Target population     

SeNAT (Seksualiai Nusikaltusių Asmenų Terapijos programmea) is a Lithuanian programme aimed at incarcerated persons who have committed sexual offences against children. Candidates for the programme must be willing to admit that they have committed a crime in order to access this type of intervention.   

Delivery organisation    

In 2008, the Prison Department under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania evaluated the situation in Lithuania prisons and identified a need for treatment programmes for incarcerated persons who have committed sexual offences against children.          

The SeNAT (Seksualiai Nusikaltusių Asmenų Terapijos programmea) programme was created by Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology Department at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, PhD Douglas P. Boer with the help of Chief of the Psychology section in Alytus correction house in Lithuania, Vilmante Gintaraite in 2009.

Mode and context of delivery  

The SeNat programme takes place in prison facilities – the programme operates in two correctional institutions:  Alytus and Pravieniškės correctional houses. The main goals of the SeNAT programme are the prevention of sexual offence recidivism and the safe reintegration of such persons back into the community.      

The programme itself is comprised of Individual Sessions, Group Topics, and Homework Assignments

Level/Nature of staff expertise required 

The SeNAT programme is delivered by institutional psychologists in cooperation with other correctional staff. All staff selected to provide the SeNAT programme is expected have minimal qualifications and training to ensure high quality therapy programmes across Lithuania.

Intensity/extent of engagement with target group(s)    

The overall programme has no fixed length and can be completed by the individual offender in as little as three or four months (depending on programme session frequency). In general, once an offender has completed the main criteria of autobiography, offence pattern, relapse prevention plan, and complete life plan, he will be deemed as having completed the programme and will be moved to the maintenance programme.

Description of intervention 

The SeNAT programme is based on the premise that all offenders can change negative behaviors and become law-abiding citizens. It is not solely focused on reducing offending behaviours, but also on building upon the offender’s positive characteristics to enhance his sense of self-esteem and competence. The end result is that offenders will learn much more than just not how to offend again, but also how to use problem-solving strategies in many areas to have a better life. This intervention is based on cognitive behavioural therapeutic (CBT) principles. This is the same philosophical basis of all modern sex offender programs operating internationally.

Programme Components:

Individual sessions

Group topics

                            1) Orientation

                            2) The Process of Change

                            3) Introduction to Self-Analysis

                            4) Autobiography

                            5) Discussion of Autobiographies

                            6) Offence Patterns

                            7) Discussion of Offence Patterns

                            8) Advanced Self-Analysis

                            9) Self-Control

                            10) Relapse Prevention Plans

                            11) Complete Life Plans

                            12) Presentation of Relapse Prevention Plans and Complete Life plans to the group.

Homework Assignments

Parallel Topics

Healthy intimacy

Supportive friendships and support people

Work skills

Anger (or other emotions) management

Assertiveness training

Non-sexual friendships with women

Women’s and victim’s rights

One’s own victimization and offending

Alcohol or drug misuse (substance abuse)

Insight and relapse prevention

Hobbies

Religious beliefs

Victim awareness and victim empathy

Evaluation     

An independent agency, The Global Initiative on Psychiatry, has been commissioned to carry out an evaluation framework on the programme.

References   

Unknown

Contact details  

Ulonų st. 8A, LT-62505 Alytus

Tel. +370 315 52001

Fax. +370 315 52178

El. e-mail: apn@apn.lt

 

RATING: Pioneering

 

INFORMATION CORRECT AT JUNE 2020