ABSTRACTProvincial and state correctional departments and related mental health agencies werecontacted regarding sex offender treatment programmes offered within their jurisdictions.Descriptions of 22 U.S. and 12 Canadian programmes were received. Programmes wereexamined along 16 dimensions: year of implementation, participating agencies, targetpopulation, referral sources, assessments, capacity, staffing, treatment duration, treatmentintensity, location, patient basis (in- or outpatient), community resources, therapeuticservices, therapeutic orientation, evaluation, and follow-up. A wide range of services wasnoted among the sample of U.S. programmes. Programme variation was ascribed todifferences in target population, the therapeutic orientation, and the availability ofresources. In Canada, programmes tended to be behaviourally oriented and hospital-based,with motivation to change as the admittance criterion. A paucity of evaluation and follow-updata was observed for both countries.Efficient treatment services for sexual offend-ers has become a necessity for correctionalfacilities. Sexual offenders account for 8% to12% of the federal prison population in Canada(Wormith, 1983) and an average of 10% acrossthe United States, with some jurisdictionsreporting rates as high as 21% (Contact, 1983).Media coverage of sexual offences and releasedsexual offenders has heightened public concernand demand for effective management policiesand treatment programmes.At the same time, critics have expressedalarm about the lack of available services. Asrecently as 1978, Brecher complained,... nothing in particular is being done about thevast majority of sentenced sex offenders. Thoseserving time in correctional institutions are lodgedin the same cell blocks as those incarcerated fornon-sex offenses, and are subjected to the samecorrectional routines. Those out on probation andparole are with few exceptions treated like otherprobationers and parolees. Little or no attention ispaid to the particular factors which made these mensex offenders.