The way back: a reasoned and data based approach to increasing community access for sex offenders during and post treatment

Abstract

Purpose

Community‐based treatment programmes serving people with learning/intellectual disabilities face the problem of deciding how and when and under what conditions those in treatment will be able to independently access the community. Given the fact that people with disabilities have difficulties in generalization, knowing that they can practice skills in therapeutic sessions does not mean that they will be able to use these skills in real life situations. A Community Trust programme was first described theoretically in 1996 and this paper aims to present how that programme will work in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

From the moment treatment begins, data is collected with an eye to the future wherein individuals will be able to access the community and wherein agencies and therapists will be able to make decisions on that access, based on data not opinion. Two case examples demonstrate the principles of the trust programme.

Findings

Community trust for individuals who have engaged in serious, dangerous, or criminal behaviours is a serious issue and therefore must be a well thought out process. It also needs to be data based and decisions must be made not on “opinion” but on objective measures.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates how community‐based treatment programmes, such as the example considered, give individuals “real life” opportunities to practice skills and thus transfer what is learned in therapeutic sessions to practical application.

Citation

Stevenson, B., Lynn, L., Miller, K. and Hingsburger, D. (2011), "The way back: a reasoned and data based approach to increasing community access for sex offenders during and post treatment", Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 63-71. https://doi.org/10.1108/20420921111152478