The services offered by WellStop have been extensively evaluated by independent researchers and shown to be effective. Research carried out for the Dept of Corrections in 2003 indicated that 93% of adult abusers who completed one of WellStop's programmes had not been re-convicted of a further sexual offence at follow up. This compared with a rate of 21% re-convicted after the same period in a control group and indicates that the WellStop treatment programmes produces a major reduction in re-offending. This means fewer victims and lower levels of abuse in our community and demonstrates that those who make a genuine commitment to undertaking treatment and making lifestyle changes have a good chance of being successfully rehabilitated. Our youth programmes have also been evaluated by the Ministry of Social Development in 2007. They studied 682 youth who were referred to the three major community based programmes, WellStop Inc; the STOP Trust and Safe Network, prior to 2003. Only 2% of youth who completed one of these programmes were convicted of a further sexual offence. The results detailed in the Getting It Right Report are available on the Ministry of Social Development website or click here for the actual report. This is an outstanding result. The work shows that the overwhelming majority of youth who have sexually offended, or acted in ways that have harmed others, can safely and successfully be treated in the community.
