The violent reconvictions of sexual offenders

Abstract

The violent reconvictions of a sample of sexual offenders discharged from prison between 1992 and 1996 (who had not been reconvicted of a sexual offence) were examined. The hypothesis was that a proportion of these violent reconvictions would have a sexual motivation. The sample consisted of 104 adult male sexual offenders for whom detailed information regarding their violent reconviction was available. The sample was categorized according to the motivation of the violent reconviction. It was found that a proportion of the violent reconvictions were sexually motivated (12%) and that some of these had resulted from an original charge for a sexual offence. Significant differences were found between the sexual motivation and violent motivation group on the number of criminal history and victim characteristic variables. It was concluded that, in the case of sexual offenders, violent convictions might mask the true motivation of the offence.

Differences in personality and risk characteristics in sex, violent and general offenders

“…Official sources are known to underreport recidivism (Marshall and Barbaree, 1988;Falshaw et al, 2003). Sexual offences have been known to be 'bargained down' (Bagley and Pritchard, 2000;Corbett et al, 2003). The OI provides no record of interventions in prison or later; for example, whether the sex offenders were routinely offered places on a sex offenders' treatment programme, which could affect the rate of recidivism (Hanson et al, 2002;Craig et al, 2003).…”

Psychosexual characteristics of sexual offenders and the relationship to sexual reconviction

“…Serious sexual offences are often ''bargained down'' to violent offences in order to Psychosexual characteristics of sexual offenders 239 secure convictions (Lees, 1996). Corbett, Patel, Erickson, and Friendship (2003) examined the violent reconvictions in 104 sexual offenders (54% rapists, 11% child molesters and 35% other sexual) and found that 12% of violent reconvictions were sexually motivated but that the sexual element of the offence was not recorded. It is possible that violent convictions may mask the true motivation of the offence (Craig, Browne, Beech, & Stringer, 2004).…”

The Relationship of Statistical and Psychological Risk Markers to Sexual Reconviction in Child Molesters

“…Serious sexual offenses are often bargained down to violent offenses to secure convictions (Bagley & Pritchard, 2000). Corbett, Patel, Erikson, and Friendship (2003) found that 12% of violent reconvictions were sexually motivated but that the sexual element of the offense was not recorded. When considering sexual offenders, some violent convictions may mask the true motivation of the offense.…”