Management Of Sex Offenders Research Articles

North Carolina Sexual Offender Legislation: Policy Placebo?

Current legislation at the state and federal level is largely based on the premise that we can best protect children by prohibiting sexual offenders’ access to children through the use of residency restrictions, employment sanctions, and community notification. While well intentioned, these policies are short sighted and based more on public misperceptions than empirical research. In this study, the authors assess sexual offenders’ perceptions of residency restrictions in the state of North Carolina. The study population was comprised of a nonrandom sample of 231 adult sexual offenders from 11 outpatient sexual offender treatment sites in North Carolina. The majority (151) of sexual offenders stated that housing restrictions do nothing to prevent them from reoffending. More than half (135) indicated that no residency restrictions would serve as an effective deterrent. These findings indicate the need for a more comprehensive approach to the community management of sexual offenders.

The sex offender public disclosure pilots in England and Scotland: Lessons for ‘marketing strategies’ and risk communication with the public

In 2009 a sex offender public disclosure scheme was piloted in England and Scotland based upon political and policy assumptions about the public’s likely take-up of such a scheme. However, the pilots found lower than anticipated public use of the scheme. By drawing on the notions of instrumental and symbolic efficacy this article explores the potential implications of the current rate of take-up. Is the instrumental efficacy of the scheme, that is, its role in providing advice and information to the public about sex offenders mitigated by low take-up? Does the scheme offer symbolic reassurance to the public about sex offender management and how might this be affected by current take-up rates? The public response to disclosure is also examined through the lens of recent risk communication research, in particular Health Promotion models that critique a simplistic ‘hypodermic’ approach to risk communication. Finally, the symbolic efficacy of public disclosure is examined with specific reference to Jackson and Gray’s (2010) ‘functional fear’.

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

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.

경찰의 성범죄 전력자 관리

최근 몇 년간 성폭력범죄는 우리의 머릿속에서 크게 인식되어 일반시민의 범죄 두려움은 크게 증가하였다. 이러한 성폭력범죄의 경우 다른 폭력범죄와 달리 암수성이 강하며, 이와 동시에 범죄자의 재범률이 매우 높은 특징을 가지고 있다. 우리나라의 성폭력범죄자 실태를 살펴보면, 성폭력범죄에서 가장 많은 비중을 차지하고 있는 강간의 경우 2009년도에 발생한 강간범죄 중 약 62%가 범죄경력이 있는 자들로서, 범죄경력자 들에 의한 범죄가 많이 발생하였으며 범죄경력자에 의한 피해가 심각한 사회문제로 대두되고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 이렇게 심각한 사회문제를 발생시키는 성폭력범죄에 대한 대책방안으로 법무부, 여성가족부에서 실시하는 사전예방적 성범죄자 예방을 위한 활동과 재범방지를 위한 활동에 대해서 살펴보고 경찰의 우범자관리 및 성범죄 전력자 신상정보 등록대상자 1:1 담당 경찰관 운영 제도, 그리고 외국의 성범죄 전력자에 대한 관리제도를 살펴보았다. 이를 바탕으로 우리 경찰의 법적, 제도적, 실무상의 어려움을 제시하였으며 해결방안으로서 매뉴얼 제작, 관련법 개정, 전문 경찰관교육 등과 같은 해결방안을 제시하였다. The fear of civilians has recently increased due to sexual crimes. Unlike other crimes, sexual crimes mostly go unreported and are more likely to be repeated. The rape cases, which constitute the highest percentage of sexual crimes, represent that 62% of the sex offenders were ex-convicts in 2009. Therefore this study examined activities to prevent sexual crimes implemented by Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Gender Equality & Family, Police's criminal management as well as 1:1 management of ex-convicts, and sexual offender management of foreign nations as the measure for sexual crimes, which cause social problems. From these, we suggested legal, institutional and practical problems, as well as solutions such as manual production, revision of related laws and special police education.

