National Sex Offender Programs

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) offers a variety of sex offender programs. These include:

The goal of these programs is to reduce violent sexual reoffending.

Research has shown that, for certain offenders, sex offender programs reduce rates of being re-admitted into a federal institution.

High Intensity National Sex Offender Program

The high intensity national Sex Offender Program targets men who have been assessed as having a high risk of reoffending sexually. The program consists of 75 group sessions and up to 7 individual sessions. Each session is 2 to 2.5 hours long.

The program helps offenders understand the impact of sexual violence on victims. It helps them understand their thinking related to sexual violence. They learn how to manage their harmful behaviour, their emotions and their risk factors. The program also covers the importance of healthy relationships and coping strategies.

Moderate Intensity National Sex Offender Program

The moderate intensity national Sex Offender Program targets men who have been assessed as having a moderate risk of reoffending sexually. The program consists of 55 group sessions and up to 6 individual sessions. Each session is 2 to 2.5 hours long.

The program helps offenders understand the impact of sexual violence on victims. It helps them understand their thinking related to sexual violence. They learn how to manage their harmful behaviour, their emotions and their risk factors. The program also covers the importance of healthy relationships and coping strategies.

National Sex Offender Maintenance Program

The national Sex Offender Maintenance Program targets men who have completed one of the other national Sex Offender Programs. The program helps them maintain the skills they were taught in the initial program. It also helps them to continue to manage their risk. The program deals with high risk situations and self-management. It consists of 12 group sessions. These can be repeated if necessary. Individual sessions are offered as required.

Tupiq Program

The Tupiq Program is a sex offender program for Inuit men who have been assessed as having a moderate or high risk of reoffending sexually. The program consists of 129 group sessions and individual sessions as required. Each session is 2.5 hours long.

The program helps offenders understand the impact of sexual violence on victims. It helps them change their thoughts and behaviours around sexual abuse. It focuses on the need to overcome denial and accept responsibility for criminal behaviour. The program includes a healing component. The men learn how to manage themselves, their emotions and their risks. They also develop skills to set goals, solve problems and prevent relapse.