Specific Treatment of Offenders Program (STOP)

Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program
Wyalusing Academy's STOP Unit is designed for the intensive residential treatment of adolescent male sex offenders. This program provides single room occupancy for greater security to the residents.

Primary Objective:
The objective of the STOP Unit is to reduce the likelihood that the adolescents involved will commit further sexual offenses, thus reducing the number of sexual assault victims in the community.

Program Description:
The STOP. Unit is open-ended. Referrals are accepted continuously, based upon how well candidates for placement meet the program criteria. Clients leave the program in a planned manner once having accomplished clearly established treatment goals.

1. Group members are required to address and reduce denial, accept responsibility and accountability for their sexual offenses, and help on another admit their offenses.
Strategies utilized:
• Daily group therapy
• Psycho-educational groups relating to human sexuality, beliefs about sex roles and sexual abuse
• Focus upon the impact of sex abuse upon the victim, in order to develop victim empathy
• Develop an understanding of the motives and “cycle of abuse” that led to sexual offenses
• Daily cognitive restructuring related to criminal thinking patterns and corrective thinking
• Focus on relapse prevention and safety plans upon discharge

2. STOP Unit members are required to learn and demonstrate appropriate social and interpersonal skills.
Strategies utilized:
• Sex education
• Anger management and assertiveness training
• Social skills training (interpersonal relationships, respect for others)
• Problem-solving training

3. Families of clients are strongly encouraged to participate in the treatment program whenever possible. The goals of family involvement are to assist families in accepting that the offenses occurred, confronting the offender appropriately, and to help cope with the effects upon all family members.