Social Skills Training: The foremost importance of social skills training is because juvenile sex offenders lack basic social skills (Kahn & Lafond, 1988). This training often involves instructions about model skills, and the therapist helps in modelling that skill. The juvenile offender is required to role-play and practice the skill and is given performance feedback by the therapist (Bourke & Donohue, 1996, p. 49). Social skills training can be taught in an individual therapy format or in a group format (Becker, 1990). Hollins (1990) in his study, posits that social skills training with juvenile delinquents (not sex offenders alone) was successful in altering aspects of social behavior but did not alter re-offending rates. Anger Control …show more content…
Juvenile sex offenders are viewed as being products of a multiple dysfunctional systems, therefore, the intervention of therapy is needed in these multiple systems (Borduin, Henggeler, Blaske, & Stein, 1990). Although multi-systemic interventions vary for each offender, generally this approach is a comprehensive therapy which targets characteristics of the juvenile sex offender, his family, and his peer relationships for intervention (Borduin et al., 1990). Specifically, multi-systemic therapy addresses the juvenile offender's cognitive deficits such as denial, empathy, and distortions, family relations such as cohesion and parental supervision, and dysfunctional peer relationships (Borduin et al., 1990). Borduin et al. (1990) randomly assigned juvenile sex offenders to either a multi-systemic treatment condition or an individual therapy condition. Each treatment used both male and female therapist. Individual therapy focused on personal, family, and academic issues. The theoretical orientation of the individual therapists was a blend of psychodynamic, humanistic, and behavioral approaches. After a long-term follow-up, Borduin et al. (1990), discovered that subjects from the multi-systemic treatment group had significantly group (75%). Borduin et al. then concluded that multi-systemic therapy was more effective than individual therapy in the treatment of juvenile sex
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.
Letourneau, E. J., Henggeler, S. W., Borduin, C. M., Schewe, P. A., McCart, M. R., Chapman, J. E., & Saldana, L. (2009). Multisystemic therapy for juvenile sexual offenders: 1-year results from a randomized effectiveness trial. Journal of Family Psychology, 23(1), 89-102.
Greenwood, P., & Zimring, F. (1985). One more chance: The pursuit of promising intervention strategies for chronic juvenile offenders. (Research Report). Pittsburgh: Rand Corporation.
These cognitive-behavioral techniques; anger management, deviant sexual arousal, and interventions dependent on the principles of risk, responsibilities and needs provide the most common forms of treatment used with sex offenders. Typically, these techniques ensure effective treatment of cognitive distortions, teaching of social skills and empathy and the implementation of emotion management and relapse prevention. Cognitive-behavioral techniques are proven and effective treatment for a number of mental illnesses and problems because they are comprehensive and effectual treatments and can be considered the best practice for treatment with sexual offenders as inferred by Alaska Dept of Corrections and United States of America
Many resources go into the prevention and management of sex offenders. However, very few effective programs exist that decrease the likelihood of reoffending. Through the use of meta-analyses, Seto and Lalumiere (2010) evaluated multiple studies that examined sex offenders. Emphasis was put on etiological explanations in the hopes of identifying factors associated with sex offending. Seto and Lalumiere’s (2010) findings help in creating effective programs to decrease recidivism rates.
Tarolla, S. M., Wagner, E. F., Rabinowitz, J., & Tubman, J. G. (2002). Understanding and treating juvenile offenders: A review of current knowledge and future directions. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 7 (2), 125 - 143
Adolescent criminal acts, which include but are not limited to murder, rape, armed robbery, violent assault, mugging, arson, vandalism and robbery are a large portion of the crimes represented in the media. Alternative options to throwing these kids in juvenile detention centers is a rehabilitative boot camp where they have no control over even their own bodies or programs similar to scared straight where they see possible consequences to their actions. The importance of the success or failure of these programs is important because right now it is the popular solution. If these programs are going nowhere, time should be invested in creating new ideas and methods to treat these children before they become adults in the prison system.
Females are increasingly becoming more active in the juvenile justice system and this is said to be happening at alarming rates. It is important to learn more about why and how girls commit crimes so that we may also attempt intervention in an effective manner to prevent potential offenders and rehabilitate the girls who have already committed offenses. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has produced a report that includes a review of how these girls are getting into these situations, how states are dealing with this population of offenders, the national efforts that have taken place to attempt to address the needs of the adolescent female offender including training for individuals who work with these females and a female-based continuum of care model that’s use is recommended in the development of any female program development. This population of offenders requires not special treatment but different treatment than the typical juvenile offender which has been up until recently mostly all male.
they are currently in. A juvenile committing crime may the only way they know to display their anger and feelings of neglect.
Yates, P. M. (2005). Pathways to treatment of sexual offenders: Rethinking intervention. Forum on Corrections Research, 17, 1-9.
Sex offenders have been a serious problem for our legal system at all levels, not to mention those who have been their victims. There are 43,000 inmates in prison for sexual offenses while each year in this country over 510,000 children are sexually assaulted(Oakes 99). The latter statistic, in its context, does not convey the severity of the situation. Each year 510,000 children have their childhood's destroyed, possibly on more than one occasion, and are faced with dealing with the assault for the rest of their lives. Sadly, many of those assaults are perpetrated by people who have already been through the correctional system only to victimize again. Sex offenders, as a class of criminals, are nine times more likely to repeat their crimes(Oakes 99). This presents a
This paper explores the benefits provided by educational programs in jails and prisons. Included are the reasons inmates need education in order to successfully reenter society once they are released and use the knowledge and skills they have learned to obtain a job in order to support themselves and their families. Also examined in the paper are the financial benefits of incorporating educational programs instead of cutting them, as well as the effect these programs play on the recidivism rate. Lastly is a focus on understanding the importance of education and job training, even though the recipients are criminals.
Loeber R., and D.P. Farrington. “Serious and violent juvenile offenders: Risk factors and successful interventions.” Thousand Oaks. 1998. First Search. Feb 2007