Community-Based Treatment for Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offenses Using the Integrated Risk Assessment and Treatment System Model Versus Standard Correctional Programming

• Published date: 01 October 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00938548231186164
• Author: Jeffrey Abracen,Janice Picheca,Jan Looman,Tania Stirpe,Leigh Harkins
• Date: 01 October 2023
• Subject Matter: Articles

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR, 2023, Vol. 50, No. 10, October 2023, 1584 –1598.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548231186164

Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions

© 2023 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology

1584

COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT FOR

INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF SEXUAL

OFFENSES USING THE INTEGRATED RISK

ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT SYSTEM

MODEL VERSUS STANDARD CORRECTIONAL

PROGRAMMING

JEFFREY ABRACEN

Ontario Tech University

Allied Psychological Services

JANICE PICHECA

Correctional Service Canada

JAN LOOMAN

Forensic Behaviour Service

TANIA STIRPE

Correctional Service Canada

LEIGH HARKINS

Ontario Tech University

The present investigation examined a group of 90 clients receiving treatment for issues related to sexual offending in The

Central District (Ontario) Sex Offender Treatment Program operated by Correctional Service Canada (CSC). Treatment

was provided in line with the Integrated Risk Assessment and Treatment System (IRATS) Model developed by the

authors. A group of 55 individuals who had not received sexual offense–specific treatment but who received standard

correctional programming offered by paraprofessionals were used as a basis of comparison. Risk assessment data were

available for all clients included in the analyses. Results indicated that there were no differences between groups on the

RRASOR (an actuarial instrument designed to assess risk of sexual offense recidivism) with reference to sexual offender

recidivism risk. With reference to sexual offense recidivism, only one of the treated clients recidivated sexually over 8.17

years of follow-up versus four of the 55 comparison group who were followed for a significantly shorter period of time

(i.e., 6.9 years).

Keywords: sexual offending; treatment; recidivism

AUTHORS’ NOTE: Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jeffrey Abracen, Allied

Psychological Services, 1 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 3A1; e-mail: Jabracen@gmail.com.

1186164CJBXXX10.1177/00938548231186164Criminal Justice and BehaviorAbracen et al. / COMMUNITY TREATMENT

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