Examination of Sex Offender Case Histories in Federal Corrections

• NCJ Number: 157215
• Author(s): L L Motiuk; F J Porporino
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 124 pages
• Corporate Author: Canada Correctional Service
• Sale Source: Canada Correctional Service
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

This report presents the methodology and findings of a case- file review of a large sample of sex offenders under Canada's Federal jurisdiction, both in institutions and under community supervision.

Abstract

Case-file reviews were completed on 785 sex offenders. The study instrument was designed to obtain information on demographics, criminal history, education/employment, marital/family problems, sexual abuse history, mental health, substance abuse, and sex offender typology. The average age at admission to Federal jurisdiction was 34.6 years old; and as a group, sex offenders have had less exposure to the criminal justice system than other offenders. Four-fifths of the sample had less than a grade 12 education, and one-half had less than grade 10. Although the majority had been employed at the time of their current offense, more than one-half had unstable employment patterns. Nearly two-thirds were unskilled laborers. Most of the offenders were single at the time of their current offense, and more than one-third were apparently dissatisfied with their marital status at the time. The majority of the sample had been separated from their biological parents before age 16; more than one-third had been abused by their parents or a primary caregiver before the age of 16; one-third had experienced sexual abuse before the age of 16. The review of the subjects' mental health histories showed that one-third had suffered severe emotional problems prior to the current offense; 75 percent had a history of alcohol abuse, and approximately two-thirds had a history of drug abuse. The nature of sexual offending was examined in relation to the degree of force used on the victim, the degree of physical injury, and the nature of the act perpetrated on the victim. Victim information addresses the age and sex of the victim, as well as the relationship of the victim to the offender. The study concludes that the findings point to the need to standardize a risk-assessment process adapted for sex offenders that would increase the ability to identify those who are likely to experience adjustment difficulties while on conditional release. 23 tables, 6 references, and a file-review manual for the study