Cognitive-behavioral treatment has emerged as the principle type of sex offender treatment targeting deviant arousal, increasing appropriate sexual desires, modifying distorted thinking, and improving interpersonal coping skills. However, treatment effectiveness in reducing sexual offence recidivism continues to be questioned. This is despite the fact that since 1995, five meta-analytical studies have claimed positive treatment effects in reducing sexual offence recidivism. However, many treatment studies have been criticized for weaknesses in their methodologies. In addition, methodological differences between studies make it difficult to determine treatment efficacy. This review found that since 1995, 19 treatment studies have been published, and a third of the 18 studies demonstrating positive treatment effects used sound methodological techniques. Additional treatment studies are needed that utilize sound methodological principles to establish the most effective way of reducing sexual reoffending.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abel, G. G., Becker, J. V., Mittleman, M. S., Cunningham-Rathner, J., Rouleau, J. L., [#x0026] Murphy, W. D. (1987). Self-reported sex crimes of non-incarcerated paraphiliacs. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2, 3-25.
2.
Alaska Department of Corrections. (1996). Sex offender treatment programs: Initial recidivism study. Anchorage: Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Unit Justice Centre, University of Alaska-Anchorage.
3.
Alexander, M. A. (1999). Sexual offender treatment efficacy revisited. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 11(2), 101-116.
4.
Allam, J. (1999). Effective practice in work with sex offenders: A re-conviction study comparing treated and untreated offenders. Birmingham,UK: West Midlands Probation Service, Sex Offender Unit.
5.
Allam, J. M., [#x0026] Browne, K. D. (1998). Evaluating community based treatment programmes for men who sexually abuse children. Child Abuse Review, 7, 13-29.
6.
Aos, S., Phipps, P., Barnoski, R., [#x0026] Lieb, R. (2001). The comparative costs and benefits to reduce crime (Washington State Institute for Public Policy Document No. 01-05-1201). Available from http://www.wa.gov/wsipp
7.
Aytes, K. E., Olsen, S. S., Takrajsek, T., Murray, P., [#x0026] Ireson, R. (2001). Cognitive behavioural treatment for sexual offenders: An examination of recidivism. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 13(4), 223-231.
8.
Barbaree, H. E., [#x0026] Marshall, W. L. (1988). Deviant sexual arousal, offence history and demographic variables as predictors of reoffence among child molesters. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 6, 267-280.
9.
Beech, A. R. (1998). Towards a psychometric typology for assessing pretreament level of problems in child abusers. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 3, 24-38.
10.
Beech, A. R., Erikson, M., Friendship, C., [#x0026] Ditchfield, J. (2001). A six-year follow-up of men going through representative probation based sex offender treatment programmes. London: HMSO.
11.
Borduin, C. M. (1999). Mutlisystemic treatment of criminality and violence in adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38(3), 242-249.
12.
Borduin, C. M., Cone, L. T., Mann, B. J., Henggeler, S. W., Fucci, B. R., Blaske, D. M., et al. (1995). Multisystemic treatment of serious juvenile offenders long-term prevention of criminality and violence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(4), 569-578.
13.
Borduin, C. M., Henggeler, S. W., Blaske, D. M., [#x0026] Stein, R. J. (1990). Multisystemtic treatment of adolescent sexual offenders. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 34(2), 105-113.
14.
Borduin, C. M., [#x0026] Schaeffer, C.M. (in press). Multisystemic treatment of juvenile sexual offenders: A progress report. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality.
15.
Borduin, C. M., Schaeffer, C. M., [#x0026] Heiblum, N. (2000). Multisystemic treatment of aggressive and non-aggressive sexual offending adolescents: Instrumental and ultimate outcomes. Manuscript submitted for publication.
16.
Doren, D. M. (1998). Recidivism base rates, predications of sex offender recidivism, and the sexual predator commitment laws. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 16, 97-114.
17.
Elliot, M., Browne, K. D., [#x0026] Kilcoyne, J. (1995). Child sexual abuse prevention: What offenders tell us. Child Abuse and Neglect, 19, 579-594.
18.
Fisher, D., Beech, A., [#x0026] Browne, K. (2000). The effectiveness of relapse prevention training in a group of incarcerated child molesters. Psychology, Crime [#x0026] Law, 00, 1-5.
