The Evaluation & Treatment of Sex Offenders and Sexually Violent Predators Cheri L. Kittrell, Ph.D. State College of Florida Symposium on Childhood Sexual Abuse February 26, 2010

Pop Quiz True/False? True/False? Most sexual assaults are committed by strangers. Most sexual assaults are committed by strangers. The majority of sexual offenders are caught, convicted, and in prison. The majority of sexual offenders are caught, convicted, and in prison. Most sex offenders reoffend. Most sex offenders reoffend. Sexual offense rates are higher than ever and continue to climb. Sexual offense rates are higher than ever and continue to climb. All sex offenders are male. All sex offenders are male. Sex offenders commit sexual crimes because they are under the influence of alcohol. Sex offenders commit sexual crimes because they are under the influence of alcohol. Children who are sexually assaulted will sexually assault others when they grow up. Children who are sexually assaulted will sexually assault others when they grow up. Youths do not commit sex offenses. Youths do not commit sex offenses. Treatment for sex offenders is ineffective. Treatment for sex offenders is ineffective. The cost of treating and managing sex offenders in the community is too high—they belong behind bars. The cost of treating and managing sex offenders in the community is too high—they belong behind bars.

Definitions Sex Offenders Sex Offenders A person who: A person who: has been sentenced for committing a sexual offense has been sentenced for committing a sexual offense has a past conviction for an offense involving sexually deviant behavior has a past conviction for an offense involving sexually deviant behavior has displayed sexually deviant behavior in the commission of any offense has displayed sexually deviant behavior in the commission of any offense or has admitted committing sexually deviant behavior or has admitted committing sexually deviant behavior Sexually Violent Predators Sexually Violent Predators A person who: A person who: Has been convicted of a sexually violent offense and Has been convicted of a sexually violent offense and Has a mental abnormality and Has a mental abnormality and Due to this mental abnormality, they are likely to commit another sexually violent offense, if not confined in a secure facility for long-term control, care, and treatment Due to this mental abnormality, they are likely to commit another sexually violent offense, if not confined in a secure facility for long-term control, care, and treatment

Federal Legislation Pertaining to Sex Offenders

Jacob Wetterling

Megan Kanka Jesse Timmendequas

Pam Lychner

A Sampling of State Legislation Pertaining to Sex Offenders

Jimmy Ryce Juan Carlos Chavez

Joan D'Alessandro Governor Pataki Signs Joan’s Law in 2004

Jessica Lunsford John Evander Couey

Understanding the Differences in the Sex Offender Population Pedophile Pedophile Psychopath/Sociopath Psychopath/Sociopath Rapists Rapists Incest Offenders Incest Offenders Exhibitionists Exhibitionists Mentally Disordered Offenders Mentally Disordered Offenders Other Other

Pedophile Preference for having sex with prepubescent children Preference for having sex with prepubescent children Higher rate of recidivism over the long term (25 years) than rapists. Higher rate of recidivism over the long term (25 years) than rapists. Pedophiles, also known as extra-familial child molesters, who choose female victims are less likely to recidivate than those with male victims Pedophiles, also known as extra-familial child molesters, who choose female victims are less likely to recidivate than those with male victims

Psychopathy The term “psychopath” refers to a clinical condition, in which an individual who pursues instant self-gratification without consideration of the consequences of his actions. The term “psychopath” refers to a clinical condition, in which an individual who pursues instant self-gratification without consideration of the consequences of his actions. There is no cure for this personality disorder. There is no cure for this personality disorder. It is the same condition as sociopathy (which is often referred to by sociologists rather than psychologists), in which the egoism of childhood is left unresolved leaving an undeveloped sense of empathy. It is the same condition as sociopathy (which is often referred to by sociologists rather than psychologists), in which the egoism of childhood is left unresolved leaving an undeveloped sense of empathy.

