Learning Objectives

1. Learning Objectives • Identify eleven areas for personal strategy development; and • Develop a plan of action. CSOM Long Version: Section 5

2. Practical Strategy Areas • Desensitization • Maintaining control of interactions • Initial interviewing • Handling denial • Being prepared for what to expect • Managing intrafamilial cases CSOM Long Version: Section 5

3. Practical Strategy Areas (cont.) • Case work in various settings • Eliciting cooperation • Dealing with lapses • Testifying in court • Preventing and dealing with secondary trauma CSOM Long Version: Section 5

4. Desensitization • Familiarization • Neutral tone and demeanor • Seek an outlet to discuss issues CSOM Long Version: Section 5

5. Maintaining Control of Interactions • Establish competence and knowledge • Establish purpose of the visit • Use neutral tone of voice • Establish and maintain standards CSOM Long Version: Section 5

6. Maintaining Control of Interactions (cont.) • Establish that team communication occurs • Set and maintain boundaries • Remember that you can be deceived CSOM Long Version: Section 5

7. Take control Stress honesty Take general history Dispel sex offender myths Take sex and sex offense history Allow face saving Plan for the future Initial Interviewing CSOM Long Version: Section 5

8. Types of Denial • Denial that event took place • Denial that offender intended to commit the offense • Denial that offender is fully responsible--victim’s fault • Denial of other deviant behaviors • Denial of any harm done to victim CSOM Long Version: Section 5

9. Interview collaterals separately Don’t tip your hand Develop a “yes set” Ignore untruthful answers Repeat questions Place denial burden on offender Use successive approximations Alternate support and confrontation Strategies and Techniques to Handle Denial in an Initial Interview CSOM Long Version: Section 5

10. Strategies and Techniques to Handle Denial in an Initial Interview (cont.) • Allow some rationalization • Use behavioral descriptors • Emphasize “What happened?” (vs. why) • Avoid multiple questions • Ask rapid fire questions • Frame disclosure as positive CSOM Long Version: Section 5

11. Interview Strategies and Techniques to Handle Denial--Ongoing • Confront each instance of denial • Confront thinking errors consistently • Do not allow shifting of responsibility CSOM Long Version: Section 5

12. Be Prepared for these Behaviors • Intimidation • Emotional outbursts • Manipulation • Creative interpretation of conditions CSOM Long Version: Section 5

13. Families with Child Sexual Abuse • Challenges • Complicated family dynamics • Families need education, specialized treatment • Provide offenders with victim access • Parent-Child Incest • Non-offending Partners • Extended Family Incest CSOM Long Version: Section 5

14. Effective Office Contacts • Review homework and treatment goals • Review current sexual fantasies and practices • Discuss work in group • Discuss high risk situations, SUDs, coping techniques CSOM Long Version: Section 5

15. Effective Office Contacts (cont.) • Evaluate changes in denial • Assess movement through cycle • Confront thinking errors and denial • Review financial concerns CSOM Long Version: Section 5

16. Effective Field Contacts • Assess neighborhood • Assess financial status • Assess family interaction • Assess friends and associates CSOM Long Version: Section 5

17. Effective Home Contacts Risk factors can include: • Toys, games, dolls • Pornography, satellite/cable TV, Internet • Pets • Camera equipment/photos • Personal articles from inappropriate guests CSOM Long Version: Section 5

18. Eliciting the Cooperation of Offenders • Be clear about expectations • Be clear about roles • Be matter of fact about offense and offense cycle • Emphasize benefits of cooperation • Emphasize costs of failure CSOM Long Version: Section 5

19. Dealing with Lapses • Expect them • Respond ASAP to each • Take into account: • seriousness of lapse • danger posed by offender • how offender responded • how officer learned of lapse • Impose sanctions/modify case plan CSOM Long Version: Section 5

20. Testifying in Court • Prepare • Remember that you are a supervision expert • Dress appropriately • Remain objective CSOM Long Version: Section 5

21. Testifying in Court (cont.) • Use clear, understandable language • Be brief and accurate • Be alert--correct any errors in summarization of your testimony CSOM Long Version: Section 5

22. What is Secondary Trauma? • The emotional and psychological effects experienced through vicarious exposure to the details of the traumatic experiences of others. CSOM Long Version: Section 5

23. Effects of Secondary Trauma--Dealing with Sex Offenders Can: • Distort perceptions of normal behavior; • Be emotionally draining and difficult; • Violate our sense of how people should be treated; • Create distrust of others; and • Make us feel weighed down by responsibility CSOM Long Version: Section 5

24. Signs of Secondary Trauma • Feeling distrustful of others • Feeling overly responsible for community safety • Overusing coping skills • Feeling isolated • Denying our own needs • Experiencing relationship problems CSOM Long Version: Section 5

25. What an Agency Can Do to Mitigate Secondary Trauma • Provide support • Provide specific training • Train management • Establish clear boundaries regarding power • Provide a safe forum for discussion • Make it ok to laugh • Offender’s failure is not officer’s failure CSOM Long Version: Section 5

26. What an Agency Can Do to Mitigate Secondary Trauma(cont.) • Stay abreast of changes • Provide forum for resolving conflict • Create flexibility in assignments • Create team-based decision making • Maintain clear work boundaries and policies • Encourage balanced lives CSOM Long Version: Section 5

27. What an Individual Can Do to Mitigate Secondary Trauma • Listen to feedback from colleagues, family, friends • Take care of yourself • Create a self-care list • Be creative • Get away • Get outside CSOM Long Version: Section 5

28. What an Individual Can Do to Mitigate Secondary Trauma(cont.) • Enjoy other environments • Appreciate the weather • Have fun • Socialize • Seek counseling if needed CSOM Long Version: Section 5

29. Center for Sex Offender Management www.csom.org askcsom@csom.org CSOM Long Version: Section 5