19.
Fisher, D., [#x0026] Thornton, D. (1993). Assessing risk of reoffending in sexual offenders. Journal of Mental Health, 2, 105-117.
20.
Franslow, J., [#x0026] Smiley, W. C. (1996). Rational emotive behaviour therapy applications to the treatment of sex offenders and violent offenders. Paper presented to the Correctional Service Canada, Regional Headquarters, Montreal, Canada.
21.
Furby, L., Weinrott, M. R., [#x0026] Blackshaw, L. (1989). Sex offender recidivism: A review. Psychological Bulletin, 103, 3-30.
22.
Gallagher, C. A., Wilson, D. B., Hirschfield, P., Coggeshall, M. B., [#x0026] MacKenzie, D. L. (1999). A quantitative review of the effects of sex offender treatment on sexual reoffending. Corrections Management Quarterly, 3(4), 19-29.
23.
Gordon, A., [#x0026] Nicholaichuk, T. (1996). Applying the risk principle to the treatment of sexual offender. Forum on Corrections Research, 8(2), 36-38.
24.
Greenberg, D. M. (1998). Sexual recidivism in sex offenders. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry-Review Canadienne De Psychiatrie, 43(5), 459-465.
25.
Groth, A. N., Longo, R. E., [#x0026] McFadin, J. B. (1982). Undetected recidivism among rapists and child molesters. Crime and Delinquency, 28(3), 450-458.
26.
Grubin, D., [#x0026] Wingate, S. (1996). Sexual offence recidivism: Prediction versus understanding. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 6, 349-359.
27.
Hagan, M. P., [#x0026] Gust-Brey, K. L. (1999). A ten year longitudinal study of adolescent rapists upon return to the community. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 43(4), 448-458.
28.
Hall, G. C. N. (1995). Sexual offender recidivism revisited: A meta-anaylsis of recent treatment studies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 802-809.
29.
Hanson, R. K. (1998). What do we know about sex offender risk assessment? Psychology Public Policy and Law, 4(1-2), 50-72.
30.
Hanson, R. K. (2001). Age and sexual recidivism: A comparison of rapists and child molesters (Cat No. JS42-96/2001). Ottawa: Department of the Solicitor General of Canada. Available from http://www.sgc.gc.ca/EPub/Corr/eAge200101/eAge200101.htm.
31.
Hanson, R. K., [#x0026] Bussiere, M. T. (1996). Predictors of sexual offender recidivism: A meta-analysis (User Report No. 1996-04). Ottawa: Department of the Solicitor General of Canada. Available from http://www.sgc.gc.ca/epub/corr/e199604/e199604.htm
32.
Hanson, R. K., [#x0026] Bussiere, M. T. (1998). Predicting relapse: A meta-analysis of sexual offender recidivism studies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66(2), 348-362.
33.
Hanson, R. K., Gordon, A., Harris, A. J. R., Marques, J. K., Murphy, W., Quinsey, V. L., et al. (2002). First report of the collaborative outcome data project on the effectiveness of psychological treatment for sex offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 14(2), 169-194.
34.
Hanson, R. K., [#x0026] Nicholaichuk, T. (2000). A cautionary note regarding Nicholaichuk et al. (2000). Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 12(4), 289-293.
35.
Hanson, R. K., Scott, H., [#x0026] Steffy, R. A. (1995). A comparison of child molesters and non-sexual criminals: Risk predictors and long-term recidivism. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 32(3), 325-337.
36.
Hanson, R. K., Steffy, R. A., [#x0026] Gauthier, R. (1993). Long term recidivism of child molesters. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 646-652.
37.
Harris, G. T., Rice, M. E., [#x0026] Quinsey, V. L. (1998). Appraisal and management of risk in sexual aggressors: Implications for criminal justice policy. Psychology, Public Policy and Law, 4(1/2), 73-115.
38.
Henggeler, S. (1989). Delinquency in adolescence. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
39.
Huot, S. (1997). Community based sex offender programme evaluation project (1997 report to the legislature). St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Corrections.
40.
Lalumiere, M. L., [#x0026] Harris, G. T. (1998). Common questions regarding the use of phallometric testing with sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 10(3), 227-237.
