Behavioural types of rape

Sexual offender recidivism among a population-based prison sample

The present study examines recidivism rates in sexual offenders using officially registered reconvictions in a representative data set of N = 1,115 male sexual offenders from Austria. In general, results indicate that most sexual offenders do not reoffend sexually after release from prison. More detailed, within the first 5 years after release, the sexual recidivism rate was 6% for the total sample, 4% for the rapist subgroup, and 8% for the child molester subgroup. The findings confirmed previous studies about sex offender recidivism which have shown that first-time sexual offenders are significantly less likely to sexually reoffend than those with previous sexual convictions. With regard to the relationship between age and sexual recidivism, the results challenged the traditional assumption of a clear linear function between age and recidivism. Taken together, compared with previous studies, the recidivism rates found in the present investigation are substantially lower than previous research has indicated.

Juvenile and adult problems in 20 forensic psychiatric rapists in Sweden

The purpose of this study was to assess the pattern of background variables of 20 convicted rapists. The sample comprised two distinct forensic psychiatric subgroups undergoing different treatments. Data were extracted from forensic psychiatric files. The study variables were juvenile and adult problems of the offenders, related by previous research to the occurrence of rape. Records of juvenile problems and juvenile psychological disturbances tended to co-occur with adult problems of aggressiveness, alcoholism and extensive criminality. The correlation analysis further supports the notion that psychosocial disturbances have a persistent character: in our sample, different problems in young age are linked to each other as well as to adulthood problems. The results are discussed in the light of empirical research and the need for early and proper individual treatment programmes.

Sexual recidivism in sex offenders

OBJECTIVE

To examine the recidivism rates of the various types of adult sex offenders including incest offenders, extrafamilial child molesters, exhibitionists, and rapists.

METHOD

An examination of the literature over the past 4 decades and the data from our own study group.

RESULTS

Methodological shortfalls and differences across the studies make statistical appraisal of the results difficult. Nevertheless, there is a consensus that incest offenders are less likely to reoffend compared with extrafamilial child molesters. Rapists and exhibitionists are thought to be at a higher risk for recidivism.

CONCLUSION

A combined actuarial predictive approach in conjunction with empirically guided clinical assessment is probably the best method to predict recidivism of sex offenders.

Sex crimes

Crimes relating to sexual behaviour account for only 1 per cent of all indictable crimes but for half a century sex offenders have been the subject of a disproportionate amount of psychiatric interest and enquiry. The belief, that there is a link between specific mental malfunction and sex offending, as distinct from other forms of offending appears to have wide acceptance. In 1972 the Royal College of Psychiatrists appeared sufficiently confident of this view to ask candidates aspiring to membership of the College to “Give an account of the psychopathology of rape”. Like incest and buggery, rape is an act, a deed, an item of behaviour. To speak of the aetiology, treatment and prognosis of such acts is to misapply terminology and to confuse criminal behaviour with mental disorder. The problem is not simply one of semantic niceties for the sloppy use of medical language in this controversial area can lead jurists and policy-makers to carry expectations that lack any firm psychiatric basis. This contribution will attempt to review some legal and psychiatric aspects of the more serious crimes.

Sex offences against young girls: a long-term record study

There have been recent attempts to re-define those offenders who are sufficiently dangerous to justify a longer sentence for their current offence than is normally provided in law, but there is little information about the frequency with which serious sexual offenders are reconvicted. Follow-up studies of the re-conviction in the subsequent 24 years and 15 years of those found guilty of rape, incest, and unlawful sexual intercourse with girls under 13 in 1951 and 1961 have therefore been made. The present paper deals with those prosecuted for unlawful sexual intercourse with girls under 13. The results suggest that there is a low but more persistent tendency to re-conviction than is found in property offenders.