Sex Offender Treatment in Utah - Utah Commission on Criminal and ...

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Assessment ProceduresThe follow<strong>in</strong>g list represents the majority oftest<strong>in</strong>g and evaluation <strong>in</strong>struments andprocedures that may be used to establish both<strong>in</strong>itial basel<strong>in</strong>e data and to measure progressthroughout the sex offender treatment program.A. Cl<strong>in</strong>ical Interview — supplemented withautobiographies and questionnaires. Thesecl<strong>in</strong>ical <strong>in</strong>terviews are very comprehensive.B. Psychological Tests –- The follow<strong>in</strong>g list oftests may be used:1. Intellectual assessment — RIST and K-BIT-22. Academic — WRAT-43. General personality profile — MMPI-II,sentence completion, projective tests, etc.4. <strong>Sex</strong> offender specific test<strong>in</strong>g5. Other tests as deemed cl<strong>in</strong>icallyappropriate.C. Penile Plethysmography — This cl<strong>in</strong>icalassessment technology is currently the mostreliable <strong>in</strong> identify<strong>in</strong>g deviant sexual arousal,lack of normal sexual arousal, and <strong>in</strong>provid<strong>in</strong>g an objective evaluation of change <strong>in</strong>sexual arousal. The limitation of theplethysmograph must be understood--specifically the over-<strong>in</strong>terpretation of data. Itdoes not allow the therapist to commentabout questions of guilt or <strong>in</strong>nocence. Thetest approximates a "real-life" situation us<strong>in</strong>gstandardized audio tapes and assesses theoffender's current level of arousal to<strong>in</strong>appropriate stimuli. The test must beadm<strong>in</strong>istratively standardized andadm<strong>in</strong>istered by a well-tra<strong>in</strong>ed, competentexam<strong>in</strong>er <strong>in</strong> an appropriate cl<strong>in</strong>ical laboratory.D. Polygraph - To <strong>in</strong>crease accuracy of theoffenders progress (This exam<strong>in</strong>ation will beused as resources allow).In general programm<strong>in</strong>g terms, treatability of sexoffenders is partially driven by availableresources. With limited treatment resources,Corrections must stage treatment for offenders.<strong>Treatment</strong> services are allocated based on acomb<strong>in</strong>ation of the assessment determ<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g theoffenders amenability toward treatment, theresults of <strong>in</strong>itial psychological test<strong>in</strong>g andNovember 17, 2010assessment, the expected length of theirsentence, and the number of offenders wait<strong>in</strong>gfor treatment slots. It is not always appropriate toplace someone <strong>in</strong> a one to two year treatmentprogram immediately when they are expected tostay a m<strong>in</strong>imum of seven to ten years <strong>in</strong> prison.Basic ConsiderationsThe current sex offender program is conceptuallywell-founded and constructed. It conta<strong>in</strong>selements of all of the criteria of an excellentprogram as outl<strong>in</strong>ed by the U. S. Department ofJustice National Institute of Corrections. Itprovides <strong>in</strong>dividualized and targeted treatmentwhich addresses problem areas, risk, andmotivation. Length of treatment could range fromsix to 18 months, dependent on risk, motivationand response to treatment. The program alsorequires the completion of treatment workbooks.The premise of the Department of Corrections'<strong>Sex</strong> <strong>Offender</strong> <strong>Treatment</strong> Program is that the vastmajority of prison-committed sex offenders areexpected to complete the program prior to parole.When the cl<strong>in</strong>ical screen<strong>in</strong>g committeedeterm<strong>in</strong>es further treatment is necessarybeyond the program offered at the prison, therecommendation that they be required tocomplete further treatment at a C.C.C. is sent tothe Board of Pardons and Parole. All offendersare expected to attend <strong>in</strong>tensive out-patient sexoffender treatment upon release.An orientation to the program is conducted dur<strong>in</strong>gthe <strong>in</strong>itial prison admission reception andorientation process outl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the programcomponents as well as admission proceduresand progress requirements. Based uponassessment criteria, a prioritized <strong>Offender</strong> ActionPlan is formulated and the offender becomesresponsible for enter<strong>in</strong>g and complet<strong>in</strong>gtreatment. An offender's expected length of<strong>in</strong>carceration is taken <strong>in</strong>to consideration whenschedul<strong>in</strong>g admission to the <strong>Sex</strong> <strong>Offender</strong><strong>Treatment</strong> Program (SOTP).The program is currently offered at the DraperPrison. In addition, treatment is offered <strong>in</strong> onecounty jail - San Juan County. <strong>Treatment</strong> iscoord<strong>in</strong>ated through Corrections Division ofProgramm<strong>in</strong>g’s <strong>Sex</strong> <strong>Offender</strong> <strong>Treatment</strong>Program. Common treatment goals, common<strong>Sex</strong> <strong>Offender</strong> <strong>Treatment</strong> Report 2010 Page 2
