NCJ Number
161485
Date Published
1995
Length
32 pages
Annotation
Sex offenders in Texas are described with respect to offender and victim characteristics, offense characteristics, and sentencing practices, as well as the impact of six potential changes in sentencing policies.
Abstract
Data came from the Sentencing Dynamics Study conducted by the Criminal Justice Policy Council in 1992 for the State legislature. Results revealed that 91 percent of sexual assault victims and 84 percent of all indecency-with-child victims were females. Thirty-nine percent of all indecency- with-child victims were under age 10. Sex offenses were most often committed against a family member or acquaintance, usually occurred within a residence, and often occurred repeatedly over time. Convicted sex offenders were less likely to have a prior felony conviction than other types of convicted felons. Offenders convicted of sex offenses against children were disposed to deferred adjudication more often than those convicted of sex offenses against adults. Current proposals vary widely in their impact on prison capacity. SB 112, which mandates all sex offenders with child victims to serve 85 percent of their prison sentence, would require 2,664 prison beds. In contrast, SB 78, which eliminates community supervision as a sentencing option for sex offenders who commit crimes against children while under community supervision for certain sex offenses, would have no substantial impact on prison capacity. Tables and figures