NCJ Number
215778
Journal
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2006 Pages: 159-167
Date Published
April 2006
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study monitored 1,303 adult male sexual offenders for an average of 8.9 years after their release from a Swedish prison during 1993-1997, in order to determine any link between reoffending (sexual and violent offenses) and age at release for the following age groups: younger than 25, 25-39, 40-54, and 55 and over).
Abstract
The study found that rates of both sexual and violent reoffending declined significantly by age at release, and in the older age group (55 and over), all but one of the reconvictions were for sexual offenses. There was some variation in the effect of risk factors by age group. A tentative finding that requires further research is that prior sexual offenses that involved the selection of a victim who was a stranger to the offender increased the risk for sexual reoffending in older sexual offenders. The finding that rates of reoffending are lower in older age groups of sexual offenders confirms similar previous research in criminal justice and secure hospital settings in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom (Barbaree, Blanchard, and Langton, 2003; Hanson, 2002; and Langan, Schmitt, and Durose, 2003). Possible explanations for these findings include lower sexual arousal in older men, increased self-control with age, and changes in victim access. Cohort effects may also be relevant. For this study, sexual offenses were defined to include rape, sexual coercion (contact offenses), child molestation (rape of a child and other contact offenses), and other nonpenetrative offenses (e.g., exhibitionism and obscene phone calls). A violent offense was defined as attempted or completed homicide, assault, robbery, threats (verbal or using a weapon), or violence against an officer. Information on reoffending was obtained from the national offender database up to March 30, 2004. The dependent variable was reconviction due to any sexual offense or violent offense, separate or combined. 4 tables and 17 references