Transcript On the High-Wire Without a Net’
ON THE HIGH-WIRE WITHOUT A NET: BALANCING THE PLAYERS IN SVP
Alan Stillman, LCSW Executive Director, Liberty California CONREP
Agenda
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Why SVP Program Development Overview of State Information Facts Regarding Sex Offenders Goals of SVP Programs Summary of Current SVP Laws Roles of Various Players, Systems and Interests High-Wire Skills/Collaboration Importance of Self-evaluation
SEX OFFENDERS: STATE INFO
27 States have residency restrictions: No impact on recidivism No proximity correlation 34 states have laws that require or allow the use of GPS technology for certain sex offenders 20 states allow civil commitment of sexually violent offenders after completion of a prison sentence Average cost = $94,000/offender/year Many refuse treatment while committed Only 12% released Prison sentences without specific treatment do not reduce recidivism Treatment per offender costs between $5,000 and $15,000 per year Incarceration can cost more than $22,000 per year per offender, not including any treatment costs.
SEX OFFENDERS: STATE INFO (CONT.)
10 states have created multidisciplinary sex offender management or policy boards Evaluate policies, create guidelines, make recommendations Some have regulation authority for sex offender management Many states use risk-based assessment tools to monitor treatment 35 states use risk-based assessment tools to aid in sentencing and release decisions, levels of supervision, monitoring and treatment Several states and local jurisdictions use polygraph examinations Monitoring and treatment of sex offenders under community supervision Provide information for treatment planning, as well as aid in offender accountability Polygraph use is controversial
FACTS ABOUT SEX OFFENDERS
There are approximately 637,000 registered sex offenders in the United States (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 2008) There are approximately 250,000 convicted sex offenders under criminal justice supervision in the community (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2006).
FACTS ABOUT SEX OFFENDERS IN CALIFORNIA (AS OF 2010) More registered than any other state with approximately 80,000 identified sex offenders About 8,000 persons convicted of a new felony sex offense in California each year.
More that 700 are released from California prisons each month, 200 of whom are High Risk Sex Offenders.
Approximately 22,500 adult sex offenders currently in prison Approximately 11,200 currently living in communities on parole and approximately 10,000 sex offenders on probation.
THE SVP LAWS SUMMARY POINTS 20 states allow civil commitment of sexually violent predators after completion of a prison sentence.
In CA the law took effect in1996 and is implemented by the Department of Mental Health Sexually Violent Predator: convicted of specified sex offenses against one or more victims a diagnosed mental disorder that makes it likely they will engage in sexually violent predatory behavior once released into the community 10 states have created multidisciplinary sex offender management or policy boards.
SVP PROGRAMS WALK THE HIGH- WIRE
Main Goals 1 st - Community Safety 2 nd - Client treatment options for community integration
The Balancing Act
This act is constantly monitored by government (local and state), local law enforcement, community members, media, etc
OBSERVED BY MANY
ON THE HIGH-WIRE
Observers may have many strong reactions regarding the success or failure of the clients COMMUNITY SAFETY TEAM MEMBERS may have strong reactions and roles that appear at odds with one another
THE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
Positive
“ You ban somebody from the community, he has no friends, he feels bad about himself, and you reinforce the very problems that contribute to the sex abuse behavior in the first place. You make him a better sex offender.” Robert Freeman-Lo ” “Everybody wants to out-tough the next legislator. ‘I’m tough on crime, ‘’No, I’m even more tough.’ It’s all about ego and boastfulness.” Patty Wetterling on MPR
Negative
“ We have gotten people fired, we have gotten people kicked out of their homes, we’ve broken up relationships and friendships. The reward in Perverted Justice is peeling back the curtain on these f******, we do that. And as we grow (and we’re growing, oh boy, are we growing) we continue to have greater successes in making lives a living hell.” Philip von Eide, aka Xavier Von Erck “Save a child – Hang a Pedophile .” Mark Lunsford “ Sex Crimes against children is ZERO TOLERANCE, offenders need no mercy….Death is the only resolution….Prison??? Our tax dollars…I can think of better ways to spend our money…what about death for the predators and put the money that would have been used supporting these sickos and rehabilitate the surviviors…” Judy Cornett, notorious vigilante
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
Positive
“There is so much money to be made scaring the hell out of Americans about sexuality that no one on the gravy train can afford to slow it down. Any outsider who questions this juggernaut is immediately labeled insensitive, ant-family, immoral, or a pedophile.” Eric S. Janus “Once a person is caught in the spotlight of a predator commitment, everything an individual says or does is subject to interpretation… Some aspects of these trials are Kafkaesque. If a person acknowledges there is a risk he will offend, this is taken as an admission of his dangerous propensities. But if he states he will not re-offend, this is taken as a lack of insight and is counted as a risk factor.” Good behavior is actually considered a risk factor in “manipulation.” Eric S. Janus
Negative
“Sometimes what happens is lawmakers don’t want to know the facts, or the facts don’t make any difference. There really are two things that affect public policy. One is the facts. The other is the feelings and political pressure. There are legislators who
will say, ‘Don’t confuse me with the facts. I’ve made up my mind.” North Dakota state Senator RC Fletcher Mathern
“Truly, I don’t care if we stomp on his civil liberties. I truly don’t.” Howell, New Jersey, Councilman Mike Lim Howell
CONTAINMENT MODEL Liberty CA CONREP The Collaborative Containment Model Victim-centered, collaborative, driven by policy, and based on state-of-the-art specialized knowledge and methods.
