Recidivism Among Female Child Molesters

Authors: Bader, Shannon M.; Welsh, Robert; Scalora, Mario J.

Source: Violence and Victims, Volume 25, Number 3, 2010 , pp. 349-362(14)

Publisher: Springer Publishing Company

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Abstract:

During recent years, research about female sexual offender recidivism rates using official criminal justice records has increased. Although informative, rearrest or conviction rates may be insufficient for this population. This study examines two potential outcome measures for accurately studying recidivism among 57 female sexual offenders; a criminal recidivism measure based on formal legal charges and a reported recidivism measure based on child welfare reports. Based on the criminal recidivism outcome measure, 10 (17.5%) women were charged for a subsequent sexual crime. The broader reported recidivism measure identified six additional women with subsequent contact with police or child welfare agencies for sexually inappropriate behaviors. There were no significant differences found between the 41 nonrecidivists and the 16 recidivists. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords: CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE; ADULT FEMALE PERPETRATORS; RECIDIVISM; CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.25.3.349

Publication date: 2010-06-01

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Violence and Victims discusses theory, research, policy, and clinical practice in the area of interpersonal violence and victimization across such disciplines as psychology, sociology, criminology, law, medicine, nursing, psychiatry, and social work.
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