How should we understand the effect of age on sexual recidivism?

Abstract

Research into the effect of age on sexual recidivism risk is a relatively new and developing area of interest and is likely to be of great interest for forensic practitioners responsible for the community supervision of sexual offenders. Meta-analytical and follow-up reconviction studies indicate an inverse relationship between age and sexual recidivism risk, where younger sex offenders pose a greater risk of reconviction than older sex offenders. This finding has led to the development of actuarial risk scales which identify younger sex offenders (<25 years) as posing the greatest risk. However, recent research studies have reported contradictory results to this assumption and found a non-linear relationship between age and sexual recidivism risk. Only a small number of studies have investigated the effect of age on sexual recidivism by comparing age bands and rates of sexual recidivism. Researchers have also considered the effect of age on actuarial risk, which risk factors are associated with which age bands and sexual recidivism rates between sex offender subgroups. The purpose of this paper is to integrate this research and to link commonalities between these studies. This paper organizes the effect of age on sexual recidivism into five categories: (i) the effect of age and actuarial risk; (ii) the effect of age on sexual arousal; (iii) the effect of age-at-release on sexual recidivism risk; (iv) the effect of age-at-first-offence on sexual recidivism risk; and (v) the effect of age on child molesters and rapists on sexual recidivism risk. Important differences were found between age bands of sexual offenders in terms of sexual recidivism risk and actuarial risk factors as well as differences between rapists and child molesters. The relative importance of factoring age when assessing risk in sex offenders is discussed.     

The development and initial testing of the AIM2 framework to assess risk and strengths in young people who sexually offend

Abstract

This paper describes the AIM2 assessment framework and the process of its development and initial testing. AIM2 is used to assess areas of concerns and strengths of young people. Some preliminary analysis is described, including the correlation of assessment items, their ability to discriminate between cases, their inter-rater reliability and a small-scale recidivist study. These analyses were used to develop AIM2. Results from the recidivist study identified a particular set of concern and strength factors associated with recidivism in the sample. We conclude that the inclusion of strengths-related items are important to consider as protective factors when assessing the risk of further sexually abusive behaviours. Limitations and future directions of AIM2 are also discussed.     

Online Sexual Grooming in Sweden—Online and Offline Sex Offences against Children as Described in Swedish Police Data

The expansion in Internet use since the mid‐1990s has created a completely new and largely unmonitored forum for contacts between adults and children. The anonymity provided by Internet communications has been viewed as creating favourable conditions for adults wishing to develop manipulative relationships with children, and there has been a growing concern about the way the Internet may be used by adults intent on sexually exploiting and abusing young people. Much of the focus of this concern has been directed at adults using the Internet to create opportunities for the commission of offline sex offences. Based on police data from Sweden, this article describes the range of Internet‐related sexual offences against children currently being brought to the attention of the Swedish justice system. It focuses not only on the range of strategies employed by adults to persuade children to meet them offline for the purposes of sexual exploitation and abuse but also on the different types of online sexual offences that children in Sweden are currently being subjected to.     

The Power of Aspirations and Expectations: The Connection Between Educational Goals and Risk Behaviors Among African American Adolescents

Numerous studies and interventions have been designed to either reduce the prevalence of risky behaviors (substance use, sexual activity, etc.) or increase the level of educational activity for adolescents. Research suggests that these two constructs may be related yet little is known about this relationship among African American youth. Archival data from the Risk Reduction Project was used to explore the connection between the protective factors of educational aspirations/expectations and recent participation in risky behavior. Results suggest that recent use of marijuana, alcohol to the point of intoxication, and sexual activity predicted lower aspirations and expectations among African American youth. From a positive youth development perspective, this study suggests the development of holistic interventions that build educational assets in youth, in addition to working to minimize risk behaviors. Limitations and suggestions for future research are also discussed.     

