Sex Offender Treatment
Sex Offender Treatment in Washington
Attorneys at The Meryhew Law Group, PLLC represent people in the Seattle area and throughout the State of Washington who have been charged with sexual abuse or sexually motivated offenses. If you have been arrested for a sex offense — contact our lawyers for immediate assistance and strong legal representation.
Treatment Instead of a Long Prison Sentence
Washington State recognizes that in certain situations, long-term treatment for sex offenders serves society's interests better than long-term incarceration does. The Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA) program was created to serve this purpose. SSOSA allows eligible offenders to receive a sentence of up to twelve months in a County Jail, with a long prison sentence suspended on the condition that the person successfully completes a treatment program and follows the requirements of their supervision. The prison sentence is served only if the offender violates the conditions of release or fails to complete treatment.
The First Step - A Favorable Evaluation
In order to be considered for the treatment option you must first obtain a sexual deviancy evaluation that recommends you participate in the treatment program. This evaluation looks at your amenability to treatment and the relative risk you pose to the community. Obtaining a favorable evaluation requires that you go to the right evaluator for you and that you are prepared for the evaluation. At The Meryhew Law Group we have extensive experience working with several evaluators and helping our clients get the best results. The wrong choice of evaluator, and poor preparation for the evaluation, can have lasting negative consequences.
Participation in Treatment
If an examiner has determined that you would make a good candidate for the program, a proposed treatment plan will be drawn up. Treatment typically consists of weekly groups meetings with a sexual deviancy counselor, and individual sessions, and required attendance at Sex Addicts Anonymous meetings.
If a court decides to exercise the SSOSA option - after reviewing the examiner's report, considering the victim's opinion on the matter, and taking into account various other factors - it must impose a sentence within the standard sentence range, suspend execution of the sentence conclusion and order you to spend up to twelve months in confinement. The court is then required to order treatment during the suspended sentence for a minimum of five years.