The role of antidepressants in treating sex offenders

Summary The management of sex offenders is one of the biggest challenges today in the field of mental health. In France, the main tool used is still psychotherapy, sometimes associated with chemical castration. However, some medical teams have been trying to find pharmacological alternatives to libido reducing drugs, such as antidepressants. Objective We carried out a review of the literature in order to confirm partial efficacy of this class of pharmaceutical when used on sex offenders. Methodology We conducted our bibliographic research using the Medline search-engine, with keywords “antidepressants”, “treatment”, “paraphilia”, “compulsive sexual behaviour”, “sexual assault” and “sexual offenders”. Results Serotonergic antidepressants (SRIs) have been prescribed with varying levels of success for this indication. However, the results are most conclusive in cases of sexual compulsions, and remain poor, not to say non-existent for paraphilias. Libido reducing drugs are still therefore the treatment of reference in these cases. Antidepressants are an interesting alternative where chemical castration is contraindicated, or in cases of sexual disorders with a strong element of compulsive behaviour.

Working With Denial in Convicted Sexual Offenders

Denial in sexual offenders represents the first barrier to successful treatment a clinician is likely to face. However, there is currently no research focusing on the experiences of treatment professionals who treat and manage deniers. This study aimed to bridge this research gap and to gain an insight into the perspectives and experiences of professionals who treat and manage sex offenders in denial. The purpose was to ascertain their views on whether deniers are amenable to treatment, whether they should be offered treatment (as presently they are excluded from sex offender programmes), and what they believe may work with this population. A qualitative methodology was used, and treatment professionals were interviewed using semistructured interviews at a HM Prison in England. The main findings indicated that participants viewed denial as a barrier to treatment and that categorical deniers should be excluded from treatment. Implications for treatment are discussed, and it is concluded that viewing denial as a barrier to treatment impedes constructive work with offenders. It is argued that denial as an organising principle for treatment needs rethinking and that admittance may not be required for personal reform.

Étude sur la prise en charge des auteurs de violence sexuelle auprès d’une cohorte de psychiatres hospitaliers en France en 2011

The management of sexual offenders requires clinical, criminological and legal knowledges. On the basis of a self-assessment, our study highlights the shortcomings of practitioners in a complex and constantly evolving field. Expectations are many legitimate, it is urgent to train practitioners accepting these delicate tasks.

Parole Officers’ Experiences of the Symptoms of Secondary Trauma in the Supervision of Sex Offenders

The work of parole officers who supervise sex offenders rarely comes to the public's attention unless something goes wrong. Research suggests that those providing postrelease supervision of convicted sex offenders likely experience trauma as a result of their work and that little support is available to respond to their emotional needs. This manuscript explores parole officers' and parole officer supervisors' experiences of the symptoms of secondary trauma, defined as the emotional and cognitive experiences of hearing stories that recount one or more traumatic events. The qualitative study described here builds on existing literature by providing a detailed exploration, presented in their own words, of the experiences of specialist parole officers, about how they cope with the symptoms of secondary trauma, and about what they need to help them continue to do the job that the public and the politic want done well. Recognizing and understanding the symptoms of secondary trauma among supervising officers have important implications for maintaining a healthy workforce and for providing effective management of sex offenders in the community.

