Glossary Sex offender treatments
Sex offenders are treated and supervised with a variety of approaches. Here’s a list:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy — This standard approach to treatment attempts to change the offender’s thoughts, feelings and behavior. It requires the offender to recognize the harm he caused the victim. Therapists challenge offender’s thinking patterns: “She enjoyed it” becomes “No child wants to have sex with me.”
Relapse prevention — Therapists teach offenders to imagine worst-case scenarios when they begin to fantasize about committing another crime. They may envision being covered with spiders, for example, or being arrested and yanked out of their homes.
Aversion techniques — Offenders are asked to link an unpleasant experience with their fantasies of illegal sexual behavior. They may be asked to snap a rubber band on their wrist, sniff an ammonia capsule or take a whiff of bear bait.
Group therapy — Offenders meet in groups to learn healthier ways to live in the community and confront one another about their denial or faulty thinking.
Supervision — Depending on their illegal behavior in the past, supervised sex offenders are often restricted from visiting certain places in the community, such as the STA Bus Plaza, local malls, schools and parks. They meet regularly with their corrections officer.
Education — Sex offenders who can’t afford treatment may attend a variety of classes offered by the Washington state Department of Corrections. One example is a class on victim empathy.
GPS surveillance — Some sex offenders may be released into the community wearing devices that use the Global Positioning Systems to alert their supervisors about where they’re located. Todd Wiggs, community corrections supervisor in Spokane, says it costs $550 a month.
Polygraph — Offenders are required to report their fantasies about illegal sex and any risky behaviors to their corrections officers. They undergo polygraph tests to verify they’re telling the truth.
Plethysmograph — This device is used to measure penile erection and may be used to assess sexual deviancy or evaluate the success of treatment. Considered one of the most invasive techniques, this device is not used by Spokane treatment providers but may be more likely to be used in prison settings.
Containment — In Washington state sexually violent predators are treated and housed at the Special Commitment Center at McNeil Island to keep them away from potential victims.
Drugs — Drugs that reduce libido may be prescribed to some sex offenders. Anti-androgens such as Depo-Provera, which lower testosterone levels, and even anti-depressants such as Prozac may have this effect. Anti-androgens are more likely to be used in settings such as McNeil’s Special Commitment Center.