Addressing Denial and Promoting Accountability in Sexual Offending Treatment
This webinar is primarily for professionals involved in the treatment, evaluation, and management of individuals who have committed sexual offenses. This includes practitioners in sexual offending treatment programs, criminal justice professionals, policy makers, and program administrators responsible for developing guidelines and ensuring evidence-based practices in offender management.
The roles of denial and accountability in the treatment of sexual offending have generated decades of controversy. A classic meta-analysis and several recent studies have consistently shown that denial is not a risk factor for recidivism. In spite of those findings, methods for treating people in categorical denial have been established and the importance of accountability as a critical aspect of rehabilitation has been emphasized by numerous authors (including Judith Herman). Indeed, research has indicated that clients in sexual offending treatment cite overcoming denial and developing empathy for those harmed as among the most impactful components of their treatment. Questions therefore arise regarding the core objectives that such treatment programs should prioritize.
This presentation examines the approach of the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB), a statutory body established in 1992 to develop guidelines for the evaluation, treatment, and behavioral monitoring of those who sexually offend. The SOMB’s mandate encompasses two primary objectives:
- Promoting evidence-based rehabilitation of those who commit sexual offenses
- Ensuring the safety of people who have been victimized
Like many other agencies, the SOMB recognizes the research related to offender denial but focuses on it as an issue of treatment responsivity rather than risk. In addition, the SOMB emphasizes the importance of offender accountability in the healing of survivors of sexual assault.
This presentation and subsequent discussion focus on three key areas:
- Denial and Accountability: Issues and Research
- Interventions for Addressing Denial
- Challenges for Practitioners
Who's Presenting
Christopher Lobanov-Rostovsky
Christopher Lobanov-Rostovsky has worked as a Native American tribal training and technical assistance associate for the National Criminal Justice Training Center (NCJTC) at Fox Valley Technical College since 2009. This work has included training tribal professionals on sex offender management and treatment and substance use interventions and providing ongoing tribal technical assistance regarding program development and evaluation. Mr. Lobanov-Rostovsky has also worked for the Division of Criminal Justice within the Colorado Department of Public Safety as the Program Manager for the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board since 2006, where he is responsible for developing sex offense treatment and supervision standards, approving treatment providers, and providing legislative and policy input. Mr. Lobanov-Rostovsky holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) since 1990. Prior to his current position, Mr. Lobanov-Rostovsky worked as an approved treatment provider and evaluator for both adult and juvenile populations.