title: Effectiveness of a sex offender treatment programme: a risk band analysis.
abstract: This article reports an evaluation of a New South Wales Department of Corrective Services custody-based treatment programme for adult male sexual offenders. A risk band analysis was used to compare observed and predicted sexual and violent recidivism rates in a sample of 117 treated and released offenders. Risk bands and predicted recidivism were determined using the Static-99 risk assessment measure. Results demonstrated that during an average follow-up period of 3.75 years, observed sexual recidivism rates were lower than Static-99 predictions for the overall sample (8.5% vs. 26%). The same pattern was observed for violent recidivism (12.8% vs. 36%). At each Static-99 level of risk (low, low-moderate, moderate-high, and high), observed sexual and violent recidivism rates were lower than predicted rates. These findings were consistent with the general consensus that well-implemented cognitive-behavioural treatment can have a positive effect on offending behaviour.
authors.affiliation: New South Wales Corrective Services, Long Bay Correctional Centre, Anzac Parade, Matraville 2036,New South Wales, Australia. Anna.Woodrow@dcs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Woodrow
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bright
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012742:Sex Offenses