The Principles of Effective Correctional Treatment Also Apply To Sexual Offenders

TLDR

The effectiveness of treatment for sexual offenders remains controversial, though certain human service interventions are known to reduce recidivism among general offenders. This review examined whether the risk‑need‑responsivity (RNR) principles that guide effective treatment for general offenders also apply to sexual offender treatment. A meta‑analysis of 23 recidivism outcome studies (n = 3,121 treated sexual offenders vs. 3,625 comparison) found lower unweighted sexual recidivism (10.9 % vs.

Abstract

The effectiveness of treatment for sexual offenders remains controversial, even though it is widely agreed that certain forms of human service interventions reduce the recidivism rates of general offenders. The current review examined whether the principles associated with effective treatments for general offenders (risk-need-responsivity; RNR) also apply to sexual offender treatment. Based on a meta-analysis of 23 recidivism outcome studies meeting basic criteria for study quality, the unweighted sexual and general recidivism rates for the treated sexual offenders were lower than the rates observed for the comparison groups (10.9%, n = 3,121 vs. 19.2%, n = 3,625 for sexual recidivism; 31.8%, n = 1,979 vs. 48.3%, n = 2,822 for any recidivism). Programs that adhered to the RNR principles showed the largest reductions in sexual and general recidivism. Given the consistency of the current findings with the general offender rehabilitation literature, the authors believe that the RNR principles should be a major consideration in the design and implementation of treatment programs for sexual offenders.