![]() ![]() ![]() The importance of basing conclusions about what works on highly trustworthy and credible evidence cannot be overstated, and both the quality and consistency of the research evidence always have to be considered.īecause the quality of research studies may vary and it can be difficult for policymakers and practitioners to understand how one study differs from another, brief descriptions of the types of studies discussed in this review are provided below. It is not uncommon for studies of the same phenomena to produce ambiguous or even conflicting results, and there are many examples of empirical evidence misleading crime control policy and practice because shortcomings in the quality of the research were overlooked and inaccurate conclusions about an intervention's effectiveness were made (see Sherman, 2003 McCord, 2003 Boruch, 2007). While there is growing interest in crime control strategies that are based on scientific evidence, determining what works is not an easy task. Within that context, policymakers should recognize that even modest reductions in recidivism achieved through treatment can translate into fewer victims, reductions in individual and community harm and a positive return on taxpayer investment (Drake, Aos & Miller, 2009 Donato, Shanahan & Higgins, 1999). Like therapeutic interventions for other criminal offenders, sex offender treatment at its broadest level is a tool for promoting offender accountability, reducing recidivism and enhancing public safety. Treatment needs vary by offender as well, and treatment effectiveness is likely to vary depending on various individual and contextual factors. The mechanisms that lead to sexually abusive behavior vary by offender. Inconsistent research findings and the fact that those studies that have found a positive treatment effect have not been randomized controlled trials are two primary factors contributing to the uncertainty about treatment effectiveness. ![]() While there is strong scientific evidence that therapeutic interventions work for criminal offenders overall, the effectiveness of treatment for sex offenders remains subject to debate. Sex offender treatment programs in the United States in 2008 provided therapeutic services to more than 53,811 individuals who had committed sex crimes. 1 That year, treatment programs for sex offenders were operating in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and more than 80 percent of the programs were community based. (For more on "Sex Offender Management Strategies," see Chapter 8 in the Adult section.)Īccording to a recent Safer Society survey (McGrath et al., 2010), 1,307 sex-offender-specific treatment programs were operating in the United States in 2008. Indeed, therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing the likelihood of reoffending have become a staple of contemporary sex offender management practice. Perpetrators of sex crimes have come to be viewed by policymakers, practitioners and, arguably, the public as a unique group of offenders in need of special management practices. This is due at least in part to the profound impact that sex crimes have on victims and the larger community. Sex offenders have received considerable attention in recent years from both policymakers and the public. ![]()
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