Perhaps no category of offenders creates as much outrage as those individuals who have sexually assaulted or abused another person. As KPEP carefully considered becoming a facility for housing and treating the growing number of these offenders, it became clear there would be a critical need for a specific program to deal with this part of the criminal population. Intense supervision and targeted therapy serve as the cornerstones for this unique program. After extensive staff training and research regarding the principles of effective interventions in the treatment of sex offenders, we’re proud to announce the launch of the KPEP Residential Sex Offender Program (RSOP).

KPEP’s RSOP is a highly structured intervention that combines strict supervision and cognitive behavioral-based therapy. A minimum of 25 hours of staff-led programming per week is required, including sex offender specific group and individual treatment sessions, substance abuse treatment, and didactic programming. All participants are monitored by GPS for the duration of their treatment stay, with an average length of stay of six months. During the treatment process, participants are not allowed to leave the facility for purposes other than the required sex offender registration and medical appointments or medical emergencies. RSOP participants must be accompanied by a KPEP staff member upon leaving the facility for any reason unless prior approval by the supervising agent has been obtained.

Upon admission to the KPEP Residential Sex Offender Program, participants complete a thorough Bio Psycho Social assessment including standardized tests to determine the criminogenic risks/needs, chemical dependency, sexual deviancy, and presence of a co-occurring disorder. The goal of sex offender-specific treatment is community protection through effective treatment and management of sex offenders. Working in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Corrections Office of Substance Abuse Services and the supervising agent, clinicians develop treatment plans that view the community as the primary client. Using cognitive behavioral and motivational interviewing principles of change, the treatment experience focuses on promoting the offender’s ability and willingness to manage their deviant tendencies in a manner that will reduce the likelihood that they will re-offend. Primary treatment goals include:

1. 1. Accepting responsibility for and changing deviant sexual behavior and associated fantasies.
2. 2. Identifying and intervening in the deviant sexual assault cycle.
3. 3. Reduction of cognitive distortions.
4. 4. Increasing empathy for the victims.
5. 5. Development of a sound re-offense prevention plan.

Studies have concluded that sex offenders who did not participate in sex offender-specific treatment had a higher recidivism rate (17%) than those who received cognitive behavioral therapy (10%) (Hanson, Gordon, Harris, Marques, Murphy, Quinsey, & Seto, 2002). Treatment for first time offenders seems even more promising, as 9% of first time offenders in treatment recidivated, compared to 27% of those who went untreated (Nicholaichuk, Gordon, Gu, & Wong, 2000).

KPEP’s commitment to public safety is the foundation of all programming, and becomes even more critical with the effort to meet the increased demand created by the growing number of sex offenders. The combination of excellent service and talented staff has led to the development of this creative program which will provide cost-effective results to the communities KPEP serves. KPEP is confident the components of the RSOP will become a service and treatment model for other programs across the country.