On the effectiveness of sexual offender treatment in prisons: A comparison of two different evaluation designs in routine practice

Lösel F, Link E, Schmucker M, Bender D, Breuer MM, Carl L, Endres J, Lauchs L (2020)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Sexual Abuse-A Journal of Research and Treatment SAGE Publications (UK and US) / Springer Verlag (Germany)

Book Volume: 32

Pages Range: 452-475

Journal Issue: 4

URI: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1079063219871576

DOI: 10.1177/1079063219871576

Open Access Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31451086/

Abstract

Although there is less continuity of sexual offending in the life course than stereotypes suggest, treatment should lead to a further reduction of reoffending. Contrary to this aim, a recent large British study using propensity score matching (PSM) showed some negative effects of the core sex offender treatment program (SOTP) in prisons. International meta-analyses on the effects of sex offender treatment revealed that there is considerable variety in the results, and methodological aspects and the context play a significant role. Therefore, this study compared different designs in the evaluation of sex offender treatment in German prisons. PSM was compared with an exact matching (EM) by the Static-99 in a sample of 693 sex offenders from Bavarian prisons. Most results were similar for both methods and not significant due to low base rates. There was a treatment effect at p < .05 on general recidivism in the EM and at p = .06 on serious reoffending in the PSM. For sexual recidivism, EM showed a negative trend, whereas PSM suggested the opposite. Overall, the study underlines the need for more replications of evaluations of routine practice, methodological comparisons, sensitive outcome criteria, and differentiated policy information.

Authors with CRIS profile

Friedrich Lösel Lehrstuhl für Psychologische Diagnostik, Methodenlehre und Rechtspsychologie Eva Link Lehrstuhl für Psychologische Diagnostik, Methodenlehre und Rechtspsychologie Martin Schmucker Lehrstuhl für Psychologische Diagnostik, Methodenlehre und Rechtspsychologie Doris Bender Lehrstuhl für Psychologische Diagnostik, Methodenlehre und Rechtspsychologie Lena Carl Lehrstuhl für Psychologische Diagnostik, Methodenlehre und Rechtspsychologie Lora Lauchs Lehrstuhl für Psychologische Diagnostik, Methodenlehre und Rechtspsychologie

Involved external institutions

Kriminologischer Dienst des bayerischen Justizvollzugs DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Lösel, F., Link, E., Schmucker, M., Bender, D., Breuer, M.M., Carl, L.,... Lauchs, L. (2020). On the effectiveness of sexual offender treatment in prisons: A comparison of two different evaluation designs in routine practice. Sexual Abuse-A Journal of Research and Treatment, 32(4), 452-475. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1079063219871576

MLA:

Lösel, Friedrich, et al. "On the effectiveness of sexual offender treatment in prisons: A comparison of two different evaluation designs in routine practice." Sexual Abuse-A Journal of Research and Treatment 32.4 (2020): 452-475.

BibTeX: Download