Ten Things You Should Know About Sex Offenders and Treatment

1. Over 95% of convicted sex offenders eventually return to the community. Treatment improves the chance for successful reintegration.
    
   
2. Most sexual offenders assault victims whom they know. Children are most likely to be assaulted by members of their family followed by acquaintances (e.g., neighbors, family friends); adults are most likely to be assaulted by a current or former husband, a cohabitating partner or a date.
    
   
3. Sexual perpetrators represent an extremely diverse group of offenders in educational, income, and racial background, as well as personality and coping skills. Assessment results often uncover unique patterns of deficits and strengths. Treatment and supervision must be tailored to the unique characteristics and needs of the offender.
    
   
4. Treatment has a substantially better chance of working if the offender takes responsibility for his past and future actions.
    
   
5. Fewer than 5 percent of sex offenders suffer from a psychotic mental illness. Current sexual offender treatment uses cognitive-behavioral techniques to teach the offender to control his thoughts and behaviors to prevent future offending.
    
   
6. Many treatment providers use a relapse prevention approach that assumes the escalation prior to the offense is relatively unique to, and consistent for, each offender. This pattern of escalation (often called a crime cycle) can be used to monitor the offender's level of risk at any point in time. This allows the offender and sometimes those treating and monitoring him to take action, when necessary, to prevent new offenses when re-offense risk is high.
    
   
7. Sex offenders vary widely in their risk to re-offend. Estimates suggest that 40%-45% of untreated sexual offenders will sexually re-offend in their lifetime. These rates are considerably lower than rates of re-offense for other types of violent offenders.
    
   
8. Research has shown that well-designed sex offender treatment can reduce the recidivism of sexual offenders.
    
   
9. Lifestyle circumstances can affect the chances of new offenses. Stable housing and employment, healthy social and leisure activities, a vigilant and pro-social support system, and ongoing treatment are all important to ensure success.
    
   
10. Despite its effectiveness, treatment is only one component of an effective strategy to protect the community from sex offenders. Monitoring and support by community corrections agents, other professionals, the offender's social support system, and the entire community play a crucial role.