Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to review methods for evaluating the efficacy of treatment programs for sexual offenders. Even though recidivism reduction is the ultimate goal of treatment, the low base rate of detected recidivism makes this an impractical outcome criterion in many settings. In this paper, I discuss three general approaches that can be used to advance our knowledge: (1) large, well-controlled single-site research studies; (2) pooling of small studies through meta-analysis; and (3) detailed examination of within-treatment change on dynamic (changeable) risk factors. Each approach has its own strengths and weaknesses. It is only through the accumulation of consistent results from diverse studies that we are able to learn what works with sexual offenders.
Access this article
We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.
Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abel, G. G., Becker, J. V., Mittelman, M., Cunningham-Rathner, N., Rouleau, J. L., & Murphy, W. D. (1987). Self-reported sex crimes of non-incarcerated paraphiliacs.Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2, 3–25.
Abel, G. G., Mittelman, M., Becker, J. V., Rathner, J., & Rouleau, J. (1988). Predicting child molesters' response to treatment. In R. A. Prentky & V. L. Quinsey (Eds.),Human sexual aggression: Current perspectives (pp. 223–234). NY: New York Academy of Science.
Alexander, M. (1995).Sex offender treatment: Does it work? Presentation at the NOTA/ATSA 1st Joint International Conference, Cambridge, UK, Sept.
Allison, P. D. (1984).Event history analysis: Regression for longitudinal event data. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Andrews, D. A., & Bonta, J. (1994).The psychology of criminal conduct. Cincinnati, OH: Anderson.
Andrews, D. A., Zinger, I., Hoge, R. D., Bonta, J., Gendreau, P., & Cullen, F. T. (1990). Does correctional treatment work? A clinically relevant and psychologically informed meta-analysis.Criminology, 28, 369–404.
Barbaree, H. E., Seto, M. C., & Maric, A. (1995).Sex offender characteristics, response to treatment, and correctional release decisions at the Warkworth Sexual Behavior Clinic. Toronto: Clarke Institute of Psychiatry.
Bonta, J., & Hanson, R. K. (1994).Gauging the risk for violence: Measurement, impact and strategies for change. (Corrections Branch User Report 1994-09). Ottawa: Department of the Solicitor General of Canada.
Borduin, C. M., Henggeler, S. W., Blaske, D. M., & Stein, R. J. (1990). Multisystemic treatment of adolescent sexual offenders.International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 34, 105–113.
Bumby, K. M. (1996). Assessing the cognitive distortions of child molesters and rapists: Development and validation of the MOLEST and RAPE scales.Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 8, 37–54.
Champion, D. J. (1994).Measuring offender risk: A criminal justice sourcebook. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Cohen, J. (1988).Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Cortoni, F., & Marshall, W. L. (1996, August).Juvenile, sexual history, sex and coping strategies: A comparison of sexual and violent offenders. Presentation at the XXVI International Congress of Psychology, Montreal.
Federoff, J. P., Wisner-Carlson, R., Dean, S., & Berlin, F. S. (1992). Medroxy-progesterone acetate in the treatment of paraphilic sexual disorders.Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 18(3/4), 109–123.
Freeman-Longo, R., Bird, S. L., Stevenson, W. F., & Fisk, J. A. (1994).1994 Nationwide survey of treatment programs and models. Brandon, VT: Safer Society Press.
Furby, L., Weinrott, M. R., & Blackshaw, L. (1989). Sex offender recidivism: A review.Psychological Bulletin, 105, 3–30.
Gottfredson, D. M., & Tonry, M. (Eds.) (1987).Prediction and classification: Criminal justice decision making. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Grubin, D., & Thornton, D. (1994). A national program for the assessment and treatment of sex offenders in the English prison system.Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 55–71.
Hall, G. C. N. (1995). Sexual offender recidivism revisited: A meta-analysis of recent treatment studies.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 802–809.
Hanson, R. K., & Bussière, M. T. (1996).Predictors of sexual offender recidivism: A meta-analysis. (Corrections Branch User Report 1996-04). Ottawa: Department of the Solicitor General of Canada.
Hanson, R. K., & Scott, H. (1995). Assessing perspective-taking among sexual offenders, nonsexual criminals, and nonoffenders.Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 7, 259–277.
Hanson, R. K., & Scott, H. (1996). Social networks of sexual offenders.Psychology, Crime, & Law, 2, 249–258.
Hanson, R. K., Cox, B., & Woszczyna, C. (1991). Assessing treatment outcome for sexual offenders.Annals of Sex Research, 4, 177–208.
Hanson, R. K., Steffy, R. A., & Gauthier, R. (1993). Long-term recidivism of child molesters.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 646–652.
Hanson, R. K., Gizzarelli, R., & Scott, H. (1994). The attitudes of incest offenders: Sexual entitlement and acceptance of sex with children.Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 187–202.
Hedges, L. V., & Olkin, I. (1985).Statistical methods for meta-analysis. New York: Academic Press.
Hildebran, D. D., & Pithers, W. D. (1992). Relapse prevention: application and outcome. In W. O'Donohue & J. H. Geer (Eds.),The sexual abuse of children: Clinical issues, Vol. 2. (pp. 365–393). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Hollin, C. R. (1991). Training for residential work with young offenders: Structure and content.Issues in Criminology and Legal Psychology, 2, 97–100.
