An Investigation Into the Effect of Respondent Gender, Victim Age, and Perpetrator Treatment on Public Attitudes Towards Sex Offenders, Sex Offender Treatment, and Sex Offender Rehabilitation

Abstract

In this study the authors examine the effect respondent gender, victim age, and offender treatment programs have upon public attitudes towards sex offenders. A community sample of 235 participants were asked to read a hypothetical vignette involving the sexual assault of a 10-, 15-, or 20-year-old female by a 35-year-old male who subsequently completed either a sex offender treatment or car maintenance program whilst in prison. Respondents then completed three psychometrically sound measures assessing general attitudes towards sex offenders, their treatment and their rehabilitation. No gender difference was found in respondents' attitudes towards sex offenders. In contrast, and as predicted, respondents' attitudes towards offenders became more negative as victim age decreased and if the depicted perpetrator had not completed relevant treatment. Overall, respondents' attitudes were most negative when the depicted assault was perpetrated against a 10-year-old child and no offender treatment program ensued. Methodological limitations, implications for forensic practitioners, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

The Complexity of Public Attitudes Toward Sex Crimes

“…Similarly, Ferguson and Ireland's (2006) study identified the most negative attitudes toward sex offenders with child victims. Other studies have reported similar findings in that sexual offending against children is deemed the most serious and deserving of harsh punishment (Kernsmith et al, 2009;Rogers, Hirst, & Davies, 2011). Fewer studies have examined the effect of offender age on attitudes toward sex offenders.…”

Is the Public Convinced That “Nothing Works?”

“…Some scholarship has examined rehabilitation and treatment views of college students (e.g., Rogers, Hirst, & Davies, 2011) and in other countries (Brown, 1999;Viki, Fullerton, Raggett, Tait, & Wiltshire, 2012). Some scholarship has examined rehabilitation and treatment views of college students (e.g., Rogers, Hirst, & Davies, 2011) and in other countries (Brown, 1999;Viki, Fullerton, Raggett, Tait, & Wiltshire, 2012).…”

Assessment of public attitudes towards sex offenders in an Australian population

“…There have, for example, been mixed results regarding how sex influences attitudes, with a number of studies finding that females generally view sex offenders more negatively than males (Beck & Travis, 2004;Brown, Deakin, & Spencer, 2008;Kernsmith et al, 2009). Other studies, however, have reported no significant differences between sexes (Olver & Barlow, 2010;Rogers, Hirst, & Davies, 2011;Sahlstrom & Jeglic, 2008).…”