Will They Do It Again? Predicting Sex-Offense Recidivism

Author: R. Karl Hanson

Source: Current Directions in Psychological Science, Volume 9, Number 3, June 2000 , pp. 106-109(4)

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Abstract:

This article reviews the empirical research on the prediction of reoffending among sexual offenders. The major predictors of sexual-offense recidivism are factors related to sexual deviance (e.g., deviant sexual preferences, previous sex crimes) and, to a lesser extent, criminal lifestyle (e.g., antisocial personality disorder, total number of prior offenses). The factors that predict general recidivism among sex offenders are the same as the factors that predict general recidivism among nonsexual criminals (e.g., juvenile delinquency, prior violent offenses). Given that there are special predictors of sexual recidivism, evaluators should consider separately the risk for sexual and nonsexual recidivism.

Keywords: sex offenders; recidivism; prediction

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.00071

Affiliations: 1: Department of the Solicitor General of Canada, Canada

Publication date: 2000-06-01