41.
Looman, J., Abracen, J., [#x0026] Nicholiachuk, T. P. (2000). Recidivism among treated sexual offenders and matched controls[#x2014]Data from the regional treatment centre (Ontario). Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 15, 279-290.
42.
Malcolm, P. B., Andrews, D. A., [#x0026] Quinsey, V. L. (1993). Discriminant and predictive validity of phallometrically measured sexual age and gender preferences. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 8, 486-501.
43.
Marques, J. K. (1999). How to answer the question: Does sex offender treatment work? Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14, 437-451.
44.
Marques, J. K., Day, D. M., Nelson, C., [#x0026] Miner, M. H. (1989). The sex offender treatment and evaluation project: California[#x2019]s relapse prevention program. In D. R. Law (Ed.), Relapse Prevention with sex offenders (pp. 247-267). New York: Guilford.
45.
Marques, J. K., Day, D. M., Nelson, C., Miner, M. H., [#x0026] West, M. A. (1991). The Sex Offender Treatment Evaluation Project: Third report to the legislature in response to PC 1365. Sacramento: California State Department of Mental Health.
46.
Marques, J. K., Day, D. M., Nelson, C., [#x0026] West, M. A. (1993). Finding and recommendations from California[#x2019]s experimental treatment program. In G. C. N. Hall, J. R. Graham, [#x0026] M. S. Zaragoza (Eds.), Sexual aggression: Issues in etiology, assessment and treatment (pp. 197-214). Washington, DC: Hemisphere.
47.
Marques, J. K., Day, D. M., Nelson, C., [#x0026] West, M. A. (1994). Effects of cognitive behavioural treatment on sex offenders[#x2019] recidivism: Preliminary results of a longitudinal study. Criminal Justice and Behaviour, 21, 28-54.
48.
Marques, J. K., [#x0026] Murrey, C. L. (1985). The Sex Offender Treatment and Evaluation Project: First report to the legislature in response to PC 1365. Sacramento: California Department of Mental Health.
49.
Marshall, W. L., Anderson, D., [#x0026] Fernandez, Y. (1999). Cognitive behavioural treatment of sexual offenders. Chichester, UK: John Wiley.
50.
Marshall, W. L., [#x0026] Barbaree, H. E. (1988). The long-term evaluation of a behavioural treatment programme for child molesters. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 26, 499-511.
51.
Marshall, W. L., Eccles, A., [#x0026] Barbaree, H. E. (1991). The treatment of exhibitionists: A focus on sexual deviance versus cognitive and relationship features. Behavior Research and Therapy, 29(2), 129-135.
52.
Marshall, W. L., [#x0026] Pithers, W. D. (1994). A reconsideration of treatment outcome with sex offenders. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 10-27.
53.
McGrath, R. J., Hoke, S. E., [#x0026] Vojtisek, J. E. (1998). Cognitive-behavioural treatment of sex offenders. Criminal Justice and Behaviour, 25, 203-225.
54.
Mezzo, B., [#x0026] Gravier, B. (2001). Sexual offenders recidivism: The difficulty to define reality. Medecine Et Hygiene, 59(2339), 659.
55.
Minnesota Department of Corrections. (2000). Community based sex offender program evaluation project: 1999 report to the legislature. Minnesota: Author.
56.
Moore, B. (1996). Risk assessment: A practitioner[#x2019]s guide to predicting harmful behaviour. London: Whiting [#x0026] Birch Ltd.
57.
Nicholaichuk, T., Gordon, A., Andre, G., [#x0026] Gu, D. (1995). Long-term outcome of the Clearwater Sex Offender Treatment program. Paper presented to the 14th annual conference of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, New Orleans, LA.
58.
Nicholaichuk, T., Gordon, A., Andre, G., Gu, D., [#x0026] Wong, S. (2000). Outcome of an institutional sexual offender treatment program: A comparison between treated and untreated offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 12(2), 139-153.
59.
Norris, C. (1992, winter). Sex offender treatment: Confronting [#x201C]thinking errors[#x201D] is central to success. Federal Prisons Journal, 2(4), 29-31.
60.
