Sentencing pathways for offenders in Victoria : clinical influences and considerations

This portfolio aims to review aspects of the sentencing of violent offenders under Victoria's criminal justice system. Focuses on a critique of current legislation, the way the rights of special needs offenders are acknowledged and enshrined in law, how these provisions are expressed in practice, and the clinical factors that contribute to, and influence, the dispositions individuals receive.

Emotional intelligence among adolescent sexual offenders : a comparison with violent offenders and non-offenders

Emotional intelligence includes one's ability to identify, use, understand and manage emotions. This thesis indicates that, when compared to peers with no convictions and those with violent convictions, adolescent sexual offenders have lower levels of emotional intelligence in general and, that, in particular, they had problems identifying, using and managing their emotions.

Psychological deficits and abundances among domestically violent offenders and non-offenders

The thesis compared domestically violent men and non-offenders on a number of psychological constructs. The results indicated that, with the exception of attitudes towards women, there were no significant differences between the groups. The thesis examined practical implications of the results for the assessment and treatment of domestically violent offenders. The professional portfolio examines, in four case studies, the purported link between childhood abuse and subsequent maladjustment in the adult.

Attitudes towards the employability of ex-offenders

Employment is important in the reintegration of people with a criminal record. This thesis investigated the attitudes of four stakeholder groups towards the employability of ex-offenders. While the study found negative and stereotypical perceptions of the employability of ex-offenders, it also found significant differences in people's attitudes. To explain these differences an ecological systems model is proposed.

Investigation of motivation for behavior change among pedophilic sex offenders

This investigation found that certain cognitive, emotive and behavioral factors were related to motivation for behavior change among men incarcerated for sexual offences against children. Overall, the results have important implications for understanding motivation for change among these offenders, their assessment and treatment, and so the prevention of re-offending.

Brief anger interventions with offenders may be ineffective : a replication and extension

Anger-management interventions are widely delivered in the criminal justice and forensic mental health systems. Whilst previous research has generally supported the thesis that anger management is an effective intervention for anger problems in general there remains a need to determine its effectiveness with offender populations. This paper reports the results of a controlled outcome study of a 20 h anger-management program offered to offenders. Those receiving treatment showed improvements in their knowledge about anger, but showed little change on measures of anger and anger expression when compared to waiting-list controls. Scores on measures of treatment readiness and level of need for treatment were however, correlated with post-treatment improvement. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the assessment and selection of appropriate participants for offender anger-management programs.

Maintaining change programmes for offenders : some suggestions for practice

Despite the widespread acceptance that follow-up or maintenance sessions are an important part of the change process for those who have completed offender rehabilitation programmes, there have been few attempts to articulate the basis upon which such sessions might be developed. This paper reviews the current theoretical and empirical literature relating to maintenance programmes, concluding that whilst there are a number of theories which might be relevant to the design of effective maintenance programmes, there is almost no empirical basis from which to make any assessment of their likely value or effectiveness.

Interventions to improve empathy awareness in sexual and violent offenders : conceptual, empirical, and clinical issues

Interventions that seek to increase empathy are a common feature of programs offered to sexual and violent offenders. Yet, there is little empirical evidence to suggest that they contribute positively to program outcomes. This paper explores the rationale for the delivery of empathy training with violent offenders, describes some of the most commonly used approaches, and reviews the current evidence base relating to effectiveness. It is concluded that while there are strong theoretical grounds for identifying empathy deficits as an important area of criminogenic need, there are considerable difficulties in establishing the extent to which the interventions offered in this area might be considered to be successful in reducing risk.

Implicit theories and personality patterns in child-victim sex offenders

Research has suggested that child sex offenders hold thematically distinct cognitive distortions, which Ward and Keenan (1999) call Implicit Theories. The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the relationship between offenders’ Implicit Theories and their personality related cognitions. The variables were measured using the Implicit Theory Questionnaire and Millon’s (1990) MCMI-III personality scales. Subjects were 28 male sex offenders against children serving a custodial sentence in New Zealand, who elected to participate in a treatment program. A majority of participants had personality scale scores that reached the clinical threshold. Results found that dependant, depressive and schizoidal personality patterns significantly correlated with Implicit Theories. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.