assessment procedures and criteria, andcomponent-specific curricula are available.<strong>Treatment</strong> has a m<strong>in</strong>imum time considerationbased upon content, but completion may takelonger if an offender's motivation is low.Given the gravity of recidivism with this group ofoffenders, the program emphasizes qualitytreatment and measurable outcomes. Theprogram is designed <strong>in</strong> such a manner thattreatment takes <strong>in</strong>to consideration the offender’sprevious treatment ga<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> other treatmentsett<strong>in</strong>gs.<strong>Treatment</strong> is <strong>in</strong>dividualized based on problemareas, risk, motivation, and documented progress<strong>in</strong> treatment. Length of treatment could rangefrom six to 18 months. If the <strong>in</strong>mate satisfactorilycompletes the program, further treatment <strong>in</strong> aCCC they may not be recommended aga<strong>in</strong>,however, <strong>in</strong>tensive outpatient treatment isrequired. Community safety takes precedenceover any conflict<strong>in</strong>g consideration and ultimatelyis <strong>in</strong> the best <strong>in</strong>terest of the abuser and his or herfamily.A. The sex offender treatment that is providedby the <strong>Utah</strong> Department of Corrections (UDC)Division of Programm<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the prison systemis based on best practice pr<strong>in</strong>cipals. The sexoffender treatment is best described asCognitive/Behavioral therapy with a strongrelapse prevention component. Therapy isprovided <strong>in</strong> a group psychotherapy format. Alltherapists provid<strong>in</strong>g treatment to offendersare mental health professionals that haveadditional tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> sex offender treatment.B. The goal of sex offender treatment is to lowerrecidivism. Deviant sexual behavior iscontrollable given adequate effort <strong>in</strong>treatment and the cont<strong>in</strong>ued practice of thepr<strong>in</strong>ciples learned <strong>in</strong> treatment, once theoffender has term<strong>in</strong>ated formal treatment.C. The SOTP will address the follow<strong>in</strong>g issuesand the offender will demonstratecompetency based on measurable criteria.1. Acceptance of responsibility for thecrime(s) of current <strong>in</strong>carceration as wellas other crim<strong>in</strong>al acts, charged anduncharged, sexual and non-sexual.2. Understand<strong>in</strong>g of deviant cycles andidentification of his/her own deviant cycle.November 17, 20103. An <strong>in</strong>tellectual and emotionalunderstand<strong>in</strong>g of the impact of theirassault(s) on their victim(s).4. Understand<strong>in</strong>g of the SO treatmentprocess and the offender’s role andresponsibility <strong>in</strong> treatment.5. Demonstration of the offender’scommitment to change.6. Identification of th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g errors andirrational beliefs and a demonstration ofcorrected th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g.7. Identification of risk factors.8. Intervention <strong>in</strong> risk factors.9. Demonstration of understand<strong>in</strong>g andpractice of the factors <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong>appropriate, healthy relationships.10. Intervention <strong>in</strong> deviant sexual arousalpatterns as measured by theplethysmograph.11. Development of appropriate aftercareplans <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g a commitment to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>and live the list criteria.12. Understand<strong>in</strong>g, acceptance, anddemonstration of appropriate boundaries,respect of others, self control, and prosocialbehaviors.D. The sex offender program is designed toprovide treatment to as many offenders aspossible. The treatment population <strong>in</strong>cludesmale and female offenders, the mentally ill,and those offenders with cognitive,<strong>in</strong>tellectual and academic challenges.Assessment CriteriaThe approval or denial of an offender to movefrom one treatment period to another is the roleof the Cl<strong>in</strong>ical <strong>Treatment</strong> Team, and is basedupon measurable assessment of treatmentprogress. There are four criteria for treatmentperiod advancement and, ultimately, for anyrecommendation to the Board of Pardons andParole:Criterion 1: Completion of AssignmentsInclud<strong>in</strong>g Classes and GroupsContent areas are presented accord<strong>in</strong>g tomodalities specified for each treatment periodi.e., psycho-educational group discussion ortherapy format, and structured classroomcurriculum. The offender is expected to satisfy<strong>Sex</strong> <strong>Offender</strong> <strong>Treatment</strong> Report 2010 Page 3
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