Re: Research regarding recidivism rates of sexually maladaptive youth

[Mel Irenyi <Mel.Irenyi@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

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Hi John,

Cameron Boyd, a researcher with the Australian Centre for the Study  
of Sexual Assault has provided the following response to your questions.

"Generally the research seems to suggest a recidivism rate of about  
9% for adolescents when they become adults, but much higher (about  
25%) when they are still young. (these figures are cited in the NSW  
DOCS reference linked below). Of course, this only counts a)  
offenders who are detected and b) further offences which are  
detected. So I would think it's reasonable to assume the actual rate  
is higher. It is also important to note that most offenders  
(regardless of age) have committed multiple offences and have  
multiple victims before being detected. Whether treatment has any  
effect on recidivism actually seems to be debatable- to quote again  
from the NSW DOCS reference P18 The authors note that “Overall, the  
results of meta-analytic reviews remain unequivocal”, regarding the  
effectiveness of treatment at reducing recidivism.


This would be a useful source for all three questions

http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/documents/ 
adolescents_literature_review.pdf


also the online bibliographies:

http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/research/youngoffenders.html
http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/research/offchar.html
http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/research/offjustreat.html

ACSSA Wrap 3 (Young people who sexually abuse) is fairly general but  
might have some references worth looking at
http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/wrap/w3.html



You are welcome to contact Cameron on cameron.boyd@aifs.gov.au or to  
visit the ACSSA website at http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/


regards, Mel

Dr. Mel Irenyi
Research Officer
National Child Protection Clearinghouse
Australian Institute of Family Studies




On Jul 12, 2007, at 11:13 AM, John Polstra wrote:

> I have a couple of questions for the listserv.  I am currently  
> working with a number of young men referred to our agency who have  
> engaged in molesting young victims—both family and non-family.  I  
> am curious to know what research is available regarding the  
> following issues:
>
> 1.       What is the recidivism rate for sexually maladaptive youth  
> who successfully complete treatment designed to address their  
> sexually acting out behavior?  What factors are most relevant to  
> address in lowering that rate?
>
> 2.      Is there comparative research documenting the recidivism  
> rate of youth who do not complete sex offender treatment?  For  
> example, what would the rate be for kids who are simply  
> incarcerated and not treated compared to a treatment group?  Or  
> what is the recidivism rate of kids who participate in some form of  
> generic residential or outpatient treatment as opposed to treatment  
> specifically for sexually maladaptive youth?
>
> 3.      Finally, I understand that there is literature indicating  
> that treatment for sexually maladaptive youth loses its  
> effectiveness after a certain length of time in treatment.  I’ve  
> even heard that it becomes counterproductive at some point.  Is  
> this true and could someone provide me with the citations to such  
> literature?
>
> Thank you for whatever feedback you can provide to me!
>
>
>
> John Polstra
>
>
>
>


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