| Sex Offender Supervision Strategies |
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Oregon provides strategic leadership in the management of sex offenders through a combination of:
- Specialized supervision,
- Quality treatment and behavioral control,
- Polygraph monitoring;
- Life-time sex offender registration;
- Community notification of predatory sex offenders;
- Legislation to assist in the monitoring of sex offenders on community supervision; and
- The Oregon Sex Offender Supervision Network.
History of the Oregon Sex Offender Supervision Network
A unique overlay to Oregon´s sex offender supervision strategy is a line-level group of parole/probation officers empowered to significantly guide the direction of sex offender supervision for the state: the Sex Offender Supervision Network. The Network was founded on the belief that empowerment and participatory management will result in the most effective strategies to manage this and other offender groups.
The network was conceived at a conference in 1990 when three parole/probation officers organized a meeting of PO´s from all over the state who supervised sex offenders. The participants in this first meeting recognized the value in their increased communication, sharing information and networking with fellow PO´s who supervised this difficult caseload. The group is sanctioned by the Department of Corrections to:
- Establish statewide leadership;
- Develop consistent, standard evaluations, treatment and supervision;
- Share resources and expertise; train and enhance skill development; and
- Provide educated and informed recommendations and input to the department, to local community leaders and the Legislature on policy issues related to community supervision of sex offenders and their treatment.
The Network has grown in size and now includes sex offender treatment professionals, prison counselors, the Oregon State Police, specialized parole/probation officers and members of the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision.
The Present...
The Network continues to direct standards for the management of sex offenders in Oregon. Discussions of supervision and sanctioning are initiated by those officers and other professionals working directly with the offenders in the community. Model programs throughout the state have been identified with many of these programs or program components replicated in other jurisdictions. Support and consultation routinely occurs in addressing both local community issues in program development and issues related to individual sex offender cases.
The Sex Offender Supervision Network as a Resource Provides:
- Development of intensive supervision and specialized caseloads;
- Training and expertise in identification, development and referral for sex offender evaluation and treatment resources:
- Effective sex offender treatment programs will significantly slow the cycle of sex abuse. These programs should include supervision by parole and probation officers who have received training in the dynamics of the sex offender and in the techniques that are effective with this population. Sex offender treatment, in the prison and the community, should be provided by licensed sex offender treatment professionals.
- Competent and professional execution of state statutes related to:
- Sex offender registration
- Sex offender community notification
- Public education: professional and informed, the Network addresses public concerns about risk, risk management, contract prohibitions, notification and registration.
- Guidance for the sex offender in risk management, treatment issues and early detection of indicators of reoffense.
The Network is critical to effective management of sex offenders in Oregon. Through the network´s original strategies vision, Oregon has become a national example in the area of community supervision of this difficult group of offenders.
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