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Ahern concerned at sex offender treatment rates

Minister for Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has said he is concerned at the low numbers of sex offenders attending treatment in prison.

Official figures have revealed that out of 578 convicted sex offenders released from prison in the last five years, just 42 had completed a highly intensive rehabilitation programme.

From a further 115 due to for release in the next 18 months, only 10 have finished the scheme.

“The low number of sex offenders attending treatment is not because there is a shortage of places on treatment programmes, but because a lot of sex offenders are not willing to participate in the highly demanding, intensive sex offenders treatment programme that is available in prison,” Mr Ahern said.

“If I thought it would do any good I would certainly consider introducing mandatory treatment for sex offenders but all the expert advice I have received is that mandatory treatment simply does not work.”

Mr Ahern said experts disagree on how effective treatment is for sex offenders and studies show the risk of sex offenders who are motivated to participate in treatment and who receive supervision and support in the community can be reduced by 20 per cent to 40 per cent.

Irish Times

More story at-http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0926/breaking48_pf.html

© 2008 irishtimes.com

 
 

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