Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) Content Topic Results

This fact sheet answers some of the following questions: Can sex offenders be cured? Does sex offender treatment really work?

Excerpt from the Executive Summary: It is only in the last 30 years that society has begun to fully recognize child sexual abuse as the devastating problem that it is, to portray the trauma of sexual abuse in the media, and toseek ways to prevent and eliminate sexual violence. As communities have begun to demand a response to sexual abuse, legislators have passed an increasing number of policies directed at the people who sexually abuse. In 2007 and 2008 alone, more than 1500 sex offender-related bills were proposed in state legislatures and over 275 new laws were enacted.

This resource covers the important issues and best current measures of potential future risk. The document integrates an empirical approach with the practical demands of clinical practice.

 It is difficult to determine whether greater numbers of these cases are due to an actual increase in problematic sexual behaviors in children, or an increased awareness and identification of these behaviors when they occur. Children with sexual behavior problems should not be considered 'sex offenders' similar to adolescents and adults who engage in some of the same victimizing behaviors. They are different in a number of ways. This fact sheet describes these differences.

They believe 'that effective public policy requires the careful balancing of criminal justice sanctions which are designed both to enhance public safety and to punish criminal acts, with providing interventions.' ATSA sees a difference between juvenile and adult sex offenders and they offer 5 recommendations for addressing the legal management of these juveniles.

The statement addresses questions about how frequently sex offenders re-offend, what kind of treatment is effective with sex offenders, and if treatment is sufficient in reducing a sex offenders risk to the community.