The Impact of Family Service Involvement on Treatment Completion and General Recidivism Among Male Youthful Sexual Offenders

Abstract

Few studies have systematically evaluated outcomes of services for youth with sexually problematic behaviors. Evaluations are particularly sparse for youth receiving family-oriented treatment despite an increased emphasis on family in healing and rehabilitation contexts. There are common approaches to family inclusion that have been argued by field professionals as “best practice,” and this study quantitatively investigates the usefulness of such approaches. With support from the state Sex Offender Management Board, data were collected from probation files of male youth adjudicated of a sexual crime (N = 81). Logistical regression models revealed that youth with greater family service involvement were almost three times more likely to successfully complete treatment and youth living in an in-home placement were 73% less likely to reactivate. Inherent implications suggest that family is a protective factor and community-based, family-oriented services ought to occur uniformly. Policy implications and suggestions for future research are provided.