Rehabilitation & Treatment of Sex Offenders

While sex offenders are often considered to be mentally ill, there is no simple “cure” for a sex offender. There is no magic pill or easy therapy that can remove sexual impulses that a sex offender may have. The question is, is a sex offender able to be cured, or are they considered a sex offender forever? There has been great debate over the psychology of sex offenders, and various studies have been conducted, producing various results. Studies suggest that sex offenders have not been proved to be “incurable”. They have, in fact, been shown to positively respond to treatment and successfully rejoin society without committing further sex crimes. A sex offender may choose not to reoffend because of their shame of being previously caught and placed on trial. Being convicted may serve as a deterrent against future offenses.

It is extremely difficult to draw conclusions as to why a sex offender commits the crimes, making it even more difficult to determine treatment options. The acts committed by sex offenders differ greatly, making it hard to resolve the issue. Although treatment is not 100 percent effective, courses of treatment can help people who have been convicted of sex offenses to help control their urges, reducing the risk of repeat offenders. It is easier to think of “curing” a sex offender in terms of alcoholism. Offenders, similar to addicts, are never free of their addiction, and are forced to deal with it as part of their everyday lives.

In the 1930s, the first major attempts to treat sex offenders were put into play. Offenders were classified as “mentally disordered” and committed to psychiatric facilities. Starting in the 1970s, new patterns emerged that focused on helping offenders become more aware and to control their high risk impulses. Current approaches include cognitive-behavioral methods, psycho-educational methods, and pharmacological methods.

These treatment methods are often used together, and are most effective when initiated soon after an offender has been incarcerated. There are drawbacks to treatment, unfortunately. The prison environment often interferes with treatment, and sometimes eliminates it completely. Once sex offenders are released, they are often monitored for a period of time, or forced to register in a database similar to Megan’s Law. As previously mentioned, sometimes the shame alone in having to register as an offender is deterrent enough for future offenses. While there are not solid conclusions as to which method of treatment or rehabilitation should be used on sex offenders, studies have shown that treatment is both necessary and beneficial in the prevention of future sex crimes.

References:
Criminal Justice Abstracts. Outcome Evaluation of a High-Intensity Inpatient Sex Offender Treatment Program. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, vol 24. 2008

Roberts, M.L. Criminal Justice Abstracts. Lifers on the Outside: Sex Offenders and Disintegrative Shaming. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.