Intra- and extra-familial child sexual abusers and recidivism in Sweden: a 10- to 15-year follow-up study

Abstract

Rates of recidivism and types of recidivist crime have varied greatly in follow-up studies of child sexual abusers. In this long-term study of a population-based cohort (n = 193) and a nationwide clinic-referred study group (n = 166) of child sexual abusers, rates of recidivism and associations between index descriptors and outcomes were compared between intra-familial offenders and extra-familial offenders. Overall, 9.8% relapsed into sexual offence, 12.4% relapsed into violence and 2.6% relapsed into both types of offences in the population-based cohort. Corresponding numbers for the clinic-referred group were 13.9, 10.8 and 4.2%. Extra-familial offenders at index were significantly more likely to relapse into both sexual and violent criminality than intra-familial offenders, but no differences were found in rates of hands-off and hands-on crimes. Analysis of receiver operating characteristics showed that age at first conviction predicted sexual, violent and any criminality, with areas under the curve ranging from .67 to .80.

Exploring Heterogeneity Among Deniers: Does Denial Predict Sexual Offender Recidivism Among Distinct Groups of Deniers?

“…This finding suggests that this group of more antisocial child molesters are relatively rare among denying sexual offenders. These findings also fit with other studies which have found recidivistic child molesters are likely to display criminal versatility, engaging in not only sexual offences but also non-sexual violence (Looman & Abracen, 2010;Nilsson et al, 2014;Nunes et al, 2007). In line with Hanson and Morton-Bourgon's (2005) observation, sexual offenders most likely to recidivate appear to be a group of persistent sexual offenders displaying an antisocial orientation, substance issues and likely impulsive with self-regulation issues.…”

Low recidivism rates of child sex offenders in a Finnish 7-year follow-up

“…Thus, data from diverse samples are warranted. In a Swedish study of CSA offenders with a 10-to 15-year follow-up (Nilsson et al, 2014), a 10% relapse rate into sexual offences in a population-based cohort was found (n = 193). For a clinic-referred group (n =166), the relapse rate was 14%.…”

“…The reported rates for CSA reoffences vary between countries. The variance may reflect not only methodological differences, such as different data sources and definitions of recidivism, but also the earlier mentioned differences in legislation, culture and social circumstances (Nilsson et al, 2014). Thus, data from diverse samples are warranted.…”