The Impact of Juvenile Sex Offending on the Adult Criminal Career

A meta-analysis of trends in general, sexual, and violent recidivism among youth with histories of sex offending

Recent research suggests that sexual recidivism rates have been declining, which contrasts with observations regarding general recidivism rates as well as perceptions of sexual reoffending risk. If sexual recidivism rates are in decline, it raises fundamental policy questions about the youth justice system's tendency to operate on the assumption that juvenile sexual offending is a risk marker for sexual reoffending in adulthood. A systematic review and a quantitative meta-analysis were conducted to determine the general, violent, and sexual recidivism rates of adolescent perpetrators of sexual offenses with data stemming from studies published worldwide between 1940 and 2019. A total of 158 empirical studies including 30,396 adolescent perpetrators of sexual offenses were retrieved to examine estimates of general, violent, and sexual recidivism. The study findings highlight that the risk of general recidivism (weighted pooled mean = .44) is substantially higher than violent (weighted pooled mean = .18) and sexual recidivism (weighted pooled mean = .08). The study did not observe convincing evidence that sexual recidivism rates for adolescent perpetrators are declining, but rather that these rates have been consistently low over the years. There was strong evidence that multiple study characteristics moderate the recidivism rates observed. Given the low weighted pooled sexual recidivism rate reported in the study, the use of adult-like strategies to increase public safety and prevent sexual recidivism seems misguided, not only because sexual recidivism is unlikely, but also because such strategies are not developed to address general criminogenic needs that may explain general recidivism rates observed.

Profiles in Criminal Psychopathology: A Multiple Case Report Study of the p Factor

(1) Background: The one general psychopathology (p Factor) theory asserts that a superordinate dimensional construct encompasses underlying forms of psychopathology, but the theory has limited empirical linkages to criminology. (2) Methods: We utilized case reports from 12 male offenders selected from a federal jurisdiction in the central United States who were in the 99th percentile on a composite indicator of psychopathology to advance a qualitative study of the p Factor. (3) Results: Clients experienced frequent and often pathological traumatic experiences and exhibited exceedingly early onset of conduct problems usually during the preschool period. Their criminal careers were overwhelmingly versatile and contained numerous offense types, had extensive justice system contacts, and exhibited remarkable deficits in global functioning. Most clients spent the majority of their life in local, state, or federal confinement. Consistent with the theory, clients experienced a generalized psychopathology disposition that had undercurrents of externalizing, internalizing, psychotic, paraphilic, and homicidal features. (4) Conclusions: A qualitative understanding of the p Factor and its contribution to offending behaviors among correctional clients complements the statistical approach to developmental psychopathology.

A Comparison between Indoor and Outdoor Rape Suspects in Sweden

As the number of rapes is increasing in Sweden, and the number of individuals convicted of these crimes is decreasing, it is of importance to study offender characteristics of those committing these crimes and the circumstances in which these crimes are conducted, such as indoors or outdoors. Data from Swedish population-based registers were used to identify individuals suspected of rape, aggravated rape, attempted rape or attempted aggravated rape (in short: rape+) against females ≥18 years old between 2007-2017. Latent Class Analysis was then used to identify classes of rape+ suspects with respect to the location of the rape+ and then compare the two groups. A total of 19,723 individuals were included of which the majority (n = 17,520; 88.8%) were suspected of indoor rape+. In both groups, we identified a low offenders' class and a high offenders' class. In addition, first-generation immigrants had a higher odds of being suspected of outdoor rape+ than Swedish-born suspects, and a previous conviction of violent crime was a risk factor for committing outdoor rape+.