Community Risk Management of High-Risk Sex Offenders in Canada: Findings From a Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Much has been said about risk assessment and risk prediction of sexual recidivism, but few studies have examined the risk management of high-risk sex offenders returning to the community. The current study explores the impact of an intensive supervision program in the province of British Columbia, Canada. A quasi-experimental design was implemented to determine the impact of the program on recidivism. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses were conducted to determine the impact of the risk management program on recidivism. Mixed findings were observed as to the impact of the intensive supervision program. In spite of varying levels of supervision, the study showed that age, legal status, actuarial risk, and—to a lesser extent—education were all predictive of recidivism.