Oregon Department of Corrections. (1994). Comparison of outcome and costs: Residential and out-patient treatment programmes for inmates (Alcohol and Drug Mental Health, Sex Offender and Social Skills Treatment: Executive Summary). Salem: Oregon Department of Corrections.
61.
Petrunik, M. (1994). Models of dangerousness: A cross-jurisdictional review of dangerousness legislation and practice (User Report No. 1994-02). Ottawa: Department of the Solicitor General of Canada. Available from http://www.sgc.gc.ca/epub/corr/e199402/e199402.htm
62.
Polizzi, D. M., MacKenzie, D. L., [#x0026] Hickman, L. J. (1999). What works in adult sex offender treatment? A review of prison and non-prison based treatment programs. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 43(3), 357-374.
63.
Prentky, R. A., Lee, A. F. S., Knight, R. A., [#x0026] Cerce, O. (1997). Recidivism rates among child molesters and rapists: A methodological analysis. Law and Human Behaviour, 21(6), 635-659.
64.
Proulx, J., Pellerin, B., McKibben, A., Aubut, J., [#x0026] Ouimet, M. (1997). Static and dynamic risk predictors of recidivism in sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 9, 7-27.
65.
Proulx, J., Perreault, C., [#x0026] Ouimet, M. (1999). Pathways in the offending process of extrafamilial sexual child molesters. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 11(2), 117-129.
66.
Quinsey, V. L., Harris, G. T., Rice, M. E., [#x0026] Cormier, C. A. (1998). Violent offenders: Appraising and managing risk. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
67.
Quinsey, V. L., Harris, G. T., Rice, M. E., [#x0026] Lalumiere, M. (1993). Assessing treatment efficacy in outcome studies of sex offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 8, 512-532.
68.
Quinsey, V. L., Khanna, A., [#x0026] Malcolm, B. (1998). A retrospective evaluation of the Regional Treatment Centre Sex Offender Treatment Programme. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 13, 621-644.
69.
Quinsey, V. L., Lalumiere, M. L., Rice, M. E., [#x0026] Harris, G. T. (1995). Predicting sexual offences. In J. C. Campbell (Ed.), Assessing dangerousness: Violence by sexual offenders, batterers and child abusers (pp. 114-138). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
70.
Rice, M. E., Harris, G. T., [#x0026] Quinsey, V. L. (1990). A followup of rapists assessed in a maximum-security psychiatric facility. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 5, 435-448.
71.
Rice, M. E., Quinsey, V. L., [#x0026] Harris, G. T. (1991). Sexual recidivism among child molesters released from a maximum security psychiatric institution. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 381-386.
72.
Robinson, D. 1995. The impact of cognitive skills training on post-release recidivism among Canadian federal offenders (Research Report No. R-41). Available from http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r41/r41e.shtml
73.
Serin, R. C., Mailloux, D. L., [#x0026] Malcolm, P. B. (2001). Psychopathy, deviant sexual arousal, and recidivism among sexual offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 16, 234-246.
74.
Song, L., [#x0026] Lieb, R. (1995). The Twin Rivers Sex Offender Treatment Program: Overview of recidivism studies. Olympia: Washington State Institute for Public Policy.
75.
Thornton, D., [#x0026] Travers, R. (1991). A longitudinal study of the criminal behaviour of convicted sexual offenders. Paper presented at the Prison Psychologists[#x2019] Conference, Her Majesty[#x2019]s Prison Service.
76.
Weinrott, M. R., [#x0026] Saylor, M. (1991). Self-report of crimes committed by sex offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 6, 286-300.
77.
Weiss, P. (1999). Assessment and treatment of sex offenders in the Czech Republic and in Eastern Europe. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14, 411-421.
78.
Wille, R., [#x0026] Beier, K. M. (1989). Castration in Germany. Annals of Sex Research, 2, 103-133.
79.
Worling, J., [#x0026] Curwen, T. (1998). The Adolescent Sexual Offender Project: A 10-years follow-up study (Report on the SAFE-T Program, Thistletown Regional Centre for Children and Adolescents). Toronto, Canada: Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services.
80.
Worling, J., [#x0026] Curwen, T. (2000). Adolescent sexual offender recidivism: Success of specialized treatment and implications for risk prediction. Child Abuse and Neglect, 24(7), 965-982.
