Citation

Abracen J, Looman J, Ferguson M, Harkins L, Mailloux D. J. Sex. Aggress. 2011; 17(2): 142-152.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13552600903511980

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present investigation examined a sample of 64 offenders treated at the Regional Treatment Centre (Ontario) Sex Offender Treatment Programme (RTCSOTP) and a sample of 55 untreated sexual offenders from the Ontario region of Correctional Service of Canada. Groups were matched on age at index offence, Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) score and type of sexual offender (i.e. intrafamilial child molester, extrafamilial child molester and rapist). As well, the Rapid Risk Assessment of Sexual Offence Recidivism Scale (RRASOR) was scored on all offenders in the present investigation. Recidivism, based upon officially recorded conviction data, was used as the primary dependent measure. Results indicated that both treated offenders and comparison participants evidenced low sexual recidivism rates (approximately 10% over follow-up periods that extended beyond nine years for both treated and comparison offenders). With reference to high PCL-R treated and comparison offenders, both groups evidenced rates of sexual recidivism approaching zero (one offender in each group recidivated sexually). These data have important implications for those who view treatment with high PCL-R offenders as without hope for success. Both treated and untreated comparison offenders received a wide variety of non-sexual offender programmes directed at criminogenic need areas. Treated offenders who were rated as being higher risk on the RRASOR evidenced substantially lower than predicted rates of sexual offending.