DOES CRIMINAL OFFENDER TREATMENT WORK

In examining the effectiveness of offender treatment, this article att empts to integrate disparate bodies of knowledge. An overview of the e ffectiveness of offender treatment is presented. To put offender treat ment into perspective, the psychotherapy outcome literature for nonoff enders is briefly reviewed. The complexity of offender treatment is fu rther explored by reviewing correlates and antecedents of criminality that include antisocial personality disorder, antisocial behavior in c hildren, and substance abuse. Implications of the existing body of kno wledge on future policy and more active involvement by psychologists a re discussed.