Treatment for Hispanic Sexual Offenders

Abstract

The Arlington County Juvenile Sexual Offenders Program is a community-based program that is part of the county's Child and Family Services Division. It treats adolescent sexual offenders and abuse-reactive children (children who molest), as well as provides evaluations for adult sexual offenders. The program includes offender-specific treatment services for low- to medium-risk offenders and incorporates an interagency approach to the provision/delivery of services. It focuses on enhancing community safety by identifying the more serious sexual offenders who require out-of-community placement in a secure environment; by providing intervention/prevention for lower-risk offenders who are able to remain in the community while receiving offender-specific treatment to prevent the development of more serious offending behavior; and by ensuring continuity of care/enhancing community safety by continuing treatment for those offenders released from state correctional centers and who return to the community. The program includes risk assessment and psychoeducational groups, as well as ongoing group, family, multifamily, and individual therapy to English- and Spanish-speaking clients. It uses a cognitive-behavioral approach and works in collaboration with other agencies in the community. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved). (chapter)