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4.3 - Treatment of Persons with Sexual Offense Histories

from Part IV - Interventions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2021

By
Kristina Shatokhina  and
Leigh Harkins
Edited by
Jennifer M. Brown  and
Miranda A. H. Horvath
Jennifer M. Brown
Affiliation:
London School of Economics and Political Science
Miranda A. H. Horvath
Affiliation:
University of Suffolk
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Summary

This chapter presents an overview of treatment approaches for Persons with Sexual Offense Histories (PSOHs). These approaches include those that have been used historically, such as behavioural interventions, and those that have come into use more recently, such as interventions based on the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) Model and the Good Lives Model (GLM). Models that integrate or update aspects of these frameworks are also discussed – one of these is the newly developed Integrated Risk Assessment and Treatment System (IRATS), which has shown promise among high-risk, high-need populations. The chapter also describes subgroups of PSOHs that may warrant additional consideration in treatment. Although heterogeneity exists among PSOHs, groups such as female PSOHs, juvenile PSOHs and those engaged in online sexual offenses may present with unique treatment needs that could be addressed by service providers. For these and other groups, treatment efficacy may depend on factors including the formation of a therapeutic alliance and attention to cultural barriers and histories of trauma. Future considerations for ongoing treatment development are included.

Keywords

Sexual OffendingInterventionTreatmentPsychotherapyRecidivism
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology , pp. 530 - 551
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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