The Stichting Ambulante Preventie Projecten method: A comparative study ofrecidivism in first offenders in a Dutch outpatient setting

In this study, a comparison was made between 56 first-time sex offenders in an outpatient treatment program and 56 offenders who did not receive any t reatment in an attempt to determine the difference in recidivism between th e two groups. No significant difference was found between the two groups. T he importance of involving first-time offenders in treatment during their f irst contact with the judicial system is discussed. The authors suggest the necessity for differing approaches to the offenders according to their spe cific problem (exhibitionists, extrafamiliar child molesters, incest offend ers) and for long-term research to determine the efficacy of the different types of treatment in this offender population.