Counting the cost: estimating the economic benefit of pedophile treatment programs

Objective: The principal objective of this paper is to identify the economi c costs and benefits of pedophile treatment programs incorporating both the tangible and intangible cost of sexual abuse to victims. Method: Cost estimates of cognitive behavioral therapy programs in Australi an prisons are compared against the tangible and intangible costs to victim s of being sexually abused. Estimates are prepared that take into account a number of problematic issues. These include the range of possible recidivi sm rates for treatment programs; the uncertainty surrounding the number of child sexual molestation offences committed by recidivists; and the methodo logical problems associated with estimating the intangible costs of sexual abuse on victims. Results: Despite the variation in parameter estimates that impact on the co st-benefit analysis of pedophile treatment programs, it is found that poten tial range of economic costs from child sexual abuse are substantial and th e economic benefits to be derived from appropriate and effective treatment programs are high. Conclusions: Based on a reasonable set of parameter estimates, in-prison, c ognitive therapy treatment programs for pedophiles are likely to be of net benefit to society. Despite this, a critical area of future research must i nclude further methodological developments in estimating the quantitative i mpact of child sexual abuse in the community. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.