Scientific approach to sex crimes
A GROUNDBREAKING programme informed by scientific research has been developed for the treatment of sexual offenders in South Africa’s prisons.
Social workers from the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State and Northern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo Mpumalanga and North West, as well as KwaZulu-Natal, started training for the Sexual Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP) in February, and are scheduled to complete their training this month.
Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said it was prudent that scientific research was conducted with the sole purpose of determining a suitable programme for this category of inmates.
“The problem of sexual violence in South Africa is a major concern to government and civil society alike. The exact prevalence of sexual violence in South Africa is unknown.
“Many acts of sexual violence go unreported, not only to state or private institutions, but often even to the victims’ family and friends. However, it must be noted that the judicial system has dealt with a number of cases where successful prosecution has been achieved,” Nxumalo said.
“This has been made possible by a comprehensive legislative and policy framework for responding to sexual offences, including the Sexual Offences Act, specialised sexual offences courts, Thuthuzela Care Centres and comprehensive national policy guidelines for victims of sexual offences.
“Those convicted and sentenced to serve prison time are then transferred to a correctional facility where an offending behaviour has to be corrected through rehabilitation.
“Questions have been asked in terms of a model or the type of treatment offered to sexual offenders in prison. In as much as Correctional Services has social workers in its employ, there was never a researchbased programme to cater for sexual offenders,” he said.
The University of Limpopo led the study and successfully designed a programme for sexual offenders.
Researchers interviewed 392 offenders from 18 correctional centres, as well as 18 psychologists and 18 social workers.
The programme aimed at correcting the offending behaviour develops needs-based interventions when dealing with sexual perpetrators. It seeks to deal with offenders during their incarceration and after they have been released.
“Empirically informed risk assessment requires synthesis of multiple factors – it talks to a holistic approach. It also seeks to change an individual’s internal cognitive behaviour,” Nxumalo said.
The six-module programme targets building a positive character in sexual offenders.
“It is not a cure for sexual offending as change comes from within and, despite the extensive research and training, it still cannot guarantee a zero percentage of reoffending.
“However, the programme is bringing much-needed interventions, which will enable social workers to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of the programme.
“There will be aftercare interventions even after an offender’s release, as most sexual offenders suffer due to the negative stigma following their conviction,” Nxumalo said.
SOTP is meant to deal with both men and women convicted of a range of sex crimes, even though it is rare for women to be convicted of sex crimes.
Male victims often do not report due to the fear of secondary victimisation at police stations and by the community at large, Nxumalo said. The treatment approach should be modified in line with the evidence that was presented in court during prosecution.
It is not a cure for sexual offending as change comes from within