Optimizing risk mitigation in management of sexual offenders: A structural model

Sexual violence is an insidious and pervasive problem that insinuates itself into all aspects of contemporary society. It can neither be mitigated nor adequately controlled through current socio-legal practices. A more promising approach must embrace four integrated elements: (1) public policy, (2) primary prevention, (3) statutory management, and (3) secondary intervention. In the present paper we tackle the 3rd and 4th elements by proposing an integrated model for reducing and managing sexual violence among known sex offenders. Relying on the highly effective Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model as the core of our Sex Offender Risk Mitigation and Management Model (SORM 3), we draw together evidence based practices from clinical interventions and risk assessment strategies. Developed by Andrews & Bonta (2006), RNR has a strong empirical track record of efficacy when applied to diverse samples of offenders, including sex offenders (Hanson, Bourgon, Helmus, & Hodgson, 2009). We offer a detailed structural model that seeks to provide a more seamless integration of risk assessment with management and discretionary decisions, including a primary focus on RNR-based post-release aftercare. We end with the mantra that sex offender treatment alone will never effectively mitigate sexual violence in society, since the problem is not confined to the handful of offenders who spend time in prison and are offered some limited exposure to treatment. Any truly effective model must go well beyond the management of those known to be violent and embrace a comprehensive and integrated approach that begins by recognizing the seeds of sexual violence sown by society. Such a public health paradigm places victims – not offenders – at the center, forcing society to come to address the full gamut of hazards that fuel sexual violence.

Who are the people in your neighborhood? A descriptive analysis of individuals on public sex offender registries

Despite growing focus on registration and notification systems as central elements of national sex offender management practice, there has been remarkably little systematic analysis of the content of these registries and the diversity of individuals contained within them. Specifically, little research attention has been paid to examining the heterogeneity of the population of registered sex offenders — a circumstance that may obscure important distinctions within the population and, in turn, may undermine the ostensible purpose of SORN to prevent sexual victimization. Addressing this significant gap in our current knowledge, this article sets forth a national profile of the registered sex offender (RSO) population, drawn from an analysis of data on 445,127 RSOs obtained from the public registries of 49 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and Guam. In contrast with the homogenized perception about registered sex offenders that permeates much public discourse, the analysis illuminates the wide diversity of registrants across a range of demographic, offense-related, registry status, and risk-oriented variables. Policy and practice implications concerning risk, prevention, and the public safety utility of sex offender registries are discussed.

Are Similar Sex Offenders Treated Similarly? A Conjunctive Analysis of Disparities in Community Notification Decisions

Using a sample of sex offenders in the state of Washington, the current study examines the nature and magnitude of disparities in notification decisions among distinct groups of sex offenders. The method of conjunctive analysis is used to describe the extent to which similar types of sex offenders (i.e., groups of sex offenders that share similar sets of risk factors for re-offending) are treated similarly in notification decisions. The observed patterns of widespread disparities in these decisions among distinct composite profiles of sex offenders are then discussed in terms of their implications for future research on evaluating disparity in criminal processing, the collateral consequences of notification decisions, and ongoing public policy on the control and management of sex offenders.

Place a moratorium on the passage of sex offender residence restriction laws

D uring the past few decades, lawmakers have devoted increasing attention to policies aimed at managing sex offenders released to the community. Indeed, since 1994, all 50 states have enacted at least two pieces of legislation specific to sex offenders; at the minimum, each of the 50 states has established a sex offender registry and a community notification system in compliance with the Jacob Wetterling Act of 1994 and Megan’s Law of 1996, respectively (CSOM, 2008). Since this time, states have passed several other laws targeted at sex offenders. For example, some states require sex offenders to carry special identification cards, whereas other states have the authority to impose chemical castration (Mancini, 2009). Among the newest wave of sex offender policies to sweep the United States are residence restrictions. A recent analysis revealed that since 1999 more than half of all states have enacted a residence restriction law (Mancini, 2009). Residence restrictions come in different shapes (i.e., different “hot-spot” locations) and sizes (i.e., different “buffer zones”). A hot spot is a specific location that is restricted for sex offenders, and it typically is defined as a park, playground, daycare center, or school. A buffer zone is the exclusion perimeter that is established around identified hot spots. For example, a buffer zone of 500 feet means that sex offenders cannot reside within 500 feet of hot spots. Buffer zones can range from 500 feet to more than 5,000 feet depending on the state of interest (Mancini, 2009; Meloy, Miller, and Curtis, 2008). Despite variation in the scope of hot spots that can be included and the size of buffer zones that can be used, all residence restriction laws operate on the following underlying rationale: keeping a sex offender away from areas where children are

Clinical experience of the use of triptorelin as an antilibidinal medication in a high-security hospital

