A: The law requires at least a year in a sex offender-specific certified treatment program, which is one component of the Containment Model (treatment, supervision, polygraph, with a victim focus). See Penal Code sections 1203.067 and 3008. The program may extend beyond a year and that decision is left to the discretion of the Containment team, meaning the probation officer and treatment provider. Frequency and modality (e.g., group vs. individual therapy, whether weekly, monthly, or other) is again left to the Containment team pursuant to law. Adherence to uniform standards is assured by requiring all providers and provider agencies to be certified by the CA Sex Offender Management Board (CASOMB) per the standards posted at
casomb.org. (See Penal Code section 290.09.) Provider agencies must have trained personnel who can do dynamic and violence risk assessments, and must use a polygraph examiner who complies with CASOMB standards to fully inform the treatment program and supervising officer about risk. Dynamic and violence risk assessments are required during the program—see materials available on the state sex offender risk assessment (SARATSO) committee's web site,
saratso.org. There is a publication on the SARATSO web site explaining this system for courts.
https://saratso.org/docs/RA_summary_for_judges_attys_rev_1-3-17.pdf. The Containment Model, as used in California, is also explained online:
https://casomb.org/index.cfm?pid=1231.