A Long-Term Outcome Assessment of the Effects on Subsequent Reoffense Rates of a Prison-Based CBT/RNR Sex Offender Treatment Program With Strength-Based Elements

Abstract

This article describes an evaluation of the effects of an early version (1991-2001) of Rockwood’s prison-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/Risk–Needs–Responsivity (CBT/RNR) sex offender program that had emerging elements of a strength-based approach. This program was implemented under contract to Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and continued to evolve in response to emerging evidence until it closed in 2013. Thus, the program as evaluated here did not involve a fixed approach as did the comparison CSC program (hereafter referred to as SOTP). Long-term reoffense data, from Rockwood’s program ( n = 579), were compared with SOTP ( n = 625) and with a group of untreated men ( n = 107) sentenced for sex offenses. A modified brief actuarial risk scale (BARS-M) was used to control for baseline risk among the three groups, along with additional controls for age at release, victim type, and individual differences in the length of long-term follow-up period. Both treatment groups displayed lower rates of both sexual and violent reoffending when compared with the no-treatment offenders. Overall, the Rockwood program generated the lowest recidivism rates. The results demonstrate that prison-based sex offense–specific treatment can be effective. We discuss the strengths and limitations of the current design through the Collaborative Outcome Data Committee’s guidelines.

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