The Impact of Treatment Modality, Security, and Risk Level Matching on Socioecological Treatment Change among Youth Adjudicated for a Sexual Offense

Author

Jessica Mattera, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

12-1-2025

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Human Sciences

First Advisor

Kang, Tamara

Abstract

The effective rehabilitation of youth adjudicated for a sexual offense (YASO) relies upon successfully implementing the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model, a theoretically and empirically supported approach to rehabilitation used in juvenile justice settings. In line with RNR, research suggests that reductions in recidivism are most likely to occur when: (1) treatment intensity and security placement matches risk level (youth at lower risk to reoffend receive lower dosages of treatment in the least restrictive environment), and (2) treatment is individualized to target criminogenic needs (needs that, if changed during an intervention, result in reduced reoffending). Less is known about how matching or mismatching treatment type (e.g., family therapy), security placement (e.g., residential vs. community), and risk level (lower or higher risk to reoffend) affects changes in socioecological treatment needs for YASOs. Socioecological treatment needs are factors within the YASO’s environment that serve as a strength or area of concern (i.e., perceived family relationship support, home environment stability, community resource support) for general well-being. Six multilevel models were run to examine three research questions assessing the effect of risk-placement match or mismatch and needs-service match or mismatch on socioecological need score changes across a 12-month period among a sample of 299 YASOs. Results indicate that whether a YASO was appropriately placed or not, based on their risk level, did not contribute to significantly different changes in socioecological intervention treatment needs over time. In contrast, whether YASOs baseline socioecological treatment needs were appropriately met with the presence or absence of family therapy significantly predicted changes in socioecological need scores over time. Results demonstrated that there were no differences in socioecological needs over time based on how risk-placement and need-intervention co-occurred. The findings of this study have bolstered the empirical support for adhering to the RNR model in a YASO population. To date, YASOs are frequently subjected to unique mandated management provisions as they are viewed as a homogeneous higher-risk group in need of a one-size-fits all sex offense specific treatment (Chaffin et al., 2016). However, years of research has consistently suggested otherwise and slowly shifted this perspective, indicating that YASOs are a heterogeneous group with diverse treatment needs and are unlikely to reoffend, and if they do, it is more likely to be a non-sexual offense. Consistent with previous literature, the results of this study suggest that YASO’s are a heterogeneous group. Thus, the results of this study can inform individualized treatment and management practices for YASOs to reduce potential harm, improve treatment success, and thereby reduce recidivism and unnecessary costs while increasing public safety.