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Treating Adolescent Sex Offenders in Secure Conditions: The Experience at Glenthorne Center

NCJ Number
148734
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1994) Pages: 105-122
Author(s)
K J Epps
Date Published
1994
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This article describes a program for the management and treatment of adolescent male sex offenders, operated within a secure residential facility, the Glenthorne Center in Birmingham, England.
Abstract
Over the past few years, the number of sexually abusive adolescents admitted to the Center has increased. Most sexual offenses consist of indecent assault and rape. Some offenders committed additional crimes at the same time as the sexual assault, including robbery, burglary, and grievous bodily harm. This article describes three aspects of the institution's functioning in the management and treatment of sexual offenders: staff, management and administration, and treatment program. The highly trained staff is drawn from the psychiatric nursing, social work, and teaching disciplines. Glenthorne has developed and implemented a structured management regime which aims to create a consistent, predictable, and stable environment for these adolescent offenders. The "Level System" has been successful in preventing and containing disruptive, difficult, and violent behavior. Each offender has an individually tailored care plan and an intervention program that consists of assessment, intervention, and monitoring/evaluation stages. Obstacles to treatment can be characterized as client-related and institutional-related variables. 3 tables, 1 figure, and 39 references