Many offenders participate in multiple treatment programs while incarcerated. Despite this, few studies have investigated the possibility of interactions between programs, and instead the correctional discourse has focused on assessing programs individually. However, it is likely that combinations of programs work together to affect offenders’ post-release performance in ways that cannot be predicted by the sum of their main effects alone. The current study uses logistic regression analysis to investigate the presence of interaction effects between custodial treatment programs in Canadian federal prison. It uses a population sample of 17,727 male offenders admitted to prison between January 1st, 2002 and December 31st, 2006, and released into the community on Day Parole or Statutory Release on or before December 31st, 2009. Findings of the study suggest that certain program combinations reduce the odds of post-release recidivism more than others, but effective programming differs depending on whether an offender has substance abuse needs. Furthermore, the number of successfully completed correctional programs raises an offender’s odds of post-release success, regardless of the content of the program.

This thesis examines the place of rehabilitation and reintegration in the criminal justice system. The aim of the research was to ascertain whether current law, policy and practice are conducive to the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders and the reduction of recidivist offending. As research shows that offenders who are able to obtain and retain employment are less likely to reoffend, the degree to which current measures facilitate ex-offender employment were examined in particular. In this context, barriers faced by ex-offenders in obtaining and retaining employment were examined. The research methodology is primarily qualitative, using both primary and secondary information sources, formal and informal. The research is also informed by a small scale survey of employer attitudes and direct observation by the writer of a community-based employment initiative. The research suggests that viewing criminal offending through a “human needs” lens, whereby offender behaviours are seen as directed at the meeting of fundamental needs, provides an appropriate means of understanding and addressing criminal offending. The research concludes that current criminal justice policy lacks the types of measures necessary to rehabilitate and reintegrate ex-offenders. Specifically, it is argued that there is need for “throughcare” (that is, continued support and assistance provided to ex-offenders upon sentence expiry) to be viewed as an integral part of the criminal justice system.

abstract: Prior research has found links between family environment and criminal outcomes, but research is lacking on why these factors often occur together within families. Parental criminality, family size, and family disruption have been analyzed as risk factors for juvenile delinquency, but their relationships with each other have gone largely unexplored. This thesis explores the relationship between parental criminality, having children, number of children, and patterns of residence with children. Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth '97 are used to associate likelihood of having children, likelihood of having any children out of residence, percent of children in residence, and number of children with arrest prevalence and self-reported offending. Results were generally supportive. Moderate effect sizes were found for likelihood of having children, with large effects on likelihood of having any children out of residence. Moderate effects were found for percentage of children in residence, and large effects were found for number of children. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Criminology and Criminal Justice 2011

Federal and State law in a northeastern US state requires all adjudicated sex offenders to register on the state's sex offender registry (SOR) for the purpose of protecting the citizens of the state from predatory sex offenders and reducing sexual recidivism. This study tests the assumption, based on deterrence theory, that registration on the SOR is necessary as a deterrent to future sexual offending by sex offenders. Data from the Maryland Sex Offender Registry in two counties in a northeastern US state pertaining to a total of 1,985 registered sex offenders were analyzed to see geographic differences of offender, and state sexual crime data over a 24 year period from 1991-2016 was analyzed using multiple regression. Independent variables included completeness of information on the MSOR registry profile; recidivism, re-arrest rates, and violence against women were the dependent variables. The analysis revealed that offenders in Baltimore County the more rural part were more likely to provide not valid addresses or addresses that are out of compliance with state and federal regulations for the SOR. Analysis also revealed that there was statistical significance in the recidivism rates of sex offenders in Maryland after the implementation of the Sex Offender Registry. This supports previous published research findings that SOR registration has no deterrent effect on recidivism. Implications for positive social changes include reducing the number of false positives, improving the quality of life for sex offenders, better allocation of public resources, and increased safety for citizens through better assessment of risk factors.

The study and treatment of juvenile sex offenders (JSOs) has been steadily growing since its separation from the adult sex offender category in the early 1980s. Although many studies concern themselves with one specific research variable, this study looked at the presence of twelve characteristics historically associated with JSOs: sexual abuse, early exposure to sexuality, conduct disorder problems, exposure to crime in the family of origin, personal substance abuse, family substance abuse, school performance difficulties, school behavior problems, mental health difficulties, social skills deficits, changes in family structure, and nonsexual forms of abuse. This was an effort to see if these factors are consistent in a Northern Utah sex offender treatment facility with existing literature and if any correlations of significance exist among these variables. Data were drawn from the initial assessments of 124 clients between two centers of the Youthtrack-Utah Juvenile Sexual Offender Level-Six Residential Treatment Program through the years of 1998-2007. Results indicated that the frequencies of the factors are indeed consistent with previous studies and literature in terms of their presence among the study JSOs. There were several significant differences between facilities (mental health difficulties and social skills deficits) and multiple correlations existing among variables (frequent family structure changes, school behavior problems, family substance abuse correlating with the most variables). Suggestions for future research include utilizing greater specificity as to how the variables are defined and utilizing the whole client file as a data source. Comparisons of the entire data file with the initial assessment might be useful, looking for initial assessment accuracy in reference to the presence of these variables in a juvenile sex offender’s history. In addition, it is suggested that future studies utilize samples that include all levels of juvenile sex offender treatment, rather than exclusively level six. (122 pages)

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This study explored the use of adding trauma resolution therapy to standard cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention therapy for sex offenders. Ten adjudicated sex offenders with sexual abuse histories were treated with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing as an adjunct to standard outpatient sex offender treatment. Data points include self-report, other-report, assessment instruments, session transcripts, research journals, and physiological measures. Systematic treatment research and development methods (Bischoff, McKeel, Moon, & Sprenkle, 1996) resulted in a proposed treatment protocol. Emergent themes from a cross-case, grounded theory data analysis are presented. The data suggests the adjunct treatment provided some benefit both to participants and to the goals of standard sex offender-specific treatment. Implications for treatment providers, marriage and family therapy, and future research are discussed. / Ph. D.

Many criminologists and psychologists have theorized the possible causes behind an individual who engages in sex offenses; some of which will be reviewed. Through this paradigm analysis, I hope to identify how each discipline addresses the causes of sex offending and what treatments they offer in response to their theories. Additionally, this thesis will examine the Good Lives, Relapse Prevention, and the Risks, Need, Responsivity (RNR) models of treatment. The main objective of this thesis is to address the different facets of sex offending, so that the importance of finding an effective treatment model can be understood. By raising awareness to the multiple typologies of sex offenders and differentiating contact and non-contact offenses, this thesis aims to allow for a better understanding of the causes of sexual offending so that we may develop effective treatment options that address such issues.