Sex offender recidivism rates are influenced by the type of crime, offender age, criminal history, and deviant sexual preferences. Substance abuse, lack of employment, and poor social skills also play a role. Rapists are more likely to reoffend, with nonviolent rapists being more prone to future crimes. Static factors, such as age and age at first offense, cannot be changed, while dynamic factors like drug abuse and attitude can be altered with therapy. Cognitive therapy that reduces arousal has shown success, but therapy in prison or mental institutions is generally less effective. Sex offenders who target male and female victims or victims of all ages have higher recidivism rates. Child molesters who are sexually concerned about children face a higher risk of reoffending.
Factors influencing sex offender recidivism rates vary widely based on the type of crime committed, the age of the offender, and their criminal history. The perpetrator’s deviant sexual preferences also figure into the perpetrator’s recidivism rates. If a criminal has abused strangers, especially if multiple victims were involved, his or her chances of re-offending increase. Substance abuse, lack of employment, and poor social skills are other factors influencing the recidivism rates of sex offenders.
Studies of sex offenders show mixed results because sex offenders fall into various categories. Some research has found that rapists are more likely to reoffend, with one study reporting nonviolent rapists more likely to commit future crimes than violent offenders. The offender’s previous sexual offenses and mental condition also determine the recidivism rate for rapists.
Researchers who study the factors that influence sex offender recidivism rates typically identify traits that can be changed and static factors that cannot be resolved. The age of an offender and the age at which you first committed a crime are static factors. When a sex offender commits an offense as a minor, they are more likely to reoffend. This risk becomes more pronounced if the offender was a victim of sexual abuse as a child.
Dynamic or changing factors affecting recidivism rates of sexual offenses include drug or alcohol abuse. The offender’s attitude might also change with therapy, such as learning to empathize with a victim, which could lower recidivism rates. If he or she forms strong social relationships, it could prevent reoffending because lack of social support is a risk factor related to reoffending rates.
Sexual offender treatment programs and their effectiveness on recidivism rates vary, but cognitive therapy that reduces arousal shows some success. Offenders who focus on deviant sexual preferences may resist treatment and pose a higher risk of committing future crimes. Sex offenders who target male and female victims, or victims of all ages, also show higher recidivism rates.
The type of therapy and where it takes place could determine its success or failure. Forced therapy in a prison or mental institution generally proves less effective than therapy sought independently of the offender. Even when therapy is voluntary, dropout rates tend to be high, which affects relapse.
One study showed that sex offenders are more likely to commit further crimes than other types of offenders. When looking at child molesters, the study found that offenders who are sexually concerned about children face a higher risk of recidivism. Attempts to assess recidivism rates of child sexual offenders prove difficult because these crimes commonly go unreported or underreported.
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