NCJ Number
208091
Journal
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2004 Pages: 285-298
Date Published
October 2004
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined the onset and persistence of sexual and nonsexual offending among a sample of adult males convicted of sexual offenses against children.
Abstract
While research on criminal careers has illuminated offending trajectories for delinquency and crime, little is known about the offending trajectories specific to sexual offenders. The current study is part of a larger research project exploring criminal pedophilia in Queensland, Australia; this portion of the research explored the onset and persistence of both sexual and nonsexual offending in a sample of 207 adult males serving sentences in Queensland for sexual offenses against children. Data on sexual offense convictions were obtained from offenders’ correctional files and offense history data were obtained from self-report questionnaires. Results of descriptive and univariate analyses indicate, first, that late onset for sexual offending is common, with the average age of first sexual contact with a child being 32 years. This finding supports situational models of crime in that the age of 32 is roughly the age when adult males have more frequent contact with children, either through home or work. The results also reveal considerable variability in the persistence of both sexual and nonsexual offending; only a small proportion of the offenders in the sample were chronic, serial offenders. The findings proved somewhat ambiguous in terms of the relationship between persistence and versatility of offending, inviting future study. Tables, figure, references