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Comparing offenders against women and offenders against children on treatment outcome in offenders with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- LINDSAY William R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 24(4), July 2011, pp.361-369.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The most significant developments in the field of sex offender treatment have been based on problem solving and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy techniques. Several studies have shown the positive effects of sex offender treatment for men with intellectual disabilities who have perpetrated sex offences. The aim of this study was to provide a comparison of the process of treatment change amongst men with intellectual disabilities who have offended either against adult women or against children. The participants comprised of 15 men who had offended against adult women and 15 who offended against children. All were treated for 36 months and had at least 2 years follow-up after the treatment to determine the rate of reoffending. Groups were compared with repeated measures using the Questionnaire on Attitudes Consistent with Sexual Offending. The findings showed that at baseline the offenders against women had higher scores than the offenders against children on the rape scale. Both groups showed significant improvement with scores reducing to levels consistent with non-offenders by 36 months. Significant improvements were recorded from 18 to 36 months of treatment. Re-offending across both groups was 23%. The article concludes that sex offender treatment can produce significant reductions in cognitive distortions in sex offenders with intellectual disabilities. The findings also demonstrate the importance of continuing treatment for longer than 12 months.