Addressing Accountability and Denial in Sex Offense Treatment: Evolving Practices and Practical Frameworks
Working with clients who deny their past behaviors has long presented dilemmas for practitioners. Requiring full disclosure of past offenses has been a source of recent debate in sex offense treatment, 
particularly since the late 1990s. Historically, accountability for sexual offending was required as a pre-condition for treatment participation and completion, as well as for successful release from supervision. This approach has its roots in Western criminal justice models, which have emphasized punitive and retributive approaches that require demonstration of accountability and remorse as indicators of change and readiness to transition from incarceration to community supervision. In addition, accountability for offending has often been viewed as supportive of victims in their quest for justice, with the caveat that the government represents the interests of victims/survivors.
More recently, however, perspectives have shifted. Research indicating that denial is not a risk factor for future sexual offending, along with concerns for the therapeutic alliance and questions regarding potential violation of the right against self-incrimination, has led clinicians to begin modifying their approach to addressing denial. As a result, many programs no longer require those who offend to be accountable as a precondition of treatment entry or completion. Instead, the focus has shifted toward utilizing the therapeutic process and relationship to reduce denial and foster engagement.
Christopher Lobanov-Rostovsky, Leslie Barfknecht, and David Prescott designed this training to:
- Explore different perspectives on accountability by examining historical dialogues and debates over the years.
- Examine victim/survivor interests in offender accountability and how this impacts prevention of sexual violence on multiple levels (i.e., primary, secondary, and tertiary).
- Highlight the various approaches employed in sex offense treatment to address denial in treatment.
- Offer a checklist of considerations that clinicians and supervision officers may use when determining whether or how to address denial of sexual offending.
The benefits and drawbacks of the different approaches are discussed, with the goal of the session being to provide attendees with a framework for making informed decisions about how to address denial as a treatment and supervision target. Participants have the opportunity for reflection and share perspectives related to this important sex offense treatment topic. Your ideas will be welcome!
Interactive Follow-Up Meeting
Attendees are invited to join an open discussion 15 minutes following the end of the training, where you can engage with fellow attendees by turning on your camera and microphone. This is an opportunity to share your experiences and contribute to a meaningful exchange of ideas. Time will be allocated to address questions or insights from the training. Please note that attendance is optional and will not affect your eligibility for a training certificate.
1) Discuss categorical denial’s relationship to the principles of effective correctional communication (risk, need, and responsivity).
2) Identify past practices by sex-offense treatment programs with respect to denial and accountability.
3) Describe common concerns expressed by abuse survivors about their experiences with sex-offense treatment and the criminal justice system.
4) List common clinical considerations in addressing denial.
Audience
This training is primarily for professionals who work with individuals convicted of sexual offenses, particularly those in clinical, supervisory, or treatment roles within sex-offense specific programs. This includes psychologists, social workers, and clinical counselors.
Content Level
Disclosure
Cancellations
Continuing Education Approval
American Psychological Association (APA)
Safer Society Foundation, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Safer Society Foundation, Inc. maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
Safer Society Foundation, Inc., provider #233, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 06/06/2025—06/06/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credits.
Who's Presenting
Christopher Lobanov-Rostovsky
Christopher Lobanov-Rostovsky was appointed as the deputy director of the Division of Criminal Justice in August 2024. From 2006 until August 2024, he served as the Program Manager for the Office of Domestic Violence and Sex Offender Management, overseeing the work of both the Sex Offender Management Board and Domestic Violence Offender Management Board within the Colorado Department of Public Safety. In this capacity, he was responsible for developing sex offense treatment and supervision standards, approving treatment providers, and providing legislative and policy input.
Mr. Lobanov-Rostovsky also serves as a Native American tribal training and technical assistance associate for the National Criminal Justice Training Center (NCJTC) at Fox Valley Technical College, a role he has held since 2009. Through this work, he has trained tribal professionals on sex offender management, treatment, and substance use interventions, and has provided technical assistance for program development and evaluation.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) since 1990. Mr. Lobanov-Rostovsky has provided training and technical assistance for a variety of federal, state, tribal, and private agencies to develop and enhance policies and practices. He was the co-project consultant lead for the U.S. SMART Office’s Sex Offender Management Assessment and Planning Initiative (SOMAPI) and has published numerous journal articles and book chapters related to sex offender management public policy. He is the recipient of the 2015 National Adolescent Perpetration Network Advocacy Award for his work promoting evidence-based policies and legislation. Earlier in his career, he worked as a clinician and approved treatment provider and evaluator for both adult and juvenile populations involved in the criminal justice system, including clients who were perpetrators or victims of sexual crimes.
Leslie Barfknecht, LCSW, ATSA-F
Leslie Barfknecht, LCSW, ATSA-F, is co-founder of Change Partnership, LLC, an organization dedicated to training mental health and justice involved professionals and organizations on best practices. Additionally, she is a Treatment Supervisor at Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, a civil commitment center for sexual offenders in Wisconsin and oversees the development and delivery of a sexual offender treatment program. Leslie is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and a Certified Trainer with the International Center for Clinical Excellence (ICCE), both since 2013. Leslie has worked in direct practice and as an administrator in criminal justice systems for the majority of her career with those that have both committed sexual offenses and/or been subjected to sexual abuse. For the past 15 years, she has been involved in ATSA, MNATSA and WIATSA as a member, presenter and attendee at annual conferences. Leslie has been a board member of the Wisconsin ATSA chapter since 2020 and is currently serving as President.
David Prescott, LICSW, ATSA-F
A mental health practitioner of 40 years, David Prescott is the Director of the Safer Society Continuing Education Center. He is the author and editor of 25 books in the areas of understanding and improving services to at-risk clients. He is best known for his work in the areas of understanding, assessing, and treating sexual violence and trauma. Mr. Prescott is the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Contribution award from the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA), the 2018 recipient of the National Adolescent Perpetration Network’s C. Henry Kempe Lifetime Achievement award, and the 2022 recipient of the Fay Honey Knopp Award from the New York State Alliance for the Prevention of Sexual Abuse and New York State ATSA. He also served as ATSA President in 2008-09. Mr. Prescott currently trains and lectures around the world. His published work has been translated into Japanese, Korean, German, French, Polish, and Southern Tutchone. He has served on the editorial boards of four scholarly journals.