NCJ Number
186416
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 45 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2000 Pages: 1190-1192
Date Published
November 2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This study determined the clinical and demographic characteristics of elderly sexual offenders at a maximum-security forensic hospital.
Abstract
The charts of elderly patients, aged 55 years and older, who were charged with indecent assault and battery or rape and who were admitted to Bridgewater State Hospital (Massachusetts) from November 1995 to March 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. The following data were obtained: age, marital status, race, reason for the referral, religion, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, education, vocation, history of military service, family history of mental illness, history of sexual abuse, history of physical abuse, psychiatric history, current diagnosis, history of violence and aggression based on previous arrest, history of sexual assaultive behavior, medical history, and history or current neurological illness. There were seven patients who met the criteria for this study. The majority of the sample belonged to the 60- to 69-year-old age range. Eighty-six percent were unmarried at the time of admission, suggesting that lack of a stable sexual partner may increase the likelihood of acting in a sexually inappropriate way. Only one had a history of alcohol abuse. A history of sexual or physical abuse occurred only in 14 percent of the offenders. A majority had either a mood or psychotic disorder. Based on prior arrests, violence was present in 28 percent of the sample. Two offenders had a history of sexual assault. Thus, almost a third of the time, past criminal events were predictive of future sexual offenses. Medical history was significant in 57 percent of the subjects, emphasizing the importance of medical services in the maximum-security prison hospital. 2 tables and 3 references