When charged with a sexual offense, the court may allow Pre-Trial Treatment. Pre-Trial treatment is typically for the duration of the time criminal charges are in proceedings. Pre-Trial Treatment focuses on mental health and contributory factors that resulted in criminal charges for a sexual offense. Treatment targets may include: maladaptive behaviors, self regulation, sexuality, harm reduction, attitudes, substance abuse, thought distortions and emotional stability.
California Penal Codes 1203. 067 and 3008 require Sex Offense Specific Psychotherapy to be a a minimum of one year, or up to the entire period of probation or parole, as determined by the certified CASOMB provider in consultation with the referring agency and as approved by the court.
Treatment begins with an intake, which includes an evaluation of risk. Treatment intensity and frequency will be determined by the level of risk. Treatment requirements are completion of structured treatment modules aimed at the individual acquiring skills and lifestyle changes necessary to adequately manage his or her risk factors. Completion of treatment requirements foster resiliencies and additional protective factors that lower the risk of recidivism.
These principles are the best practice in the general corrections field, as well in the specialized field of Sex Offense Specific Services.
The Risk Principle matches the intensity of treatment to the individual risk to reoffend. Thereby, higher risk to re-offend individuals receive more intensive interventions than individual with a lower risk to reoffend.
The Needs Principle addresses treatment targets. Treatment is encouraged to focus on social and psychological factors that are evidenced based and linked to offending. These factors are known as criminogenic needs.
The Responsivity Principle identifies how treatment is approached and delivered. Treatment is encouraged to focus on maximizing an individuals' response to treatment by tailoring service delivery to culture, motivation, personality, learning style, skills of the individual.
A collaborative approach to management of individuals that commit sexual offense is known as the Containment Model.
The Containment Model components are : supervising (e.g., probation or parole) officer; Sex Offense Specific Service provider; and polygraph examiner, using a victim-centered approach. These three people are the core of the Containment Team, although other team members should participate at times (e.g., the registering law enforcement agency, victim advocate).
The Containment Model recognizes the multiple entities play important roles in the community management of individuals that commit sexual offenses and emphasizes collaboration.
Comprehensive assessment will be completed as either Psychosexual or Sexual Violence Risk, depending on the reason for referral. Assessments can be completed in 90 and no more than 120 days, and will incorporate some or all the following:
1. Risk levels for sexual reoffense and violent reoffense using the SARATSO approved risk instruments
2. Criminogenic needs identified on the dynamic risk assessment tools
3. Identify issues related to engagement and responsivity
4. Neurodevelopmental impairments, traumatic brain injuries
5. Trauma history
6. Cognitive functioning
7. Presence of mental health issues
8. Drug and alcohol use
9. Level of denial or responsibility taking
10. Degree of coercion and violence in sexual offense(s)
11. Prior history of violence, e.g., domestic violence, assaults
12. Presence of sexual deviance, interests, and paraphilia
13. Antisocial orientation including criminal or sexual behavior, or psychopathy
14. Social relationship history
15. Review of criminal justice and other collateral information
16. Individual-specific psychological testing, when indicated
17. Pertinent medical history
18. Motivation and amenability to treatment
19. Any past treatment history and response
20. Other case-specific information
Sex Offense Specific Services are managed by California Sex Offender Management Board (CASOMB), a board that requires all providers and practices of Sex Offense Specific Services to be evaluated and certified. As such, Dr. L. Mixon Psychology Services, APC and Dr. Mixon have been certified by the CASOMB.
Dr. Mixon provides Sex Offense Specific Services that are culturally responsive and rooted in humanness and social justice.