Management of Treatment for Inappropriate or Illegal Sexual Behavior
Disclaimer: This site is intended for general public information only. Information on this site should not be considered an alternative for medical or legal professional advice for specific or personal cases.
These management strategies do not lend themselves to individuals who voluntarily submit themselves to treatment and primarily are aimed at those who are undergoing therapy involuntarily as a result of judicial action.
Treatment is offered within an overall management strategy which is often directed by state laws either directly or via a state authorized management/treatment policy group. The use of these policies group are discussed later in the Treatment Programs part of this section.
Sex Offender Management Policy in the States: Strengthening Practice and Policy: A Final Report (2010)
By Jennifer Horne, Amy Vandervort-Clark
CSG Knowledge Center
The Containment Model is the predominate management strategy and was developed in Colorado in the 1990’s.
The Containment Model is promoted by the National Institute of Justice, is utilized by employing a triangle of
supervision, monitoring, and treatment. Supervision is provided by trained Probation and Parole officers,
assessment and treatment is attained through state “approved providers”, while monitoring is implemented
with polygraph examinations and drug and alcohol testing. As a cohesive team, supervision officers, treatment
providers, and polygraph examiners promote accountability and ensure victim safety by effectively “containing”
sex offenders.
White Paper on Sex Offender Treatment in Missouri (2011)
Prepared by the St. Louis Alliance for Reentry (STAR)
A new model for management of those with a sexual offense conviction is the Good Lives Model.
The Good Lives model, which is designed to work with adult sexual offenders (but is finding a place in work with
sexually abusive youth as well) shifts the focus in treatment from a containment and control model to a model of
positive psychology. In this model, treatment works toward recognizing the identity, values, and beliefs with which
the offender identifies so that he or she can work toward personal fulfillment and the development of prosocial social
skills.
The focus is not solely on risk reduction, but also on enhancing the capacity of the offender to improve his or her life.
Thakker, Ward, and Tidmarsh (2006) "propose that the key theoretical perspective that guides treatment should be that
of human well-being (i.e. good lives), rather than risk management, or relapse prevention (pg. 324). They assert that
the focus of treatment should be on identifying obstacles to accomplishing "human goods" and the acquisition of the
capacities and competencies required to achieve human goods in ways that are socially acceptable and personally
satisfying (pg. 550).
Applying Good Lives and Self Regulation Models to Sex Offender Treatment: A Practical Guide for
Clinicians (2010) - Pamela Yates, Ph.D, R.D; David Prescott, LICSW, Tony Ward Ph.D.
Thankfully there are many treatment management professionals all over the world. Some operate in private settings while other work within social services agencies, hospitals and correctional facilities. Still more work within an educational environment and study the subject in broad contexts, conducting research and issuing reports. Below are a few links to such professionals. More will be added as we identify them.
- http://www.davidprescott.net/index.shtml
- http://www.victoria.ac.nz/psyc/about/staff/tony-ward
These management strategies do not lend themselves to individuals who voluntarily submit themselves to treatment and primarily are aimed at those who are undergoing therapy involuntarily as a result of judicial action.
Treatment is offered within an overall management strategy which is often directed by state laws either directly or via a state authorized management/treatment policy group. The use of these policies group are discussed later in the Treatment Programs part of this section.
Sex Offender Management Policy in the States: Strengthening Practice and Policy: A Final Report (2010)
By Jennifer Horne, Amy Vandervort-Clark
CSG Knowledge Center
The Containment Model is the predominate management strategy and was developed in Colorado in the 1990’s.
The Containment Model is promoted by the National Institute of Justice, is utilized by employing a triangle of
supervision, monitoring, and treatment. Supervision is provided by trained Probation and Parole officers,
assessment and treatment is attained through state “approved providers”, while monitoring is implemented
with polygraph examinations and drug and alcohol testing. As a cohesive team, supervision officers, treatment
providers, and polygraph examiners promote accountability and ensure victim safety by effectively “containing”
sex offenders.
White Paper on Sex Offender Treatment in Missouri (2011)
Prepared by the St. Louis Alliance for Reentry (STAR)
A new model for management of those with a sexual offense conviction is the Good Lives Model.
The Good Lives model, which is designed to work with adult sexual offenders (but is finding a place in work with
sexually abusive youth as well) shifts the focus in treatment from a containment and control model to a model of
positive psychology. In this model, treatment works toward recognizing the identity, values, and beliefs with which
the offender identifies so that he or she can work toward personal fulfillment and the development of prosocial social
skills.
The focus is not solely on risk reduction, but also on enhancing the capacity of the offender to improve his or her life.
Thakker, Ward, and Tidmarsh (2006) "propose that the key theoretical perspective that guides treatment should be that
of human well-being (i.e. good lives), rather than risk management, or relapse prevention (pg. 324). They assert that
the focus of treatment should be on identifying obstacles to accomplishing "human goods" and the acquisition of the
capacities and competencies required to achieve human goods in ways that are socially acceptable and personally
satisfying (pg. 550).
Applying Good Lives and Self Regulation Models to Sex Offender Treatment: A Practical Guide for
Clinicians (2010) - Pamela Yates, Ph.D, R.D; David Prescott, LICSW, Tony Ward Ph.D.
Thankfully there are many treatment management professionals all over the world. Some operate in private settings while other work within social services agencies, hospitals and correctional facilities. Still more work within an educational environment and study the subject in broad contexts, conducting research and issuing reports. Below are a few links to such professionals. More will be added as we identify them.
- http://www.davidprescott.net/index.shtml
- http://www.victoria.ac.nz/psyc/about/staff/tony-ward
