The effect of training on referrals to an outpatient adolescent sex offender treatment program

This study examines the effect of training on referrals to an outpatient adolescent sexual offender treatment program. Fifty-two juvenile court probation officers were trained to assess and identify adolescent sex offenders who met program referral criteria. Pre- and post-training tests were administered to measure the effect of training on a subject\u27s knowledge and understanding of sex offender assessment. Utilizing the Juvenile Sexual Offender Decision Criteria Form (University of Washington, 1986), referrals before and following training were evaluated to determine if they met program criteria. Analysis of the data suggested that training improved subjects\u27 knowledge and understanding, but not their ability to correctly identify adolescent sex offenders who met program referral criteria. Methodological problems, interagency differences, minimal treatment/referral options, and training inadequacies may explain the obtained results