Hunter, J. E., & Schmidt, F. L. (1990).Methods for meta-analysis: Correcting error and bias in research findings. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Langevin, R., Paitich, D., Hucker, S., Newman, S., Ramsay, G., Pope, S., Geller, G., & Anderson, C. (1979). The effect of assertiveness training, provera and sex of therapist in the treatment of genital exhibitionism.Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 10, 275–282.
Lipton, D. N., McDonel, E. C., & McFall, R. M. (1987). Heterosocial perception in rapists.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 17–21.
Maletzky, B. M. (1991). The use of medroxyprogesterone acetate to assist in the treatment of sexual offenders.Annals of Sex Research, 4, 117–129.
Marques, J. K. (1995).How to answer the question, “Does sex offender treatment work?” Paper presented at the International Expert Conference on Sex Offenders, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Marques, J. K., Day, D. M., Nelson, C., & Miner, M. H. (1989). The Sex Offender Treatment and Evaluation Project (Third report to the Legislature in Response to PC 1365). Sacramento: California Department of Mental Health.
Marques, J. K., Day, D. M., Nelson, C., & West, M. A. (1994). Effects of cognitive/behavioral treatment on sex offenders' recidivism: Preliminary results of a longitudinal study.Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 28–54.
Marshall, W. L., & Anderson, D. (1996). An evaluation of the benefits of relapse prevention programs with sexual offenders.Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 8, 209–221.
Marshall, W. L., & Barbaree, H. E. (1988). The long-term evaluation of a behavioral treatment program.Behavior Research and Therapy, 26, 499–511.
Marshall, W. L., & Pithers, W. D. (1994). A reconsideration of treatment outcome with sex offenders.Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 10–27.
Marshall, W. L., Eccles, A., & Barbaree, H. E. (1991). The treatment of exhibitionists: A focus on sexual deviance versus cognitive and relationship features.Behavior Research and Therapy, 29, 129–135.
Marshall, W. L., Jones, R., Ward, T., Johnston, P., & Barbaree, H. E. (1991). Treatment outcome with sex offenders.Clinical Psychology Review, 11, 465–485.
McConaghy, N., Blaszczynski, A., & Kidson, W. (1988). Treatment of sex offenders with imaginal desensitization and/or medroxyprogesterone.Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia, 77, 199–206.
McGrath, R. J. (1995). Sex offender treatment: Does it work?Perspectives, Winter, 24–26.
McKibben, A., Proulx, J., & Lusignan, R. (1994). Relationships between conflict, affect and deviant sexual behaviors in rapists and child molesters.Behavior Research and Therapy, 32, 571–575.
Meyer, W. J., Cole, C., & Emory, E. (1992). Depo-Provera treatment for sex offending behavior: An evaluation of outcome.Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law, 20, 249–259.
Quinsey, V. L., Chaplin, F. C., & Carrigan, W. F. (1980). Biofeedback and signaled punishment in the modification of inappropriate sexual age preference.Behavior Therapy, 11, 567–576.
Quinsey, V. L., Harris, G. T., Rice, M. E., & Lalumière, M. L. (1993). Assessing treatment efficacy in outcome studies of sex offenders.Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 8, 512–523.
Quinsey, V. L., Khanna, A., & Malcolm, B. (1996).Recidivism among treated and untreated sex offenders. In R. K. Hanson (Chair), Sexual Offender Recidivism. Symposium conducted at the XXVI International Congress of Psychology, Montreal, Aug.
Rice, M. E., Quinsey, V. L., & Harris, G. T. (1991). Sexual recidivism among child molesters released from a maximum security institution.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 381–386.
Robinson, D. (1995).The impact of cognitive skills training on post-release recidivism among Canadian federal offenders (Research Report No. R-41). Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada.
Rosenthal, R. (1991).Meta-analytic procedures for social research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Rosenthal, R. (1995). Writing meta-analytic reviews.Psychological Bulletin, 118, 183–192.
Seidman, B. T., Marshall, W. L., Hudson, S. M., & Robertson, P. J. (1994). An examination of intimacy and loneliness in sex offenders.Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 9, 518–534.
Thornton, D. (1994).A review of treatment outcome with sexual offenders. Paper presented at the Home Office Sex Offender Treatment Conference, Coventry, UK.
Thornton, D., & Hogue, T. (1993). The large-scale provision of programs for imprisoned sex offenders: Issues, dilemmas and progress.Criminal Behavior & Mental Health, 3, 371–380.
United States General Accounting Office (1996).Sex offender treatment: Research results inconclusive about what works to reduce recidivism. Washington: Author.
Wille, R., & Beier, K. M. (1989). Castration in Germany.Annals of Sex Research, 2, 103–133.
Working Group (1990).The management and treatment of sex offenders. Ottawa, Canada: Minister of Supply and Services.
Wormith, J. S., & Hanson, R. K. (1992). The treatment of sexual offenders in Canada: An update.Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 33, 180–198.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hanson, R.K. How to know what works with sexual offenders. Sex Abuse 9, 129–145 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02674863
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02674863