Running head: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS The effectiveness of treatment for sex offenders Monique Lowe Columbia Southern University 1 THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 2 The effectiveness of treatment for sex offenders The society has continued to struggle with sex-related crimes making it difficult even to classify some of the offenses. The major sexual crime is often rape and courts have managed to come up with punitive measures such as incarceration. Nonetheless, other offences make it difficult for the society to expressly set the punishment such as indecent exposure and sexual harassment. Sexual harassment, for instance, is even categorized in civil cases where the burden of proof lies with the complainant. Additionally, punishments may not necessarily help the offenders to change their behavior. Consequently, the organizations within the society are left with the burden of living with these offenders or trying to change these people. Since 2008 there have been treatment programs in the United States, but the offenses have not reduced. For example, this year 2008 saw 1 307 programs that served over fifty-three thousand offenders (Przybylski, 2007). This article shall examine the possibility of treating sex offenders and having their behavior changed. This paper shall further examine what other scholars have had to say about treatment of sex offenders. Essentially, sex offences are on the rise and as a result this paper shall want to establish whether the treatment programs are effective. In addition, if they are not effective how can they be improved? THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 3 Annotated bibliography Olver, M. E., Stockdale, K. C., & Wormith, J. S. (2011). A meta-analysis of predictors of offender treatment attrition and its relationship to recidivism. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 79(1), 6. Olver, Stockdale and Wormith argue that there are other psychological factors that motivate sexual offenders to undertake their heinous acts. Therefore, they believe that different psychological therapies and cognitive approaches can help change the behavior of these offenders especially if they are followed until they complete their treatment program. Additional, they noted that most of the reviews on predictors have not had any outlined quantitative analysis. Methods The scholars conducted a meta-analysis on literature regarding offenders' treatment programs and their relationship to recidivism. This analysis was conducted on 114 studies that covered over forty one thousand offenders. The offenders varied from criminal and violent offenders to those with antisocial personality as well as with different ages and intelligence levels. They had also undergone psychological treatment where some had finished their programs while other had opted out. Results The study reviewed records of offenders from different treatment programs such as sex offenders, domestic violence and criminal offenders who had partly or fully undergone the psychological treatment. They noted that those who actually completed the treatment were less likely to reoffend compared to those who did not finish their treatment THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 4 programs. Additionally those offenders who were at high risk were not likely to finish the treatment program. Critique The article focuses mainly on the psychological rather than physical factors that lead to offenders repeating their behaviors. The article only makes conclusions after following up several cases on different offender. It attempts to convert the qualitative information into quantitative measures with indications on its sample studies. The study can be further improved by the author's attempt to look at the effect of physical and psychological factors such as aggression versus poverty. It is important to note some of these sexual offenses are not entirely dependent on psychological studies. Therefore the researchers should also consider including more variables in their study so that they can test more predictors. Przybylski, R. (2007). Effectiveness of Treatment for Adult Sex Offenders. Synthesis. In this study the author used different studies such as randomized controlled trials to establish the effects of treatment on sex offender. Before proceeding with these experimental methods he explains the difficulties of these RCTs by stating that they are difficult to implement in real life. He also noted that other supportive methods such quasi experiments, narrative review, Meta-analysis and systematic reviews. Methods RCTs were used to study the treatment of adult sex offenders in California in 2005. They wanted to establish the effects of the treatment programs on recidivism of 204 offenders. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 5 The control group in this assignment consisted of 225 offenders who had volunteered for the program. They also used a group of 403 sex offenders who had been released from the hospital and forced into the treatment program with 325 who were not treated. Findings The different studies revealed that cognitive approaches of changing behavior were more effective in changing the behaviors of sex offenders. However, they noted that whatever treatment program that was used in their studies did not give the same results. Consequently they concluded that not all sex offenders would respond to the treatment programs in the same manner. The various studies used in these studies also showed that while treatment was able to reduce recidivism by 5 to 8 percent the treatment programs were more effective on moderate and high-risk offenders. Critique The article analyses all the methods that it uses in its study and even gives statistical figures on the results of the treatment programs. Also, the author used different offenders to come up with their results. The results were quite consistent since offenders from different regions showed consistent results. However, the author can also improve their results on this treatment by also looking at the young adults. For example, most offenders are young men who are in the late teenage years or young men. Rice, M. E., & Harris, G. T. (2011). Is androgen deprivation therapy effective in the treatment of sex offenders?. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 17(2), 315. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 6 Rice and Harris were of the opinion that androgens contributed a lot to male sexual behavior. The study seemed to have emanated from historical discussions about 4000 years ago where Eunuchs were believed to have lower androgen levels. While they state that records on the link between castration and sexual desires are scanty, they are convinced that reduced androgen levels can manage the behavior of sex offender. Consequently, they referred to their treatment mode as ADH (androgen deprivation therapy. Methods and results To examine the validity of this therapy, they examined secondary data on the history of eunuch across the different generations. They assert that eunuchs are not sex offenders and they attributed this behavior to their low sexual drive as a result of ADH. The two authors also affirm that clinician also support the hypothesis that ADH can be the best way to deal with sex offenders. Nonetheless these clinicians also stated that the therapy was only done to volunteers. Critique Unlike any other research article this article is biased on the sense that it only bases its conclusions on a group of people and infers such conclusions to the entire human race. While androgens and testosterone levels play an important role in sexual activity in males there is need to have tangible and statistical evidence on offenders who have been treated using this therapy and it worked. Additionally, human rights activists may look at this mode of treatment as a violation unless it is voluntary. Consequently, ADH may not be THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 7 one of the best therapy in cases where the offenders are not willing to reduce the testosterone levels. Conclusion There are several techniques that can be used to treat sexual offenders as outlined in these peer reviewed documents. Whether the person has more testosterone or not he holds the power of free will to tame and control his desires. Therefore, sexual offenders have to be treated through methods that can enable them use their excess energy and turn away from their behaviors. Nonetheless, a combination cognitive and behavioral therapies can help these sex offenders to a greater extent. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS 8 Reference Birgden, A., & Cucolo, H. (2011). The Treatment of Sex Offenders Evidence, Ethics, and Human Rights. Sexual abuse: a journal of research and treatment, 23(3), 295-313. Olver, M. E., Stockdale, K. C., & Wormith, J. S. (2011). A meta-analysis of predictors of offender treatment attrition and its relationship to recidivism. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 79(1), 6. Przybylski, R. (2007). Effectiveness of Treatment for Adult Sex Offenders. Synthesis. Rice, M. E., & Harris, G. T. (2011). Is androgen deprivation therapy effective in the treatment of sex offenders?. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 17(2), 315