Paraphilias (disorders of sexual preference), in particular paedophilia, have been increasingly recognised as a major problem in Western countries and are associated with significant human and material costs. Various treatments have been used to manage sex offenders with varying success. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, such as triptorelin, a depot injection, cause castration-equivalent testosterone levels in men and are emerging as an effective treatment option in cases of severe paraphilia. Triptorelin has recently received a licence in the UK for use in sex offenders. We surveyed the literature on prescribing protocols for triptorelin's use as an antilibidinal medication and compared them with actual prescribing practice in a high-security hospital, which enabled us to suggest improvements in practice with regard to pre-treatment considerations and appropriate monitoring during therapy. Our study highlights the need and proposes a treatment protocol for the safe administration of long-term triptorelin therapy for paraphilia.

Evaluating New York State’s Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act

The current study evaluated New York State’s sex offender civil management screening process. Specifically, the study sought to (a) determine which variables contributed significantly to offenders being deemed high risk and receiving a psychiatric examination, and (b) assess the likely public safety impact of civil management by examining the recidivism rates of a historical sample of offenders matched to Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act–reviewed offenders on variables important to the civil management screening outcome. Results of the screening analysis indicated the civil management risk assessment process places the most emphasis on variables empirically established to be related to sexual recidivism risk, such as the offender’s Static-99 score and whether the offender had a male victim. Results of the public safety impact analysis indicated that the review process appears to be accurately identifying the highest risk offenders, thereby likely increasing public safety.

The management of sexual offenders in the community

The management of sexual offenders in the community

The Management of Sex Offenders: Perspectives for Psychiatry

In the effort to identify and manage sex offenders, the differences between legal and medical/psychiatric terminology and approaches are readily apparent. This article discusses the different definitions and approaches of the two fields and considers both the behaviors that create risk to others and the strategies for reducing that risk. Particular attention is paid to the subcategory of paraphilic sex offenders. Treatment goals, modalities, and efficacies are discussed, as are evolving legal strategies for risk control and the need for interaction between law and medicine/psychiatry in order to accomplish common goals of risk management.

APA Guidelines Ignored in Development of Diagnostic Criteria for Pedohebephilia

This Letter describes how the proposed DSM-5 criteria for pedohebephilia have been developed without following four key guidelines specified by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and to point out significant flaws that have resulted. It also proposes solutions. First, the paraphilias subworkgroup apparently ignored the DSM research agenda development process, which addressed developmental issues, questions of disability and impairment, potential contributions from neuroscience, and cross-cultural and gender considerations (American Psychiatric Association, 2010e). Developmental issues are crucial for determining the ages at which pedohebephilic disorder can be diagnosed and the bases for diagnosis at various ages, since attraction to children develops during childhood (Farella, 2002; Freund & Kuban, 1993). The other considerations would inform ongoing debates over impairment and distress in diagnosing pedophilia (e.g., Green, 2002; O’Donohue, Reger, & Hagstrom, 2000) and over whetherpedohebephilicdisorder isagenuinepsychiatricdisorder or solely a taboo in current Western culture (Bullough, 1990; Green, 2002). Additionally, they might help us understand why pedohebephilia is rarely diagnosed among women. However, neither the literature review on pedohebephilia (Blanchard, 2010) nor the rationale on the DSM-5 website acknowledges these issues. Second, the paraphilias were ignored by the APA/NIHorganized conference series designed to address problematic diagnostic questions in particular categories and ‘‘to stimulate the empirical research necessary to allow informed decision making’’(American Psychiatric Association, 2010f). If any category is in need of such attention, surely it is the paraphilias. There have been continuing controversies over conceptual validity, logical consistency, and terminology; in the absence of reliable scientific data, it has been easy for critics to claim that conceptualizations and criteria have been determined by law and morality rather than science (Franklin, 2009; Green, 2002; Moser & Kleinplatz, 2005). The lack of research interest in pedohebephilia is breathtaking in light of the extreme societal concern over adults and adolescents who interact sexually with children, and considering that 5% or more of males (over 5 million adults and 600,000 teenagers in the U.S.) may be preferentially attracted to children (Abel & Harlow, 2001; Farella, 2002; Hall, Hirschman, & Oliver, 1995). Yet, none of the 10 APA/NIH conferences or resulting white papers, which‘‘played a key role in establishing the evidence base for DSM-V,’’ addressed pedohebephilia (American Psychiatric Association, 2010d). Third, the paraphilias subworkgroup ignored the APA’s statement that‘‘to ensure that those involved in the revision process represent diverse perspectives, disciplines, and areas of expertise, the Task Force and work groups represent a variety of clinical and scientific disciplines...’’ (American Psychiatric Association, 2010a). A full understanding of pedohebephilia would require consulting experts and research from psychol ogy, sexology, evolutionary biology, ethology, anthropology, and sociology.Butall fourmembersof theparaphilia subworkgroup are specialists whose perspective on pedohebephilia is limited to that of controlling sex offenders. Of the 34 studies cited in Blanchard’s (2010) literature review, 31 were from a sex offender management perspective, including 10 co-authored by Blanchard himself. Although relevant literature from other fields is not plentiful, it does exist. Fourth, the subworkgroup failed to heed APA guidance that DSM work groups should represent‘‘patient and family groups’’ (American Psychiatric Association, 2010a). Researchers have long criticized research on pedophilia for its reliance on unrepresentative correctional samples (e.g., Okami & Goldberg, R. Kramer (&) B4U ACT, POB 1754, Westminster, MD 21158, USA e mail: rkramer@b4uact.org

