thirty-two subjects (64%) attended the first polygraph examination, with 31 (97%) disclosing an average of 2.45 high-risk behaviors each previously unknown to supervising probation officers. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Because of the high failure rate, all subjects were told to expect a second polygraph. Twenty-one subjects (42%) completed the second polygraph test, with 71% disclosing an average of 1.57 behaviors, a significant decrease compared with the first test. Disclosures to treatment providers and probation officers also increased. It was concluded that polygraph testing resulted in offenders engaging in less high-risk behavior, although the possibility that offenders fabricated reports of high-risk behaviours to satisfy examiners is also considered; similarly, offenders seemed to be more honest with their supervisors, but this only occurred after experience of the test itself. Feedback from offenders who completed the study, taken together with the high drop out rate, suggested that those motivated not to reoffend found polygraphy useful, while those less motivated sought to avoid it.     

Misconceptions about traumatic brain injury among probation services

Purpose: The prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among offender populations is significantly higher than among the general population. Despite this, no study has yet assessed the knowledge of members of the probation service surrounding TBI.

Method: Knowledge was assessed among members of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) using a cross-sectional online version of the Common Misconceptions about TBI (CM-TBI) questionnaire. Mean total misconception scores, along with scores on four subdomains (recovery, sequelae, insight, and hidden injury) were calculated. Analysis of variance was used to explore differences in misconceptions based on the collected demographic information.

Results: The overall mean percentage of misconceptions for the group was 22.37%. The subdomain with the highest rate of misconceptions (38.21%) was insight into injury which covered misconceptions around offenders’ self-awareness of injuries. Those who knew someone with a brain injury scored significantly higher in the CM-TBI total score, F(1,63)?=?6.639, p?=?0.012, the recovery subdomain, F(1,63)?=?10.080, p?=?0.002, and the insight subdomain, F(1,63)?=?5.834, p?=?0.019. Additionally, significant training deficits around TBI were observed among the probation service.

Conclusions: This study is the first of its kind to examine the level of understanding around TBI within probation services. The findings reflect potential barriers to identification and rehabilitation of TBI for offenders coming into contact with the criminal justice system. A lack of identification coupled with misconceptions about TBI could lead to inaccurate court reporting with a subsequent impact on sentencing.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Despite being one of the first points of contact for offenders entering the criminal justice system, members of the probation service reported having no formal training on traumatic brain injury (TBI).

• The subdomain with the highest rate of misconceptions (insight into injury) revealed an over-reliance on survivors of brain injury to identify, understand, and communicate the extent and severity of their injuries.

• Probation service personnel require training on TBI to improve awareness of the potential outcomes of the condition, ensuring injuries are identified and referred to the appropriate care pathways.

     

Attitudes About Community Notification: A Comparison of Sexual Offenders and the Non-offending Public

Public notification laws have been enacted by legislatures to address the risk posed by sex offenders to the public. Little research has been done regarding either the public's or sex offenders' knowledge and attitudes about community notification and its impact. This study compared the experiences and perceptions of 125 sex offenders in outpatient treatment to 193 members of the public in Brevard County, Florida. Sex offenders were significantly more likely to believe that community notification laws and society are unfair, to feel that such laws should be applied to fewer sex offenders based on their level of risk or threat, and to view notification as being ineffective at reducing sex crimes. Nearly half of the offenders reported experiencing threats, property damage, or physical assault as a result of public disclosure. In comparison, only 10% of the public was aware of vigilantism against sex offenders. Implications for public policy and future research are discussed.     

The impact of parolees' perception of confidentiality of their self-reported sex crimes

Parole officers who supervise sex offenders need to know if parolees continue to be a risk for child molestation after their incarceration. One hundred and twenty convicted child molesters under Parole Supervision were asked to participate in two interviews about their sexual offenses: first by a parolee officer in the parole office and then in a non-parole, psychologic setting by a psychologist. Seventy-four subjects agreed to participate in the parole setting, and 18 of those 74 agreed to participate in the psychologic setting. Hypotheses tested included whether perceived confidentiality affects reports of past child molestation or current urges to molest children or whether it improves the consistency between the offender's reports of their sex crimes and their arrest records. Results indicated that as confidentiality increased, reports of prior sex offenses and current urges to molest increased. The relevance of this finding to our current system of parole supervision is discussed.     

Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Sexual and Nonsexual Violent Offenders

According to a literature review by Marshall (1996), presently available data have not clarified the proportion of sexual offenders who would meet diagnostic criteria for addictive problems. Our own literature review failed to find published studies comparing sexual offenders to nonsexual violent offenders on standardized measures of substance abuse. Our study is a preliminary investigation of the differences between sexual offenders (rapists: n = 72; child molesters: n = 34) and nonsexual violent offenders (n = 24) on measures of alcohol and drug abuse. The findings indicate that sexual offenders were more likely to abuse alcohol than were nonsexual violent offenders. Nonsexual offenders were significantly more likely to have had a history of other forms of substance abuse. The results are considered in terms of theories of alcohol's contribution to aggressive behavior and sexual aggression. Implications for assessment and treatment of sexual offenders are discussed.     

Use of Physical Force as an Offense Characteristic in Subtyping Juvenile Sexual Offenders

Juvenile sexual offenders were grouped based on whether they had ever used physical force or threats of force to commit an offense using self-reports on the Multiphasic Sex Inventory (MSI) and clinical records review. Subjects were 101 male offenders, 12 to 19 years, residing at a residential treatment facility. Cross-tabulation of self-report and records review were done to define three groups of offenders: rapists (i.e., those who used force), nonrapists, and deniers. These three groups were compared using the MSI and Jesness on other variables assessing offense patterns, sexual deviance, delinquent attitudes, perceived social competence, and offense-related cognitions. Rapists reported significantly more sexual assault fantasy/predatory behavior, greater preoccupation with children, and more paraphilias than did nonrapists and deniers. In comparison to deniers, rapists also reported more obsessive thinking about sex, and a greater willingness to participate in treatment. These findings are discussed with a focus on the apparent validity and usefulness of subtyping juvenile offenders based on whether or not they have used physical force or threats of force in committing a sexual offense.     

Prediction of sexual or violent recidivism among sexual offenders: A comparison of prediction instruments

This paper reviews some of the literature on the prediction of violent or sexual recidivism among released sex offenders. Several prediction tools are examined. They are:Statistical Index of General Recidivism Scale, The Level of Supervision Inventory, The Risk Checklist for Child Molesters, The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised, andThe Statistical Prediction of Violent Recidivism Instrument. It is concluded that it may be possible to obtain reasonably accurate predictions of sexual or violent re-offence among released violent sexual offenders usingThe Psychopathy Checklist-Revised andThe Statistical Prediction of Violent Recidivism Instrument. However, the applicability of these instruments to specific populations of sex offenders is yet to be demonstrated. Survival curves or expectancy tables are needed to adjust the predictions for shorter periods of time than are considered in the follow-up studies on which the tools have been based, and to resolve apparent discrepancies across studies. General observations are made about the factors which are predictive of re-offence when the offence type of the offender is controlled. Cautions are raised about the underestimation by acturial prediction of the true rate of re-offence and of the degree of harm which may be inflicted by sexual sadists or sexual murderers.     

Collaboration Among Sex Offender Treatment Providers and Probation and Parole Officers: The Beliefs and Behaviors of Treatment Providers

New and emerging collaborative responses to sex offender management are challenging traditional notions about how treatment providers and probation and parole officers (POs) deliver services to this difficult population. Typically, sex offender treatment professionals provide community-based services to offenders who are supervised by POs. Yet, no comprehensive survey has investigated how treatment providers and POs collaborate and view their relationships with each other. This national random survey examined the beliefs and behaviors of community-based adult sex-offender treatment providers concerning various types of provider and PO interactions and collaborative models. Overall, treatment providers reported that they value frequent and substantive communication with POs concerning mutual clients. There was, however, considerable diversity in practice and opinion among providers with regard to POs leading, coleading, and observing sex offender treatment groups. Treatment providers' opinions about various clinical, ethical, and legal issues evident in these collaborative approaches are examined.     

