Sex Offenders Essay

Thousands of sex abuse cases with children are disclosed in the U.S. every year. The actual amount of young people that are raped and molested is even higher. But as laws change frequently, it’s still a mystery on how to treat sex offenders to prevent such crimes. “Sex offender programs/strategies represent various approaches used to prevent convicted sex offenders from committing future sex offenses. These approaches include different types of therapy, community notification, and standardized assessments (CSOM).” Most programs are held in prison and/or in the community to manage sex offenders (Olver). Approaches that can help prevent these crimes are, the cognitive-behavioral approach, which focuses on changing the thinking patterns related to sexual assaulting and also altering evil ways of sexual behavior. The psycho-educational approach is another approach, which focuses on increasing offenders' empathy for the victim while also teaching them to take responsibility for their sexual offenses. Standardized assessment tools are also highly effective, ultimately used to increase the likelihood of treatment efficacy and/or to identify individuals at high risk of reoffending. With these approaches, “it is important to include all partners who may be involved in the management of sex offenders such as law enforcement, corrections, victims’ organizations, treatment programs, courts, prosecutors and other stakeholders. These partners can provide valuable information in assessing the effectiveness and efficacy of sex offender programs and strategies (O’Donnell).”

A sex offender is defined as an individual who has committed a sex offense or engaged in sex offending behavior. “The term sex offending is a psycho legal one that encompasse...

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...thers, use of chemicals, mental status, and willingness to help self and others. The evaluation process involves several clinical interviews with the offender and significant others and administration of standardized tests (Neilans).” The results of the test are typically compiled and implemented to concerned parties and the client. “The summary will highlight relevant findings, summarize the overall functioning of the offender, assess his risk of sexual offending using accepted risk assessment instruments, and make specific recommendations as to the therapeutic change needed and what types of treatment could be most productive (Neilans).”

In conclusion, it would be in our best interest to incorporate, cognitive-behavioral approaches, psycho-educational approaches and standardized testing into effect in order to treat and lessen the chances of future sex offending.