ABSTRACT
Many Americans fear sexual assaulters, gang rapists, serial rapists, stranger rapists, child abductors, and child abusers. Rape is one of the most feared events as well as a frightening and misunderstood crime. Others feel that treatment of sexual assaulters is undeserved and ineffective. Politicians tend to follow public opinion, 2 despite evidence that there is widespread support for treatment and rehabilitation of offenders ranging from the very young to geriatric prisoners. Opinion polls overestimate the amount of support for punitive approaches to special need clients, particularly for juveniles ( Cullen & Moon, 2002 ). There is no doubt that public sentiment works against the establishment and funding of treatment programs and options. However, substantial evidence shows that treatment works ( Lipton, Pearson, & Wexler, 1999; Sherman et al., 1997; Yates, 2002 ). Specifically, three meta-analyses on the topic have been conducted ( Table 12.1 ), and results from each review indicate that treatment has an appreciable impact on recidivism. First, Gallagher, Wilson, Hirschfield, Coggeshall, and MacKenzie (1999) located a total of 25 studies and found a 21 percent reduction in sexual recidivism overall. Second, Hanson et al. (2002) reviewed 43 studies involving more than 9000 sex offenders and found a 12 percent reduction in sexual recidivism. More recently, Lösel
Number of studies Percent reduction
Gallagher et al. (1999) 25 21% Hanson et al. (2002) 43 12% Lösel and Schmucker (2005) 69 37%
Exhibitionism is exposure of one’s genitalia or other body parts to others in inappropriate circumstances or public places. An exhibitionist is the one who exposes those parts to others.
