Sexual offenders are typically looked upon as being one of the most common of offenders to relapse. That being said, the best way is to have a proper treatment plan in place for them to abide by so that they do have the urge or desire to participate in previous activities that would otherwise land them back in jail. When treated in cognitive-behavioral environments, rehabilitation for the offender is said to be the most effective. Through a proper behavioral environment, training offenders with separate approaches and managing treatments regularly, sexual offenders do stand a chance of becoming a productive member of society without recidivism to old habits.
Many offenders are locked away with the hopes of eventually returning to society by completing certain rehabilitation programs within jail. While this may be difficult, there are some that are able to complete some form of rehabilitation or their sentencing in order to leave the facility and return to society. Treatments can include targeting such behaviors in order to get to the root problem of the issues i.e deviant sexual behavior or lack of empathy (Schaffer et al., 2010). Deviant sexual offenders have also been found to be at a more advanced threat for reoffending as they are more set in their ways with rehabilitation offering little to
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no chance of attacking sexual issues and desires they may have. A lack of empathy can also contribute to sexual offender’s desires as they [the offender] have no regard for their victim’s feelings or concerns as they are only doing what is necessary for them to pleasure themselves. Treatment for these behaviors can range anywhere from counseling to a regulated sexual offender program. Having these programs in place will help the offender get on the right track in order to be able to be completed transformed. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most common method in treatment when it comes to sexual offenders (Losel & Schmucker, 2005). Methods that include the Risk-Need-Responsivity approach and the Good Lives Model are the most current practices that are used when it comes to the overall handling and management of sex offenders. Both of these are contrasting treatments yet they have the same effects when used to restore a sexual offender back to society’s standards. The RNR and the GLM approaches are both helpful methods in order to fully rehabilitate the offender in order to prevent further instances from occurring. RNR aims to reduce the risk of reoffending by addressing the risks at hand while the GLM method takes into consideration the goals of said offender that are put into motion as a motivator to want to do better (Schaffer et al., 2010). Having these methods to choose from when it comes to rehabilitation, there is a way to properly treat an offender so that he/she is able to return to normal living without a cause to worry if they will revert back to their previous lives. There have been methods outside of CBT that have shown to have a superior effectiveness in decreasing sexual recidivism. One of those methods was shown to be physical alteration which basically was made to be known as castration (Hofman et al., 2012). Other methods included hormonal treatment; however, in the end, CBT has always prevailed as being the most effective and influential among those offenders wishing to have a normal sense of life after being able to return home. With the previous descriptions of said methods that have been used to treat offenders, there can be a variety of ways in order to assist the offender with doing what is necessary for them to decrease their odds of reverting back to a life of criminal sexual behaviors. In order to truly rehabilitate said offender, it may be best to involve a variety of treatments in order to get the best results. Starting with the RNR methods, evaluating the triggers that set a person up for failure may be the best way to evaluate if their living situation is the best for them. Helping them identify what can and cannot be an obstacle for them can help them set up their goals which are a priority of the GLM model. The Good Lives Model evaluates the needs of the individual to meet those needs through the assessments of goals in order to facilitate change.
The offender has to take the time to make sufficient goals for the future. If they want to do better, they must want to change. No one, not even a judge, can push an offender to do better if they are not willing to put forth the work. There can be jail sentences, fines and a mass amount of other consequences along the way that they will continue to take simply because they do not want to change what they are doing. Having the essential goals in order to meet those needs that are needed is crucial when on the path to
rehabilitation. A management program is going to have to be in the place in order to have the offender do what is needed to help further their rehabilitation. Most offenders have no basic support system in order to help them make the changes that they need. This is where the management team comes in. They are able to meet with the offender, counsel them, identify their triggers, and assist in making goals and keeping them along with the monitoring of the individual. There are those that need longer, more intense treatments in order to fully treat their known issues which can include therapy sessions, cognitive reformation and relapse deterrence (Dolan, 2009).
Witt, P., Greenfield, D., & Hiscox, S. (2008). Cognitive/behavioural approaches to the treatment adult sex offenders. Journal of Psychiatry & Law, 36(2), 245-269, retrieved from EBSCOhost
It is very common for these individuals to be monitored for drug use during this treatment/therapy regimen so as not to undermine the program or the criminal justice system. Psychotherapy is often best for a population such as sex offenders. Since no medication has yet been proven to be effective against a sex offender’s urges, cognitive behavioral therapy (as well as intense supervision) is the most effective modality of
In the event that a prisoner (particularly a sex offender) does complete rehabilitation, he carries with him a stigma upon reentering society. People often fear living near a prior drug addict or convicted murderer and the sensational media hype surrounding released felons can ruin a newly released convict’s life before it beings. What with resident notifications, media scare tactics and general concern for safety, a sex offender’s ability to readapt into society is severely hindered (554). This warrants life-skills rehabilitation applied to him useless, as he will be unable to even attempt to make the right decision regarding further crime opportunities.
