Treatment for people who commit sexual offences is aimed at lowering the risk that they will commit offences in the future. But research studies over decades show mixed results for long-term prevention of offences. Some aspects of treatment show positive results. But more research is needed to find which elements of treatment help people who have committed sexual offences avoid that behaviour in future.
Such research could help improve treatment programs as well as avoid reoffending and the costs to the criminal justice system that sexual offences cause.
