Sociology Prof Bowser to hold workshop on race and sex offender research

• May 7, 2010 5:00am

Benjamin Bowser, chair of the sociology department at Cal State East Bay, will co-chair a workshop, “How Race Impacts on Sex Offender Research, Assessment, and Treatment,” during the 13th annual California Coalition on Sexual Offending conference taking place from May 12-14 in San Diego.

The conference program (pdf) describes Bowser’s session, which will be co-chaired with Dr. Jay Adams, “There is an almost total absence of knowledge regarding sex offenders who come from minority sub-cultures. Sexual crimes are less likely to be reported in minority communities and minority offenders are even less likely to seek treatment than white offenders. This presentation will offer some historical perspectives on the etiology of sex offenses among blacks and Hispanics, and propose that such offenses are frequently NOT the result of a paraphilia. Some suggestions are offered to make treatment more meaningful and effective for minority clients.”

California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO) was founded in 1986 in response to the growing need throughout the state of California to provide a formally structured resource for professionals working with sexual offenders. Coalition members include representatives from law enforcement, criminal justice, mental health, probation, parole, and community services dedicated to addressing the significant and complex issues related to sexual offending.

--Kimberly Legocki