United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office General Government Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-06-21 monographic deposited born digital 27 p. GA 1.13:GGD-96-137 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-137 P0b002ee18039e07e f:gg96137 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-137 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-137 GGD-96-137 Children Sex crimes Sexual abuse Research reports Recidivism Offender rehabilitation Criminals Crimes or offenses Comparative analysis Letter Report GGD Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed research results on the effectiveness of sex offender treatment programs in reducing recidivism.<p/>GAO noted that: (1) all of the research studies reviewed provided qualitative and quantitative summaries of sex offender treatment programs; (2) nearly all of the studies identified limitations in evaluating treatment effectiveness; (3) there was no consensus as to which treatment reduces recidivism; (4) the cognitive-behavioral treatment approach works well in treating child molesters and exhibitionists, but treatment effectiveness depends on the type of offender and treatment setting; (5) researchers did not engage in comparison studies to measure recidivism rates because of the studies' inconsistent measurements; (6) the research reports lacked sufficient descriptive information on how program participants are selected and recidivism measured; and (7) definitive conclusions could not be drawn about deviant sexual behavior because certain methodological weaknesses have underscored inferences. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-137/html/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-137.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-137/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-137.pdf GAO/GGD-96-137 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-137 Letter Report GAO/GGD-96-137; Sex Offender Treatment: Research Results Inconclusive About What Works to Reduce Recidivism; Children Sex crimes Sexual abuse Research reports Recidivism Offender rehabilitation Criminals Crimes or offenses Comparative analysis Public Law 104-71 Public Law 104-145