Citation

Donate R, Shanahan M. Am. J. Orthopsychiatry 2001; 71(1): 131-139.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, American Orthopsychiatric Association, Publisher Wiley Blackwell)

DOI

10.1111/j.1939-0025.2001.tb04450.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In a 1990 article in this journal, Prentky and Burgess examined cost-effectiveness of the rehabilitation of child molesters. Their estimates were based on the tangible costs of incarceration and particular recidivism rates. This paper extends those findings by estimating the intangible costs of child sexual abuse and a range of recidivism rates. The result is to focus greater attention on the efficacy of treatment programs and the potential economic damage done to children by child molesters.