Rise in sex offences and reoffending drives revamp of psychological treatment in jails

Psychological treatment for sex offenders is being revamped in a bid to correct their distorted attitudes to sex and cut a soaring reoffending rate.

Correctional Services Department psychologists are also trying to help offenders deal with the avalanche of pornography available on the internet, which they say may be a factor in the growth of sex offences.

Department figures show 294 and 297 sex offenders were sent to prisons in 2007 and 2008, about 20 per cent more than the 250 jailed in 2006.

The reoffending rate, referring to ex-prisoners who commit the same type of crime within three years of their release, is just under 7 per cent, compared with 4 per cent in 2003.

'Reoffending elements included ex-prisoners who are not under probation after their release, those who are unwilling to accept treatment and some with low learning ability,' the department's senior clinical psychologist Judy Hui Shuk-han said.

One problem in treating offenders was the short jail terms imposed, which did not allow enough time for a full treatment programme, she said. Last year a third of sex offenders - 106 - were serving less than two months.

To improve sex offender treatment programmes in prison, a treatment advisory panel, which includes overseas and local experts, was formed early this year to upgrade treatment to international standard.