Treating Child Sex Offenders

Child sex abuse is a devastating crime that affects more than the victim. It affects the family and the whole community. The effects are long lasting. The damage can take place on an unseen level that may not show itself for years. The consequences of maltreatment may not show up until several years later in the form of antisocial or self-destructive behaviors (Tyler, Hoyt, Whitbeck, and Cauce, 2001). The maltreatment may manifest itself as low self-esteem, anxiety, poor social skills, and or substance abuse. The long-term effects may include promiscuity, depression, difficulties trusting, self-destructive behaviors and re-victimization (Tyler et al., 2001). On going sexual abuse is a continuous, repetitive exposure to interpersonal trauma that damages one's attachment at an early age and can seriously impair future capacity to attach in satisfying and safe ways (Silk, Lee, Hill, and Lohr, 1995). Attachment failures can distort interpersonal development throughout life and lead to adult character pathology (Silk et al., 1995).

The experience of childhood sexual abuse, when left untreated, may present symptoms that persist into adulthood (Stubenbort, Greeno, Mannarino, and Cohen, 2002). Unless the victim receives treatment, the victim is forced into a life long cycle of pain and trauma.

All is not lost because a history of childhood sex abuse does not sentence a person to become a sex offender. A longitudinal study conducted by Salter, McMillan, Richards, Talbot, Hodges, Bentovim, Hastings, and Stevenson, 2003 found that only 12% of their 224 subject that had a history of sexual abuse grew up to become sex offenders.