Psychopathy and Sexual Deviance in Treated Rapists: Association with Sexual and Nonsexual Recidivism

This study examined the role of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; R. D. Hare, 1991) and sexual deviance scores in predicting recidivism in a sample of 94 convicted rapists involuntarily admitted to a Dutch forensic psychiatric hospital between 1975 and 1996. The predictive utility of grouping offenders based on the combination of psychopathy and sexual deviance was also investigated. Measures were coded from pre-release institutional records. Recidivism (reconviction) data were retrieved from the Judicial Documentation Register of the Ministry of Justice and were related to PCL-R and sexual deviance scores. The follow-up period after release ranged up to 23.5 years (M = 11.8 years). Base rates for sexual, violent nonsexual, violent (including sexual), and general recidivism were 34%, 47%, 55%, and 73%, respectively. For all types of offending, offenders scoring high on the PCL-R (> or = 26) were significantly more often reconvicted than other offenders. The sexual deviance score was found to be a significant predictor of sexual reconviction. Survival analyses provided considerable evidence that psychopathic sex offenders with sexual deviant preferences are at substantially greater risk of committing new sexual offenses than psychopathic offenders without deviant preferences or nonpsychopathic offenders with or without sexual deviance. The findings are discussed in terms of their practical and clinical implications.     

Juvenile sex offenders compared to non-sex offenders: a review of the literature 1995-2005

An unresolved but clinically important issue in the literature on juvenile delinquency is to what extent juvenile sex offenders resemble non-sex offenders with respect to individual, familial, and environmental characteristics. The current article reviewed published studies (1995-2005) comparing sex offenders with non-sex offenders. The 17 articles meeting the inclusion criteria suggest that differences exist between sex offenders and non-sex offenders on personality characteristics, behavioral problems, history of sexual abuse, nonsexual offending, and peer functioning. Inconsistent results were found for demographic factors, family functioning and background, antisocial attitudes, and intellectual and neurological functioning. Although it is likely that sex offenders can be differentiated from nonsex offenders on a number of characteristics, caution is warranted because of methodological differences between studies and small samples size. Also, studies show that sex offenders are a heterogeneous group. Further research should take into account this heterogeneity by including sex offenders from clearly circumscribed groups and investigating characteristics specifically related to sexual behavior.     

Failure to register as a predictor of sex offense recidivism: the big bad wolf or a red herring?

This quasi-experimental study analyzed the recidivism outcomes of 1,125 sexual offenders in two groups. The first group comprised 644 registered sex offenders who were convicted of a sex crime and at some point failed to register after release from prison. The comparison group contained 481 registered sex offenders released from prison during a similar time frame who did not fail to register after their release. The groups were then tracked for both sexual and nonsexual offenses to determine whether failure to register under Megan's Law is predictive of reoffending. Failure to register was not a significant predictor of sexual recidivism, casting doubt on the belief that sex offenders who are noncompliant with registration are especially sexually dangerous. Few differences between groups were detected, but FTR offenders were more likely to have sexually assaulted a stranger and to have adult female victims, further challenging the stereotype of the child predator who absconds to evade detection. Potential policy implications are discussed.     

Remodeling as Metaphor: Sex Offenders' Perceptions of the Treatment Process

The perceptions of 43 adult male sex offenders were examined to generate a grounded theory of the sexual abuse treatment process. Methodology included interviews, direct observations, and record analysis. Constant comparative analysis was used to collect and analyze data concurrently. The offenders use remodeling as a metaphor for their treatment process; they remodel themselves, their relationships, and their environment, but the foundations of offending are ever present. The remodeling process involves falling apart, taking on, tearing out, rebuilding, doing the upkeep, and moving on. Remodeling as a metaphor offers a concrete, visual, individualized, and safe way to address the treatment process of sex offenders.