Responsivity Issues in the Treatment of Sexual Offenders

Abstract

Andrews and Bonta (2003) have presented a model of effective correctional programming focusing on risk, need, and responsivity factors for a general criminal population. When applied to sexual offenders, the first two issues (risk assessment and treatment targets such as cognitive distortions) have received a great deal of research attention. However, little attention has been paid to responsivity issues: those factors that influence the extent to which clients benefit, or fail to benefit, from treatment programs. This article presents a review of several potential responsivity factors related to sexual offender treatment and outlines areas that require further research attention.

Child Sexual Abusers’ Views on Treatment: A Study of Convicted and Imprisoned Adult Male Offenders

“…Those working with child sexual abusers are faced with the challenge of providing effective treatment and assuaging public concern about safety. Over the past two decades, much research has focused on the assessment and treatment of sexual offenders in the UK, United States, Australia, and Canada (e.g., Abracen & Looman, 2004Chaffin, 1994;Eastman, 2004;Frost, 2004;Houston, Wrench, & Hosking, 1995;Jenkins-Hall, 1994;Kear-Colwell & Boer, 2000;Langton, Barbaree, Harkins, & Peacock, 2006;Levenson & Macgowan, 2004;Lindsay, Neilson, Morrison, & Smith, 1998;Looman, Dickie, & Abracen, 2005;MacDonald, 1994;Marshall, 1996;Marshall, Anderson, & Fernandez, 1999;Marshall, Jones, Ward, Johnston, & Barbaree, 1991;McGrath, Cumming, Livingston, & Hoke, 2003;Petersilia, 1990;Polizzi, MacKenzie, & Hickman, 1999;Raynor & Vanstone, 1997;Schofield, 1994;Schweitzer & Dyer, 2003;Seager, Jellicoe, & Dhaliwal, 2004;Shanahan & Donato, 2001). Yet debate persists as to the effectiveness of treatment in reducing recidivism (Brooks-Gordon et al, 2004;Hanson et al, 2002;Matthews & Pitts, 1998;Schweitzer & Dwyer;Seager et al, 2004;Terry & Mitchell, 2001).…”

A Review of the Creative Group Work Training Program for Facilitators

“…Despite these successes and others like them, some researchers have highlighted the shortcomings of the RNR model in terms of the absence of a group work delivery model. Several authors (Harkins & Beech, 2007;Looman, Dickie, & Abracen, 2005;Ogloff & Davis, 2004;Ross, 2008;Ward & Stewart, 2003) have suggested that the RNR model's focus on risk management and relapse prevention has influenced a de-emphasis on the responsivity principle. This has diverted attention from process factors and led to an over-reliance on manualized content.…”

Sex Offender Policy and Prevention

“…Traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques are employed widely throughout the corrections system to restructure the thoughts and subsequent actions of offenders by teaching more effective methods of thinking and coping (Spiegler & Guevremont, 2010 ). By focusing on dynamic risk factors like sexual deviance, antisocial orientation and intimacy defi cits (Hanson & Morton-Bourgon, 2005 ), and making adaptations to account for the client's learning style, cultural background, and level of motivation (Langevin & Curnoe, 2007 ), modern rehabilitative practices are gaining a great deal of support (Hanson et al, 2002 ;Looman et al, 2005 ;Lösel & Schmucker, 2005 ;McGrath, Cumming, Livingston, & Hoke, 2003 ;McGrath, Hoke, & Vojtisek, 1998 ;Scalora & Garbin, 2003 ).…”