Section 4: Lecture Content and Teaching Notes
Sex Offender Specific Treatment in the Context of Supervision
2 hours
TOPIC: COLLABORATION BETWEEN PROBATION/PAROLE SUPERVISION AND TREATMENT
(20-25 minutes, including Learning Activity)
 | COLLABORATION ACTIVITIES |
 | Use Slide #25: Collaboration Between Treatment and Supervision | 
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Alternative presentation: Since some of these have already been mentioned in the section, the trainer can invite the participants to suggest areas for collaboration and write them on newsprint, filling in if necessary from the given list. Invite participants to explain the value or rationale for each collaborative activity.
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Given the goals and content of treatment discussed above, there are many opportunities for probation or parole agents to collaborate with treatment providers.
- Some probation/parole agencies offer classes on sexuality and sexual deviance, where offenders learn concepts that are new to them and where they can begin to develop a sense of what will be expected when they do begin cognitive-behavioral treatment. Family members or other members of the offender's network should also be encouraged to attend these classes.
- Probation/parole officers and treatment providers can exchange information drawn from the pre-sentence investigation and from a sex offender-specific evaluation in order to develop complementary treatment and supervision plans.
- Probation/parole officers sometimes sit in on individual or group therapy sessions with the offender in order to understand the treatment process more clearly and to assess offender progress. This can reduce "splitting" by the offender because he sees the treatment provider and officer working closely together.
- The probation/parole officer should obtain a copy of the written treatment plan from the treatment provider and use it as a guide for monitoring conditions and progress.
- Both probation/parole officers and treatment providers should develop a clear understanding of the offender's offense cycle so that supervision conditions can be tailored to monitor and address the specific flags and triggers related to the particular needs of different offenders.
In jurisdictions that include the polygraph as one component of a larger, more comprehensive approach to sex offender management, the polygraph examiner is also a partner in the collaboration and the exchange of information that occurs (regarding information drawn from the pre-sentence investigation, the sex offender-specific evaluation, treatment sessions, the treatment plan or contract, and the offender's sexual abuse cycle).
 | LEARNING ACTIVITY-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(10 minutes) |
Participants are asked to consider the following questions:
- Some probation/parole officers work closely enough with treatment providers that they may actually sit in on group therapy sessions. Is that the practice in your agency? If so, what are the benefits and possible danger? If not, would you consider doing so?
- What are the ways in which you now collaborate with sex offender treatment providers? What are your questions or concerns about this? If you do not currently have close relationships with treatment providers, what are some first steps you might take to initiate such a relationship, if you would want to pursue it?
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