PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SEX OFFENDER - CAUSES, TREATMENT, PROGNOSIS

• NCJ Number: 12939
• Journal: POLICE LAW QUARTERLY Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (JANUARY 1974) Pages: 5-31
• Author(s): N LITTNER
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 27 pages
• Corporate Author: IIT Research Institute
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED TO THE SEMINAR ON SEX AND RELATED OFFENSES, CHICAGO-KENT COLLEGE OF LAW, SEP 22, 1973

Annotation

EXPLORATION OF TYPES OF OFFENDERS, OFFENSES AND TREATMENT, INCLUDING DISCUSSION OF RECIDIVISM, VICTIM CHARACTERISTICS, AND TERMINOLOGY.

Abstract

THE AUTHOR DEFINES SEXUAL OFFENSES AS SYMPTOMS OF EMOTIONAL ILLNESS. HE THEN DISCUSSES THE FACTORS RELATED TO DETERMINING THE DEGREE OF SICKNESS, THE CAUSES AND PROPENSITY TOWARD VIOLENCE, PERSONALITY TYPE AND OFFENSE CAUSES, AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF EFFECTIVE TREATMENT. THE AUTHOR'S CONTENTION IS THAT VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IS A LEARNED BEHAVIOR, AND HE DISCUSSES TRIGGERING EVENTS AND THE INFLUENCE OF PORNOGRAPHY. HE EXPLORES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EXHIBITIONIST, RAPIST AND CHILD MOLESTER, AS WELL AS OF THE VICTIM. VARIOUS TREATMENT TYPES ARE OUTLINED. RECIDIVISM IS PRESENTED AS THE RARE EXCEPTION - ONLY 3 PERCENT. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE POLICE HANDLING, REPORTING AND PROSECUTION OF SEX OFFENSE CASES.