Boost sought for offender therapy

Utah corrections officials are asking lawmakers for a $1.2 million increase in funding for the treatment of sex offenders, citing concern that untreated offenders will once again pose a danger to children when released into the community.

Members of the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee were told Wednesday that many convicted sex offenders are leaving prison with a fraction of the treatment they need to keep their behavior under control. A lack of funding, combined with a growing number of offenders, has stretched prison resources thin, officials said.

Since 1996, the last time that the Legislature approved a funding increase for sex offender treatment, the number of convicted sex offenders has doubled from 800 to 1,600, said Ron Sanchez, supervising psychologist for the Utah Department of Corrections. Officials attribute the increase to judges handing down harsher sentences of prison time plus overall population growth.

Sanchez said treatment for sex offenders is critical, pointing out that 19 percent of treatment graduates return on parole violations within a year, compared to 42 percent of sex offenders who do not complete offender treatment.

Utah law requires sex offenders to register with the state for 10 years once they are released from prison. More violent predators are ordered to lifetime registration.

Kathy Ockey, director of the Fremont Community Corrections Center, said nearly 50 percent of sex offenders in Utah are no longer tracked by corrections officials, highlighting the need to provide treatment.

While convicted sex offenders are required to enter treatment, the lack of resources often jeopardizes their ability to complete the program.

The $1.2 million in additional funding, Ockey said, would go toward hiring eight new full-time therapists, a psychologist and a supervisor. Other funds would be used to provide services for many of Utah's rural counties. Ockey said half of Utah's counties do not have sex offender treatment available.

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