Innovations in sex offender treatment

Abstract

This article is concerned with defining some of the more recent innovative ideas in sex offender treatment. First, some examples of innovations from the last 20 years will be considered—work that moved knowledge forward by a quantum leap. Some of this work is well known, some has not received the publicity it deserves. The paper will then examine emerging innovations—new work that is heralding some of the new directions in the field. Here, there will be a summary of the consensus of expert thinking on the most important current innovations happening in sex offender treatment. Throughout the paper, it will be argued that innovation alone is not enough. For an innovative idea to take root and assist practitioners in working with sex offenders in ever more effective ways, it must be accompanied and developed by rigorous research, replication, and adjustment.

Keywords:

• Schemas
• cognitive deconstruction
• dynamic risk assessment protocols
• accreditation
• process issues
• schema-focused interventions

The author wishes to thank Dr Anthony Beech for his helpful comments on this paper.