U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Multisystemic Therapy for Juvenile Sexual Offenders: 1-Year Results from a Randomized Effectiveness Trial.

NCJ Number
255435
Journal
Journal of Family Psychology Volume: 1 Issue: 23 Dated: 2009 Pages: 89-102
Author(s)
Elizabeth J. Letourneau; Scott W. Henggeler; Charles M. Borduin; Paul A. Schewe; Michael R. McCart; Jason E. Chapman; L. Saldana
Date Published
2009
Length
0 pages
Annotation

Since rigorous tests of promising interventions for juvenile sexual offenders have rarely been conducted despite the serious and costly problems of their offenses, the current article reports on a community-based effectiveness trial that compared multisystemic therapy (MST) adapted for juvenile sexual offenders with services that are typical of those provided to juvenile sexual offenders in the United States. 

Abstract

Youth were randomized to MST (n = 67) or treatment as usual for juvenile sexual offenders (TAU-JSO; n = 60). Outcomes through 12 months post-recruitment were assessed for problem sexual behavior, delinquency, substance use, mental health functioning, and out-of-home placements. Relative to youth who received TAU-JSO, youth in the MST condition evidenced significant reductions in sexual behavior problems, delinquency, substance use, externalizing symptoms, and out-of-home placements. The findings suggest that family- and community-based interventions, especially those with an established evidence-base in treating adolescent antisocial behavior, have considerable promise in meeting the clinical needs of juvenile sexual offenders. (publisher abstract modified)