NCJ Number
217559
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 34 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2007 Pages: 314-329
Date Published
March 2007
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A total of 119 child molesters were used in this British study that examined the usefulness of integrating statistical (actuarial) and psychological risk factors in assessing the risk for sexual reoffending for such offenders.
Abstract
The findings support the use of integrated statistical and psychological markers within a risk-domains framework in predicting child molesters' reconviction for sexual offenses. Study results support the use of the Multiphasic Sex Inventory (MSI) and the Special Hospitals Assessment of Personality and Socialization (SHAPS) instruments in approximating the risk domains. The MSI is a psychometric measure specifically designed to assess psychosexual characteristics of sex offenders (rapists, child molesters, and exhibitionists) which provides information that is independent of personality and psychopathology tests. The SHAPS is a self-report questionnaire that draws on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, and the Quay-Peterson Psychopathy Scale. It has proven to be a good predictor of violent and general recidivism. Only six scales from this questionnaire were used in this study. Higher scores on the Psychological Deviance Index (PDI) also were associated with increased rates of sexual reconviction. The statistical measure of the Static-99 sexual deviance subscale correlated with psychometric markers for high sexual interest, including sexual obsession, paraphilia, and cognitive distortions. The study sample completed each of the aforementioned instruments, and the sample was followed for an average of 6 years in order to test the risk predictions derived from the instruments. 5 tables and 65 references