Sexual Offending

A Complex Problem

It comes as no surprise that providing treatment to individuals who commit sex offenses is a distinctive undertaking. Many theories purport to explain why some people perpetrate sexual abuse. Unfortunately, none of these theories applies to all (or even a majority) of sex offenders. Sexual abuse is an extraordinarily complex problem that cannot be easily or simply explained.

Sex offenders have a wide variety of racial, educational, ethnic, societal and economic backgrounds. They also vary significantly in age. Offenders range from Low to High-risk. Some sex offenders have mental abnormalities that predispose them to engage in repeated sex offenses. Although many people describe sex offenders with such words as “manipulative,” “secretive,” “devious,” and “deceptive,” a set of characteristics that is common to all or most sex offenders has not been identified. Because of their differences, a profile of a “typical” sex offender does not exist and treatment goals are not necessarily driven by the client’s desires.

Balance and Treatment

The complex dimensions of these services constitute a genuine “Tightrope Act” to balance Community Safety, Community Reintegration and Societal responses. Many overlapping concerns exist such as: Victim Advocacy, Employment, Education, Social Reintegration, Reducing Recidivism, Public Education and potential Family Reunification/ Visitation.

According to the Good Lives Model, people offend because they are attempting to secure some kind of valued outcome in their life. As such, offending is essentially the product of a desire for something that is inherently human and normal. Unfortunately, the desire or goal manifests itself in harmful and antisocial behaviors, due to a range of deficits and weaknesses within the offender and his/her environment. Essentially, these deficits prevent the offender from securing his desired ends in pro-social and sustainable ways, thus requiring that s/he resort to inappropriate and damaging means, that is, offending behavior.

Assessments

No one can predict human behavior. However, to help clients and invested others understand risk, I have maintained continuing education and training in the administration, scoring and evaluation of standard offender risk assessments. These actuarial tools include the Static-99R, STABLE-2007, ACUTE, VASOR-2 and SOTIPS. Results and summary outcomes are compiled for Judges, District Attorneys, prosecuting/ defense attorneys and supervising officers.

Treatment Standards

Treatment delivery and frequency is based on researched-based and empirically driven modalities according to RNR (Andrews and Bonta) principles, ATSA and CSOM standards. Therapy responds as client needs change or as informed by supervising and/ or ancillary treatment entities.

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Photo credit: This page- Mark Nowak 2017