ABSTRACT
Within the Western world, contemporary offender treatment programs take a rehabilitative approach, focused on assessing and managing offender risks and needs. Providing insight, this chapter discusses the developments in offender treatment that have shaped current programs, exploring the risk-need-responsivity model and cognitive-behavioural therapy. Additionally, more recent issues and trends within offender treatment programs are discussed including offending populations experiencing treatment resistance, the Good Lives Model, the trauma-informed care approach and music therapy. Through reviewing the literature, it is asserted that offender treatment is experiencing a shift towards an approach that is individualised, strengths-based and multidisciplined. Considering this, it is asserted that further inclusion of innovative and creative approaches to working with offenders can support effective offender treatment.
