Sexual Offenders with Mental Health Issues

Abstract

Sexual offenders with major mental illness are a heterogeneous population, presenting with co-morbid psychiatric disorders, personality difficulties, cognitive impairments and substance misuse. They are subjected to double stigma and dual minority status, due to their membership of two highly marginalized groups within society. Additionally, the interplay between forensic mental health and criminal justice systems necessitates that forensic practitioners actively manage ethical dilemmas or dual relationship problems, which requires one to provide treatment and simultaneously protect the wider community. Historically, mentally disordered sexual offenders (MDSOs) have been underrepresented within the sexual offender research and practice literature, owing to an overreliance on correctional study samples. However, a recent focus on MDSOs within the forensic arena has raised a number of important theoretical questions and practical considerations regarding the psychological assessment, treatment and risk management of this complex offender group. This chapter provides an overview and explores offender rehabilitation models within forensic mental health; mental illness, sexual offending and recidivism; and pathways between mental illness and sexual offending. It discusses risk assessment of MDSOs; and sexual offender treatment efficacy for MDSOs. The chapter concludes by considering the key research and practice issues for MDSO populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)