Community Safety Offender Assessment Specialized Sex Offender Treatment Specialized Supervision and Monitoring Global Satellite Positioning Sex Offender Registration Community Support Containment of SVP conditionally released patient in the community Victim Advocacy CA Dept. of Mental Health Polygraph Provider Community Services Public Education Investigation, Prosecution, Adjudication, Disposition
Primary Roles in the Containment Model
Supervision Treatment Polygraph Examiner Victim Advocate Other
SUPERVISION ROLE
Liberty CA CONREP program staff: Enforce court-ordered conditions – similar to probation or parole officer Restrict offender activities Reward progress in treatment Utilize victim impact information Ensure information sharing with all team members Serve as field operative gaining information from local law enforcement, community, etc Monitor GPS tracking
TREATMENT ROLE
Assist offender in developing and strengthening internal cognitive and behavioral controls Assist offender in addressing unresolved issues and distorted thinking Provide progress reports/information to supervising staff and community safety team Provide court testimony
POLYGRAPH EXAMINER ROLE
Reveals offender denial/lying Conduct sexual history Investigate compliance by periodic testing Maintenance polygraph Specific issue polygraph
REPRESENTATIVE FROM STATE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH Provide direction relative to legal issues, policies and procedures Monitor contract compliance Provide liaison to other interested government official/s
VICTIM ADVOCATE ROLE
Maintain victim-centered focus Provide support/information to victim Liaison between victim and team Provide training/input on policy/practice
OTHER POSSIBLE TEAM MEMBERS
May include: Employers Friends, neighbors Family Victim and/or victim family Volunteers
COLLABORATION
COLLABORATION
The process of bringing together individuals with differing perspectives who work together toward a common goal
COLLABORATION
Requires relationship building Skills needed: curiosity, humility, ability to reflect on ones own behavior, respect Ability to tolerate conflict Can clarify and help build strong bonds Alternately, if not resolved, can detract or undermine the progress of the team
COLLABORATION ELEMENTS
A coming together that enhances the capacity of all the partners Putting yourself in the other members shoes Become an active listener Avoid criticizing others
ELEMENTS CONTINUED
Clarify and define common goal/s that lead to action and follow- through Respect the opinion/s of others Maintain an open and positive attitude
TOOLS FOR DEVELOPING COLLABORATION
Stop a conversation if it gets too emotional--reframe to make it safer and more productive Plan for cross trainings Identify and address conflicts—design a resolution that supports the goal of the team
TOOLS CONTINUED
Share credit for good ideas Support group decisions even if not in total agreement—strive for consensus Be able to apologize and admit mistakes
TOOLS CONTINUED
Be able to self-assess and make adjustments when needed Develop a self-care plan and use it; this minimizes stress and supports better performance and clearer thinking
COLLABORATIVE TEAM ACTIVITIES
Exchange information in support of each other’s roles Monitoring Joint decision making Cross-training Create resources Problem solving
FALLING OFF THE WIRE
If balance is lost… There may be consequences for community and client safety Various stakeholders may seek to deflect blame Program integrity may be compromised
WIN-WIN
Collaboration enhances outcome… Success can be measured by the client integrating into the community in a positive and productive manner with no new victims Aids in identifying high risk behaviors/thinking
QUIZ
1.
What are the 2 main goals of SVP programs?
2.
Name 3 collaborative techniques that can be used to build a team.
3.
Why is self-evaluation important to the team approach?