An Examination of Counseling Professionals / Paraprofessionals Attitudes Toward Adolescent Sexual Offenders

September 2013:

Abstract
One hundred thirty-three counseling professionals / paraprofessionals were recruited from adolescent residential treatment programs located in Michigan. Participants were assessed using the Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offender Scale (CATSO).

Of the participants, 32.3% (n = 43) of the participants were female and 67.7% (n = 90) were male. Years of experience working directly with adolescent sexual offenders of participants ranged from 0 to 18 years (M = 2.48 years, SD = 3.48).

The number of months participants received sexual offender training ranged from 0 to 60 (M = 3.44, SD = 9.48). No statistical differences in attitudes were found between females and males toward adolescent sexual offenders. No statistically significant relationship was found between years of experience and the four factors on the CATSO survey (Social Isolation, Capacity to Change, Severity/Dangerousness, and Deviancy).

A significant relationship was found between experience and the Deviancy factor. No statistically significant relationship was found between months of training and attitudes. Overall, attitudes toward adolescent sexual offenders were positive. ..Full PDF Source.. by Edward C. Jones

Collateral Effects of the Media on Sex Offender Reintegration: Perceptions of Sex Offenders, Professionals, and the Lay Public

February 2012:

Abstract

Aim/Background: Sexual offending results in devastating consequences for victims and is of great concern to the public; prevention of re-offending is an important endeavour. The media has a marked influence on public views and frequently draws attention to sex offenders, often producing sensational stories about them. Doing so may affect sex offenders' opportunities for reintegration into the community, by affecting their reception by the public and thereby increasing their risk of recidivism.

Methods: The current study surveyed 167 sex offenders, professionals who work with them, and university students regarding their perceptions of how the media portrays sex offenders and the effects these portrayals have on sex offender reintegration. The potential moderating effect of attitudes was evaluated using the CATSO.

Results: Overall, participants indicated that the media portrays sex offenders negatively. The sample also identified a number of specific sex offender reintegration factors, such as housing, jobs, and relationships, as being negatively impacted by the media's portrayal of sex offenders. No significant effects of attitudes, as measured by the CATSO, were observed.

Conclusions: The overall sample agreed that the media presents sex offenders in a negative manner, that media portrayals of sex offenders affect public attitudes towards sex offenders, and that these negative portrayals affect a number of specific reintegration factors (i.e., housing, employment, etc). Due to the relationship between community reintegration and recidivism, it was concluded that the link between media portrayals of sex offenders and reintegration should be explored further. ..Source.. by Gabriela Corabian1, Neil Hogan2

1 Educational Psychology Department, University of Alberta, Canada
2 Psychology Department, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

The Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders Scale: The Development of a Psychometric Assessment Instrument

May 2008:

Abstract:
Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the nature of individual attitudes toward sex offenders.

Because the term “sex offender” tends to evoke strong emotions, and given that open-ended self reports tend to be highly subjective, particularly in the context of such pointed terminology, this study sought to develop an attitude assessment tool that addresses specific domains found in the literature.

Methods: Through a number of iterations, the Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders Scale was developed.

Results: Exploratory and subsequent confirmatory factor analyses found a four-factor, 18-item version to best represent the domains of interest. Factor and item characteristics are reported.

Conclusions: Replication and extension to other populations appears warranted. ..Source.. by Wesley T. Church (The University of Alabama, wchurch@sw.ua.edu) and Emily E. Wakeman (The University of Alabama) and Sarah L. Miller (The University of Alabama) and Carl B. Clements (The University of Alabama) and Fei Sun (The University of Alabama)

Church W. T., *Wakeman, E., *Miller, S., Clements, C. B., & *Sun, F., (2008). Community attitudes toward sex offenders: The development of a psychometric assessment Instrument. Research on Social Work Practice, 18 (3), 251-259.

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Appears this has been reviewed HERE

Female Prisoner Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders (F-PATSO): A Preliminary Comparison Using the Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders (CATSO-R) Scale

2010:

Abstract:
This preliminary report explores female prisoner attitudes toward sex offenders (F-PATSO) held by incarcerated women at a medium security, state correctional facility. Utilizing the 18-question Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offender (CATSO-R) scale (Church, 2008) and eight demographic variables, researchers distributed self administered surveys to 102 female inmates over the course of two days.

For the purpose of this paper, and in order to determine if there is any variation in attitudes between groups, the author examines the prevalence of lifetime sexual abuse as reported by the inmates in relation to their attitudes toward sex offenders based on one of four factored areas from the CATSO-R instrument: Capacity to Change.

Researchers of the F-PATSO study hypothesized that prisoner attitudes would likely mirror the measured attitudes of professionals and others who work with, and have personal experience with, sex offenders. In particular, the attitudes of the F-PATSO participants were compared to the attitudes of probation and community corrections workers in Montana, who were recently surveyed using the CATSO-R scale. ..Full PDF Source.. by N. A. Weihe: McNair Scholar, Dr. Andrew Giacomazzi: Mentor Criminal Justice and Sociology