This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the relationship between psychology, moral reasoning theory and offending behaviour. It sets out the theory and research which has been carried out in the field, and examines the ways in which this knowledge has been used in practice to inform treatment programmes for offenders. This book pays particular attention to Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning, providing a link between this theory and developmental psychology, along with a review of more recent critiques of this theory and an analysis of the difficulties of accurately assessing moral reasoning. The book goes on to assess moral reasoning as an explanation of offending behaviour, looking at how moral reasoning interacts with child rearing and family factors, social factors and social cognition. Offending is therefore presented as a complex phenomenon caused by an interaction of variables that are internal and external to the individual. The book concludes with a consideration of how knowledge and research in the area of moral reasoning and offending has been used in practice to inform treatment programmes for offenders, looking at a variety of different settings (prison, residential settings, and in the community).

This book examines the assessment and obligatory treatment programs for violent and sexually violent offenders - primarily adolescents and adults - diagnosed with cluster B personality disorder or a conduct disorder. It describes concepts, theories, and legal aspects as well as the psychological and neurobiological characteristics of violent and sexually violent offenders and forensic psychiatric patients. Chapters review treatment programs and provide guidelines for gathering additional information and formulating functional analyses to establish individual treatment plans. In addition, chapters offer treatment modules for violent offenders and sexually violent offenders and address specific problems that may be encountered in practice and how to overcome these problems. The book concludes with the editors' recommendations for future research in offender assessment and rehabilitation. Topics featured in this book include: Heuristic models of aggressive and sexually aggressive behavior. The use of self-reporting questionnaires in offender populations. Reliable assessment instruments. The effectiveness of existing rehabilitation programs. Cognitive-behavioral treatment modules for violent and sexually violent offenders. Self-regulation and self-management skills to be used in rehabilitation programs. Facilitating treatment integrity in penitentiary and forensic psychiatric institutions. Assessment and Obligatory Treatment of Violent and Sexually Violent Offenders is an essential resource for researchers, clinicians/therapists, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in forensic psychology, public health, criminology/criminal justice, and behavioral therapy and rehabilitation.

This book examines the assessment and obligatory treatment programs for violent and sexually violent offenders - primarily adolescents and adults - diagnosed with cluster B personality disorder or a conduct disorder. It describes concepts, theories, and legal aspects as well as the psychological and neurobiological characteristics of violent and sexually violent offenders and forensic psychiatric patients. Chapters review treatment programs and provide guidelines for gathering additional information and formulating functional analyses to establish individual treatment plans. In addition, chapters offer treatment modules for violent offenders and sexually violent offenders and address specific problems that may be encountered in practice and how to overcome these problems. The book concludes with the editors' recommendations for future research in offender assessment and rehabilitation. Topics featured in this book include: Heuristic models of aggressive and sexually aggressive behavior. The use of self-reporting questionnaires in offender populations. Reliable assessment instruments. The effectiveness of existing rehabilitation programs. Cognitive-behavioral treatment modules for violent and sexually violent offenders. Self-regulation and self-management skills to be used in rehabilitation programs. Facilitating treatment integrity in penitentiary and forensic psychiatric institutions. Assessment and Obligatory Treatment of Violent and Sexually Violent Offenders is an essential resource for researchers, clinicians/therapists, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in forensic psychology, public health, criminology/criminal justice, and behavioral therapy and rehabilitation.