A Reconsideration of Treatment Outcome with Sex Offenders

Abstract

An examination of the bases of two influential sets of publications suggests that their conclusions regarding the effectiveness of treatment with sex offenders were unnecessarily gloomy. The present article presents a more optimistic view of the literature, asserting that recent, relatively well-controlled evaluations have shown that treatment can be effective. To be maximally effective, according to this appraisal of the literature, treatment must be comprehensive, cognitive-behaviorally based, and include a relapse prevention component. Earlier outcome research that produced either treatment failure, or at best equivocal results, did not meet these criteria.