NCJ Number
216476
Journal
Criminal Justice Review Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2006 Pages: 230-250
Date Published
September 2006
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Illinois criminal history information for 1990-97 was analyzed to determine the rate of murder charges brought against sex offenders in conjunction with a sex crime, as well as the likelihood that arrested sex offenders would have a future arrest for homicide.
Abstract
Findings show that homicide charges rarely occurred in conjunction with a sex-crime charge; and seldom were sex offenders subsequently arrested for a homicide. When sex crimes were linked with other offenses, they were more often nonsexual assaults, kidnapping, and burglary. Persons charged with robbery were more likely than sex offenders to be subsequently charged with a murder. Offenders charged with sexually penetrating children or teens did not apparently kill their victims with great frequency, and neither did those who sexually victimized adults. Legislation designed to increase sanctions and community controls for sex offenders is often enacted in response to public outrage over well-publicized sexually related homicides against children by previously convicted sex offenders. The assumption underlying such legislation is that many, if not most, sex offenders are at high risk for killing their victims. The findings of the current study suggest that this assumption is not correct. Study limitations are noted. 4 tables, 2 figures, and 27 references