ABSTRACT
Chapter one works to contextualise contemporary offender treatment by discussing the developments in practice and theory that underpin current high-risk offender treatment, focusing on violent and sex offenders. Moving forward, the chapter examines the efficacy of core models and approaches implemented in high-risk offender treatment, including the risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches. Significantly, this chapter argues the importance of the responsivity principle for high-risk offender treatment and highlights the limitations relating to this principle being adhered to in practice. Further, the treatment for offenders with complex needs is discussed, highlighting the prevalence of high-risk offenders with complex needs and discussing several limitations of contemporary treatment for this population. The main aim of this chapter is to present the target offending population of this book – high-risk offenders with complex needs.
