This publication discusses key things to know about adult sex offender recidivism, based on the SOMAPI (Sex Offender Management Assessment and Planning Initiative) Report.
This one-page summary published by Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART) presents highlights of the SOMAPI (Sex Offender Management Assessment and Planning Initiative) Report regarding adult sex offender recidivism. Observed recidivism rates of sex offenders are underestimates of actual reoffending. Sex offender recidivism is difficult to measure. Recidivism rates of sex offenders range from 5 percent after 3 years to 24 percent after 15 years. Sex offenders — regardless of type — have higher rates of general recidivism than sexual recidivism. Female sex offenders reoffend at significantly lower rates than male offenders. Different types of sex offenders have different recidivism rates. Measuring sex offender recidivism is difficult due to underreporting and different methods used in research studies. Studies with longer follow-up periods show that recidivism increases over time. Furthermore, different “types” of sex offenders have different recidivism rates.