Sex Offender Treatment Approaches

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Introduce the topic, describing the offender population and the treatment approach
In the continuous of this project, the offender population that was chosen is the sex offender population. Sex offenders are defined as an individual who has been convicted of a sexual assault. These assaults include but no limited to rape, pedophiles, child sexual abuse, sodomy, sexual abuse, and non-contact sexual offense (“Sex Offender Law & Legal Definition,” 2001). This population is also considered special offenders. They are considered special, due to the vulnerability within certain setting (such as prison), and how they have specialized programs to help treat these individuals in behavior and reducing criminality and recidivism (Samuels, 2013)
When …show more content…

Currently three common treatment approaches are use. These treatments are Cognitive behavior therapy, behavioral therapy and relapse prevention (Kirsch & Becker, 2005). Cognitive behavior therapy is used primarily to focus on the deficits of social skills among sex offenders. In addition to their deviant sexual behavior, many sex offenders lack the social skills to maintain relationship among the adult population, and having appropriate sexual interest. Cognitive behavior therapy teaches the sex offender proper social skill which will enable this population to develop appropriate adult relationship (Kirsch & Becker, …show more content…

This treatment approach helps the offender to identify certain situations that might place them at risk to reoffend. This treatment also teaches offenders new strategies to help them cope with reoffending situation, in which will help them to gain control over their sexual behavior (Kirsch & Becker, 2005).
Provide a detailed description of the treatment you focused on for this population.
Based on the previously discussed characteristics, Cognitive behavior therapy and relapse prevention would be the focus for this group of offenders. As stated before cognitive behavior therapy will teach offenders their antecedent behavior and provide them with new strategies when approach with high-risk situations. This therapy will also hit areas such as distorted cognitions, impulse control deficits, poor emotion regulation, social skills deficits, and environmental influences (Kirsch & Becker, 2005). All areas are factors that may cause sexual deviant behaviors in sex offenders (CSOM, n.d.).
Relapse prevention is another treatment focus for this group of offenders. As stated above this treatment is utilize to assist offenders in identifying potential situation that cause them to reoffend, and teach them new coping skills when facing high-risk situations. Consequently, the offender will gain control over their behavior (Kirsch & Becker,