Rapist Have a higher recidivism rate than child molesters (i.e. extra-familial pedophiles) in the short term Have a higher recidivism rate than child molesters (i.e. extra-familial pedophiles) in the short term String of rapes: likely to reoffend within one year: about 35% recidivate String of rapes: likely to reoffend within one year: about 35% recidivate Can be a gateway crime: 43%, in a recent study, had a reconviction for a sexually violent offense within 4 years Can be a gateway crime: 43%, in a recent study, had a reconviction for a sexually violent offense within 4 years

Incest offenders Intra-familial pedophiles Intra-familial pedophiles Have the lowest rate of recidivism (4%) Have the lowest rate of recidivism (4%)

Exhibitionists Have a very high rate of recidivism (41%- 71%) but they are rarely studies as these are not often violent crimes Have a very high rate of recidivism (41%- 71%) but they are rarely studies as these are not often violent crimes

Mentally Disordered Offenders Are slightly more likely to reoffend in all categories Are slightly more likely to reoffend in all categories

Others There are other categories, like child versus adult victims, but most of the data relies on polygraph exams. There are other categories, like child versus adult victims, but most of the data relies on polygraph exams.

Understanding Violence Risk Assessment

PCL-R: Psychopathy Checklist Revised Psychopathy can be differentiated from other personality disorders on the basis of: its characteristic pattern of interpersonal, affective, and behavioral symptoms. Psychopathy can be differentiated from other personality disorders on the basis of: its characteristic pattern of interpersonal, affective, and behavioral symptoms.

RRASOR: Rapid Risk Assessment for Sexual Offense Recidivism Age at Release (Current Age) Age at Release (Current Age) Prior Sex Offenses Prior Sex Offenses Victim Gender Victim Gender Relationship to Victim Relationship to Victim

Violence Prediction Scheme VRAG and ASSESS-LIST VRAG (Violence Risk Appraisal Guide) VRAG (Violence Risk Appraisal Guide) Gives weights for each item and provides a table of the relationship between VRAG scores and probability of violent recidivism Gives weights for each item and provides a table of the relationship between VRAG scores and probability of violent recidivism ASSESS-LIST ASSESS-LIST Antecedent History, Self-Presentation, Social and Psychosocial Adjustment, Expectations and Plans, Symptoms, Supervision, Life Factors, Institutional Management, Sexual Adjustment, and Treatment Progress Antecedent History, Self-Presentation, Social and Psychosocial Adjustment, Expectations and Plans, Symptoms, Supervision, Life Factors, Institutional Management, Sexual Adjustment, and Treatment Progress

SORAG: Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide Like the VRAG, but it is specifically intended for sex offenders Like the VRAG, but it is specifically intended for sex offenders

HCR-20: Historical, Clinical, and Risk Management 20-item checklist to prompt the examiner to cover or consider the major areas of inquiry in risk management 20-item checklist to prompt the examiner to cover or consider the major areas of inquiry in risk management

MnSOST: Minnesota Sex Offender Screening Test 21-item screener device to determine possible referral for civil commitment, as well as to determine the person’s community notification risk level. 21-item screener device to determine possible referral for civil commitment, as well as to determine the person’s community notification risk level.

Prevalence “Since 1980, the average annual growth in the number of prisoners for sex crimes has been about 7.6%. The number of prisoners sentenced for violent sexual assault, other than rape, increased by an annual average of nearly 15%-- faster than any other category of violent crime and faster than all other categories, except drug trafficking.” –FBI websi “Since 1980, the average annual growth in the number of prisoners for sex crimes has been about 7.6%. The number of prisoners sentenced for violent sexual assault, other than rape, increased by an annual average of nearly 15%-- faster than any other category of violent crime and faster than all other categories, except drug trafficking.” –FBI websi

Recidivism Characteristics of recidivists include: Characteristics of recidivists include: Multiple victims Multiple victims Diverse victims Diverse victims Stranger victims Stranger victims Juvenile sex offenses Juvenile sex offenses Multiple paraphilias Multiple paraphilias History of abuse and neglect History of abuse and neglect Long-term separations from parents Long-term separations from parents Negative relationships with their mothers Negative relationships with their mothers Diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder Diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder Unemployed Unemployed Substance abuse problems Substance abuse problems Chaotic antisocial lifestyles Chaotic antisocial lifestyles

Treatment Options and Outcomes Prison Prison Physical vs. Chemical Castration Physical vs. Chemical Castration Parole Parole Involuntary Civil Commitment Involuntary Civil Commitment Counseling Counseling Cognitive-behavioral approach Cognitive-behavioral approach Psycho-educational approach Psycho-educational approach Pharmacological approach Pharmacological approach Job Training Job Training

Questions?