Practice report: A review of e-Safety remote computer monitoring for UK sex offenders

There are currently around 32,300 registered sex offenders in the United Kingdom for whom recent years have seen the implementation of extensive supervision strategies, such as Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) and licence conditions. Concurrently, the last two decades have also seen heightened alertness to the use of communications technologies in the commission of child sexual abuse. This paper describes a 6-month pilot project investigating the management of computer use for registered sex offenders using e-Safety software, which examines PCs for specific inappropriate words and phrases, the results of which are monitored remotely by risk-management officers. The findings of the pilot project are discussed in the context of both the potential benefits for the detection of future inappropriate computer-related behaviour and also the potential benefits for promoting and identifying positive computer use by offenders. Finally, we discuss further development of the use of this software in sex offender management.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment and Management of Sex Offenders

In this article, current methods of conceptualizing and treating adult sexual offending are reviewed. First, the Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) approach to sex offender management is presented and critiqued. Then, the newer Good Lives Model is discussed and contrasted with the aforementioned RNR approach. The discussion of these approaches to sex offender management and rehabilitation is followed by a review of those cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques used to treat risk factors associated with sex offending, as such techniques are employed in both paradigms. Finally, research regarding the efficacy of using CBT techniques to treat sex offending behavior is presented, and future directions for sex offender treatment and management are discussed.

Introduction to Special Issue on Sex Offenses and Offenders: Toward Evidence-Based Public Policy

Since the early 1990s, state and federal lawmakers have enacted a range of laws and policies intended to mitigate the societal risk presented by sex offenders. In recent years, sex offender legislation has ranked near the top of state legislative agendas, and the U.S. Congress has asserted a role in shaping the nation’s sex offender management practice at the state level. Although this legislative activity has been accompanied by research-generated knowledge that has improved professionals’ ability to assess risk and to provide effective treatment and supervision, research on the specific effects of the policies is scanty. Hence, significant gaps are found between prevailing public policies and effective practices. This article introduces a special issue of Criminal Justice and Behavior focused on critically evaluating the efficacy of contemporary sex offender management policies in terms of enhancing public safety. The article describes the studies contained in the issue and places these studies into a broader policy framework. It concludes with a call for expanding the role of evidence in the development of our nation’s sex offender laws.