Yates, P. M. (2005). Pathways to treatment of sexual offenders: Rethinking intervention. Forum on Corrections Research, 17, 1-9.
help the offender get treatment that he or she may need to become successful in the community
Rehabilitate, and develop, both of the utmost substance when observing the ways in which a sex offender registry are and
Although they may be out of jail, they cannot be considered free. They are unable to make their own decisions: where they can work, where they can live, and how they can live their lives are all under control of the government. These people look the same as everyone else, but underneath the mask, lay a title they cannot shake. These people are sex offenders. A sex offender is defined as anyone who has committed a sexual crime. These crimes range from serious crimes, like rape, to minor offenses, such as urinating in public, or under age consensual sex. All sex offenders are placed on the registry and are required to follow a careful protocol. Registered sex offenders are paired with a Community Corrections Officer (CCO) who oversees and supervises the offender's actions. Many restrictions are placed on the offender, and although the laws can vary from state to state, there are some basic restrictions that apply to every offender. Some of these restrictions include: a sex offender cannot move without the permission and approval of their CCO, they can only live and work in certain areas, they cannot own any firearms, their personal computers are monitored and controlled by their CCO (many websites are blocked, including pornographic content), they are not allowed to take or consume any mind altering substances such as drugs or even alcohol, and they are required to get regular counseling (“Rules”). Currently there are 747,408 registered sex offenders in the United States. Some states such as Delaware and Oregon have a higher concentration of sex offenders (500 per 100,000) where as Pennsylvania has the lowest concentration of sex offenders (94 per 100,000) (“Sex Offender Statistics”). Due to the inefficiencies ...
Although, some prisons do have some rehabilitation programs for the inmates that need it, the therapy sometimes does not help. More than half of prisoners reoffend within at least three years of leaving prisons. Those who reoffend tend to have more severe and more aggressive offenses than previously. A man by the name of Brandy Lee has shown that by having a very strict program in prisons with violent offenders in San Francisco jails reduced the amount of violence in jails. The program also helped to reduce the rate of violent re-offences after leaving the jail by over 50
In today’s society, many people commit crimes and illegal behavior is nothing new. Society knows that there are criminals and they have criminal intentions. The question today is not if people are going to commit crimes, it is finding the most effective method to help those criminals reenter society as productive citizens, and preventing new people from becoming criminals. Department of corrections around the nation have implemented a program that identifies the most effective method. The “what works” movement outlines four general principles that are implemented in the rehabilitation of criminals; and, these principles are risk principle, criminogenic need principle, treatment principle, and fidelity principle.
Sex offenders. These people have sparked much debate in the years past and also quite a lot now in the present time. No matter where one could go, one will always hear stories and news reports of incidents of adults being involved with children in a sexual manner or of some poor woman being raped. An example of this could be a preacher touching the altar boys, a man forcing himself onto a woman he held at gun point in an alley, it may just be an average run of the mill creep offering kids candy at a playground hoping to get something in return, or unfortunately it could just be a drunk person seen urinating outside, but that is the day and age we live in. The list is endless unfortunately and these offenders some in a variety of shapes, sizes, and appearances. There are a number of various factors such as what a sex offender is, what drives them, what civil commitment is, how civil commitment can be a solution, and why it might not work. First the question must be asked, what is a sex offender?
Rehabilitation also involves programs in prisons that have the goal of helping offenders return back to society (Goff, 2014, p.20). Prisons have also put in place programs to assist inmates, “the goal of these release programs are to ease the transition of offenders from the institution into the community while simultaneously promoting stable employment after release” (Cullen & Jonson, 2011, p.309). If a person has been in an institution for a long period of time it is often hard to adjust to life outside, which is why these programs are important in the justice
As the current prison structures and sentencing process continues to neglect the issues that current offenders have no change will accrue to prevent recidivism. The issue with the current structure of the prison sentencing process is it does not deal with the “why” the individual is an social deviant but only looks at the punishment process to remove the deviant from society. This method does not allow an offender to return back to society without continuing where they left off. As an offender is punished they are sentenced (removal from society) they continue in an isolated environment (prison) after their punishment time is completed and are released back to society they are now an outsider to the rapidly changing social environment. These individuals are returned to society without any coping skills, job training, or transitional training which will prevent them from continuing down th...
These are just some of the things that do not receive support and are more prone to relapse behavior than those in recovery programs. There are many ways to lower or prevent recidivism. Released prisoners need to comprehend that the prison life is not the only option for them. There are so many options and treatments that could be successful if they would only keep an open mind and are aware of what’s out there. During their time in prison they do not get to choose where they live or what kind of job they are assigned to. They need to try to live a better life when they get out, not just for the people around them, but for themselves and their families. They can move forward if they would just follow the simple rules, take advantage of the resources or programs that is being provided to them. Many courts are in forcing drug and alcohol treatment to reduce recidivism rate to try to break a pattern of habits. The treatment consist of them attending classes which offers substance treatment services for some period of the day and return home each evening until the next treatment unfortunately many of them refuse to continue to attend the treatments and relapse into criminal behavior. The community and prisons do what they can to help and provide inmates to adjust to life, but in reality; it’s really up to them if they really want to make the
The sex offender registry has been a topic of debates and formal studies since the Minnesota Sex Offender Registration Act was first passed in 1991 (Stevens, n.d.). Sex offenders across the country are being harassed and abused on a daily basis for the crimes they committed, were convicted for, and served their punishment for. Due to the sex offender registry giving out names, pictures, addresses, phone, numbers, vehicle information, as well as other personal information these sex offenders are being targeted in the homes and work places. Their families are also victims of abuse. In addition, the use of the sex offender registry has created blind spots in parents. They may
Male sex offenders often identify with vulnerable children. Hey use the technique of deceiving kid saying things like “your parents don’t understand you but I do”. There are many techniques that offenders use to groom their victims and mask their behavior before the attack. The offender often gets involved in the community they become apart of churches and schools giving the offender access to potential victims without being noticed. Creating this façade would leave parents vulnerable and unaware of what may be about to happen. Male sex offenders are also very charming and likeable this is what will gain the trust of the parents and access to children alone. They also become more attached to girl or boys much younger than themselves because they prefer the company of children.