PEDOPHILIA

Sex offenses against children are considered the worst of crimes, even among criminals themselves. Attitudes have changed from blaming the victim to holding the perpetrator responsible for the actions. The prevalence of such offenses continues unabated despite the stigma for the offender and the irreparable trauma to the victim. Society and the medical and legal communities have to present a more feasible definition of the problem, addressing specifically the acts that fall under the term of pedophilia . A plan needs to be formulated by various disciplines working together for the common goal of identifying the most effective method to deal with the victims and perpetrator and also to lower the incidence and recidivism rates. Different psychological and biological tests have been devised for investigations but fall short of the desired purpose. Various treatment modalities have been suggested and tried, but much work still needs to be done in that area.     

宽容与不容:现代社会法对性调整的特点与趋势——以性权利为视角的考察

现代社会的性法律规范应该以性权利为本位,关怀人性,尊重合意,反对暴力,宽容多元,努力实现性的自由、独立和解放,这正是现代社会性法律规范的发展历程和基本走向。在这一过程中,法对性自由的拓展、对性权利的确认和保护实际是从两个途径来实现的:宽容和不容,即法对待不妨碍他人的性行为日益宽容,对待侵犯他人的性行为日益严厉。这具体表现为:人们裸露的空间得以增加,婚前、婚外性行为得到默许,色情物品得以解禁,各种异常性行为获得接受;而法对性侵犯的规制愈加严密,对未成年人的性保护愈加臻备。     

The Impact of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban on Gun Markets: An Assessment of Short-Term Primary and Secondary Market Effects

The reactions of the gun market, including those of producers, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers, play an important role in shaping the potential impact of gun control policies on gun crime. As a case in point, this paper examines the federal Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which bans a group of military-style semiautomatic firearms (i.e., assault weapons). Using a variety of national and local data sources, we assess the short-term (1994–1996) impact of the assault weapons ban on gun markets, examining trends in prices and production of the banned weapons in legal markets and assessing the availability of the banned weapons in illicit markets as measured by criminal use. Prices of assault weapons rose substantially around the time of the ban's enactment, reducing the availability of assault weapons to criminal users in the very short run. However, a surge in assault weapon production just before the ban caused prices to fall in the months following the ban. Implications of the findings for assessing this and other gun control policies are discussed.     

“IT'S IN THEIR CULTURE”: FAIRNESS AND CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

This essay attempts to critique the prevailing thinking on culture and cultural competency within the context of domestic violence. Current thinking and presentations of culture usually consists of providing court personnel with essentialist pictures of various groups of people with suggestions on how to work with them. These pictures obscure the reality that cultures are often unstable and generalizations that lead to providing more misinformation. The essay develops a critical framework on the issue and provides specific ways in which a more nuanced understanding of culture is helpful for court personnel as they grapple with how to work with a diverse population.     

训诫与征罚:论傣族习惯法对非婚性关系的社会控制

傣族男女青年发生婚前性行为被视为神所不容 ,未婚先孕更被看作是一种触犯鬼神的现象 ,当事人要受到村寨头人的各种惩罚 ,还要祭祀寨神勐神以求神灵的宽恕。被社会所接受的性行为是与婚姻的缔结紧密相连的 ,男女婚姻的结合是以祭神之后才为合法的 ,这已成为两性结合的必经手续和仪式。婚内外的界限分明产生了关于男女性关系的行为规范及其道德观念 ,已婚男女与配偶以外的人发生性关系也将受到地方法规的严厉惩处。     

论先进性别文化与先进文化的同建和发展

性别文化是人类文化的重要组成部分,先进性别文化也是社会主义先进文化不可缺少的一部分。离开了先进的性别文化,先进文化将无从谈起,反之也一样,离开了先进文化,先进性别文化也将成为无源之水,无本之木。两者具有同建性、互促性.是一个不可分割的统一体.在人类性别文化发展的漫长过程中,每一代人都会为他们生活的时代增添一些新的内容.这个建构的过程有纵向继承,也有横向开拓。社会主义的性别文化是进步的性别文化。我国现阶段的性别文化依然具有多样性和层次不一的特征。这同我国先进的社会制度不和谐,因此,先进性别文化与先进文化的同建与发展是我国文化建设的重要方面。