No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
The Impact of Parolees' Perception of Confidentiality of Their Self-Reported Sex Crimes
Abstract
Parole officers who supervise sex offenders need to know if parolees continue to be a risk for child molestation after their incarceration. One hundred and twenty convicted child molesters under Parole Supervision were asked to participate in two interviews about their sexual offenses: first by a parolee officer in the parole office and then in a non-parole, psychologic setting by a psychologist. Seventy-four subjects agreed to participate in the parole setting, and 18 of those 74 agreed to participate in the psychologic setting. Hypotheses tested included whether perceived confidentiality affects reports of past child molestation or current urges to molest children or whether it improves the consistency between the offender's reports of their sex crimes and their arrest records. Results indicated that as confidentiality increased, reports of prior sex offenses and current urges to molest increased. The relevance of this finding to our current system of parole supervision is discussed.
... Given the forensic context, the tendency of most individuals being evaluated is to minimize or deny any deviant behavior (Kaplan, Abel, Cunningham-Rathner, & Mittleman, 1990 ). Thus, it is extremely important to have an offi cial criminal record (to ascertain both current and previous sexual and nonsexual charges and offenses) and to obtain other official legal documents such as search warrants, arrest warrants, victim's statements, supporting depositions, or indictments in order not to rely solely on self-report. ...
This chapter will review the noncontact crimes of exhibitionism, voyeurism, possession of child pornography, and interacting with children over the Internet. Epidemiology, comorbidity, offender characteristics, risk of recidivism, relevant diagnoses according to DSM-IV-TR and NB-DSM-5 including methods for making them, and relevant treatment modalities will be discussed. Diagnostic methods and issues are relevant to all of these disorders; so a brief discussion of methods and limitations of diagnosis relevant to all of these disorders will be made initially. Finally, conclusions and future directions will be given. It should be noted that while an attempt will be made to be thorough in literature selection, the broad scope of this chapter makes an exhaustive review, particularly of the psychometric properties of assessment and actuarial instruments, impossible. Literature will be confined to those aspects most salient to these noncontact offenses.
... Confidentiality in treatment is not a trivial issue. Kaplan, Abel, Cunningham-Rathner, and Mittleman (1990) demonstrated that parolees' willingness to report past deviant behavior was significantly affected by their perceptions of how much confidentiality would be accorded them. In short, Kaplan et al. demonstrated that assured confidentiality greatly enhanced disclosure by convicted sex offenders. ...
The use of actuarial instruments to predict sex offender recidivism has gained increasing credibility in recent years. This paper is one in a series examining the impact of dynamic inpatient group therapy upon the predictive influence of static risk factors on recidivism among adult sex offenders. Successful completion of the Phoenix Program (Alberta Hospital Edmonton) has been shown to ameliorate the influence of static risk factors on sexual offense recidivism. Many studies have reported that sex offenders who have male victims are more likely to re-offend than those who do not have male victims. A sample of N=513 convicted adult male sex offenders was examined regarding the relationship between the static risk factor of having male victims, subsequent re-offense, and treatment impact. Interestingly, ever having had a male victim did not significantly correlate with sex offense recidivism, for either treatment completers, non-completers, or the combined group. However, having exclusively male victims was correlated with sex offense recidivism, but only among non-completers of the program (r=.155; p=.017). Analysis of a subset of 422 child molesters yielded a similar result, in that having male victims exclusively was only associated with sex offense recidivism among treatment non-completers (r=.189, p=.009).
Twenty-one states and the federal government have civil commitment schemes that provide for the further confinement of sex offenders after they have completed their prison sentences. These schemes survive constitutional scrutiny on the grounds that they are not a second prison sentence, but rather serve the non-criminal ends of protecting society and helping treat violent sex offenders. The underlying legislation confirms the treatment objective by elaborating statutory guidelines for treatment programs. This Comment argues that treatment—although guaranteed by statute, legislative findings, case law, and the constitution—is an empty promise. Indeed, participation in treatment harms the very offender that it purports to help. This treatment paradox arises because successful treatment and relapse prevention require that an offender discuss his sexual fantasies and past transgressions; yet, unprotected by privilege or confidentiality, these cathartic admissions are utilized in civil commitment proceedings to secure further confinement. Because the prosecution heavily relies on treatment records to show that the offender continues to suffer from a mental abnormality and because the completion of treatment does not favorably impact an offender's chance of release, offenders often elect to forgo treatment. This treatment disincentive effectively denies offenders the opportunity to heal and to obtain release from commitment through treatment, an opportunity envisioned by statute and by the civil commitment scheme's constitutional underpinnings. This Comment traces the history of sex offender civil commitment and investigates the treatment paradox through the lens of law and psychiatry. To conclude, I suggest statutory remedies that could transform the promise of treatment into a reality.
In this article, the second of a two-part series, the authors present information on the clinical assessment of individuals with paraphilias and hypersexual disorders. They review ethical considerations in the assessment and treatment of individuals with paraphilias. The role of interview and subjective and objective instruments in the assessment of individuals with paraphilias and hypersexual disorders is discussed. The authors discuss the use of penile plethysmography or phallometry, polygraphy, and viewing time assessments. Risk assessment of sexual offenders is reviewed. The authors then discuss behavioral, environmental, and psychopharmacological treatments for paraphilias and hypersexual disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy appears to be the most effective nonpharmacological strategy. The authors describe cognitive-behavioral techniques for decreasing and/or controlling sexual urges (e.g., satiation, covert sensitization, fading, cognitive restructuring, victim empathy therapy) as well as methods for enhancing appropriate sexual interest and arousal (e.g., social skills training, assertiveness skills training, sex education, couples therapy). The authors also discuss the role of relapse prevention therapy and 12-step programs, as well as other nonbiological therapies such as surveillance networks. The importance of providing appropriate treatment for comorbid conditions (e.g., depression, substance abuse or dependence) is stressed. The authors then review psychopharmacological treatments, including serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) and antiandrogens, in particular, the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GNRH) agonists. SRIs have been studied in these disorders in an uncontrolled way and appear promising. Earlier antiandrogens (e.g., estrogen, progesterone, and cyproterone acetate) have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of paraphilias. The newer GNRH agonists have the advantage over the earlier treatments of being available in long-acting depot formulations and having fewer side effects. Preliminary studies and case reports with these agents appear promising. Further study of both the SRIs and GNRH agonists in these disorders is needed. The article concludes with a treatment algorithm, in which the authors suggest beginning with less restrictive treatments (e.g., behavioral or verbal therapies), if possible, and moving to more restrictive alternatives (e.g., biological therapies, institutionalization) as needed. A guide for clinicians and patients about where and how to find appropriate clinicians and treatment resources in the United States is provided.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.