In sentencing Charles Anderson as a long-term offender, Justice Ron Veale said he "strongly (recommended) that Mr. Anderson should go through a comprehensive sex offender treatment program” during and/or after his jail time.

By the time the 55-year-old Carmacks man is released, such a program will be in place, according to Craig Dempsey, the Yukon director of offender services.

It will be based on the "Good Lives” model, which supposes offenders have turned to criminal behaviour in a misguided attempt to meet nine essential human needs.

They are:

• Healthy Living – This involves healthy physical living in terms of both physical and sexual health.

• Knowledge – Having an area of knowledge that you feel is varied and important to you.

• Excellence in work and play – Feeling that you have mastered something or that there is something that you excel at.

• Excellence in agency (self-management) – Feeling that you have some self-direction and independence or self-sufficiency.

• Inner peace – Freedom from emotional turmoil and stress.

• Relatedness (relating to others) – This includes intimate, romantic and family relationships and community.

• Spirituality – Finding meaning and purpose in life.

• Happiness – Engaging in activities that make you personally happy.

• Creativity – Engaging in creative ways of thinking or behaving and stretching the ways in which you engage with the world.

The model basically seeks to lead offenders away from the antisocial behaviour, such as drug abuse or sex offences, and into pro-social activities, such as satisfying work or exercise. This in turn reduces the chances of people reoffending, according to the model.

"The Good Lives model is largely considered to be the gold standard of treatment,” Dempsey said.

A 25- to 50-day program based on this model could begin as early as next month, Dempsey said, and will be available to people on probation who are based in or near Whitehorse.