Roles of Childhood Maltreatment and Psychopathy in Sexual Recidivism of Treated Sex Offenders

• NCJ Number: 219897
• Journal: Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: 2007 Pages: 19-31
• Author(s): Anne M. Dietrich; W. Carson Smiley; Claire Frederick
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using Survival Analysis, this study examined a sample of sex offenders completing the Intensive Treatment Program for Sexual Offenders (ITPSO) at the Correctional Service of Canada looking at psychopathy and childhood maltreatment history as potential predictors of recidivism.

Abstract

This study adds to the understanding of the relative influence of various forms of childhood maltreatment and neglect upon recidivism, and shows that having been placed in foster care as a child can influence recidivism. In this study, a history of childhood physical abuse predicts sexual recidivism, whereas violent recidivism is best predicted by a history of antisocial behaviors. Consistent with other studies, psychopathy per the Psychopathy Checklist, Revised (PCL-R) did not predict sexual recidivism, and childhood sexual abuse was not related to sexual recidivism. Although the findings of the study show that the Intensive Treatment Program for Sexual Offenders (ITPSO) results in lower recidivism rates than those reported for untreated sex offenders, the evidence suggests that treatment approaches for incarcerated adult offenders could improve upon their effectiveness by incorporating specialized programs for dealing with childhood maltreatment. Sexual violence is a serious social problem, with wide-ranging adverse effects on individuals and society as a whole. Sex offenders represent 25 percent of the total incarcerated population in Federal institutions in Canada. Treatment approaches for incarcerated sex offenders tend to focus on teaching skills to effectively manage their risk of reoffending in the community once released. In this study, different forms of childhood maltreatment are examined as potential predictors of sexual recidivism with a sample of 81 sex offenders who completed the ITPSO. In addition to childhood maltreatment histories, PCL-R ratings are also examined in terms of their potential predictive relationship to general, violent, and sexual recidivism of treated offenders. Figures, references