1 from research to reality dr. gerald r. hover. 2 what’s working and what’s not working?

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From Research to

Reality

Dr. Gerald R. Hover

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What’s workingand

What’s not working?

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Today I will wish to know what you think is working and/or not working in your country in terms of laws, procedures, and public policies regarding sex

offenders.

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I will also be asking what you believe are the next steps for you

and your nation to take.

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I will now summarize the U.S.

state of affairs.

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Discordant information

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It is getting better and it is getting worse.

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Signs of Improvement:

Harris and Hansen (2004), N=4,724

“After 15 years 76% of sex offenders are not

charged with another sex offence.”

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Why? Economic prosperity More detectives and social

workers Longer sentences Better community supervision,

i.e., more offender specific Psychotropic medications More willing offenders

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AndSex Offender treatment worksHansen, Gordon, Harris, Murphy,

Quinsey, and Seto, 2002

17% of the untreated offenders reoffended10% of those sex offenders in sex offender

treatment reoffendedEffect Size = .40

Meaning the treated offenders were 40% better

Good results, but not great

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But let us compare other Effect Sizes:

Chemotherapy for breast cancer is 8% Anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin) are at 14% By pass surgery for artery blockage is 15% Nicotine Patches are at 18% Clozapine (schizophrenia medication) is at 20% Viagra is at 38%

From: Marshall & McGuire 2003,Meyer, Finn, Gyde,

Kay,Dies, Gismdn, Kubiszyn, & Reed, 2001

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Is sexual abuse becoming worse?

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Bureau of Justice Statistics

National Crime Victims Survey, 2005

Substantiated a decline of 51% in sexual abuse reports

between 1991 & 2005

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And in May, 2011 Tabachnick & Klein

published a report for ATSA:

“A Reasonable Approach: Reshaping Sex Offender Policy to Prevent Child

Sexual Abuse”

15Adapted from

Tabachnick & Klein, 2011

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The vast majority of sexual assault goes

unreported.

Why?

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Hypothesis: Our laws are not driven

by science.

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The vast majority of sex offender laws:

Lengthen incarceration Add electronic monitoring Require community notification Restrict where offenders can live

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Other Variables:

Charges are pled down to lesser crimes

Some folks distrust our law enforcement officers & our criminal justice system & believe not all are treated fairly.

Some victims are fearful and/or ashamed at not having been able to stop

someone they love from offending them.

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The uninteded consequences:

Victims do not report crimes to the police Perpetrators are unable to return to the home they own

New housing is both distant from services & remote from support

Ancillary services are decreased or hard to access

Offenders are less connected to support people

Larger numbers of homeless sex offenders

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What Works? Stability

a. Housingb. Employmentc. Pro-social associates

Matching our response to risk & not treating all offenders alike

Specialized treatment for sex offenders

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Your three questions are:

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(1)

What is happening in your nation that is

working?

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(2)

What is occurring that is not working?

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(3)

What are your next steps?

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Contact Informationgerald.hover@doc.wa.go

v360-794-2419