Minnesota Prison-Based Sex Offender Treatment Program
Effectiveness

Promising

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Promising

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Life periods served
Where the program was applied
Country of application
Description

This is a program for the treatment of incarcerated men who have committed sexual crimes. The program offers cognitive restructuring therapy and support services during the transition process from the prison system to the community.
The intervention consists of five components:
1) Weekly group therapy sessions;
2) Chemical dependency treatment;
3) Family education and/or support system;
4) Psycho-educational programs;
5) Weekly community groups and meetings.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation showed that program participants were statistically less likely to reoffend and be arrested again for sex crimes, violent crimes, or any other crime when compared to those in the control group, who received no treatment [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Duwe, G. & Goldman, R. A. (2009). The impact of prison-based treatment on sex offender recidivism: Evidence from Minnesota. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 21(3), 279–307. https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063209338490

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