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This article presents the findings of a historical, qualitative thematic analysis of archival clinical records of 24 men convicted of child sexual abuse and referred for civil commitment to the Massachusetts Treatment Center between 1959 and 1984. Drawing on the perspective of Cicourel, the study examined the differential ways men convicted of child sexual abuse were constructed by various criminal justice actors based on the gender of their victims. Overall, the study found that men with male victims were constructed as more deviant than men with female victims. The study's findings thus contribute to the research literature on the historical pathologisation and criminalisation of homosexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collective belief that a sex offender is dangerous, is powerful in considering sexual norms and incarceration. In this article, I tell stories of sex crimes via life-story interviews with neurodivergent men who have additional learning difficulties, who were criminalised for sexual assault or rape, and mothers. This research cannot eradicate the harm for those who are historically institutionalised, nor can it help victims of sexual assault. However, there is a need to challenge troubling micro and macro-bureaucratic processes across institutions and systems such as education, health, and criminal justice, to support disabled people and their families care-fully and ethically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on sexual assault has shown that victim, perpetrator, and participant characteristics can influence evaluations of an assault. However, the studies have not examined a possible main effect or interactions from respectively introducing the victim or perpetrator first in an assault description, and previous studies have used participant samples with little diversity. We conducted two studies with factorial between-groups designs that varied presentation order in addition to victim and perpetrator stereotypicality and then assessed the impacts on participants' judgments of sexual assault scenarios. We used the online marketplace Prolific to collect large, diverse samples of participants, and in the second study, we collected roughly equal sample sizes of individuals who identified as Black females/males and White females/males. Our results indicate that multiple factors—including victim and perpetrator stereotypicality, presentation order, and participants' gender identities—significantly influenced judgments of the sexual assault, and there were numerous interactions. The results provide strongest support for a spreading activation model in which each factor can influence a participant's judgment of the other factors and the overall scenario. As such, the findings may bear on the legal handling of sexual assault cases as well as suggesting how different presentation formats and emphases in media coverage may sway the court of public opinion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article evaluates the impact of housing assistance on the post-release pathways of people convicted of sex offences, in terms of a range of criminal justice outcomes and associated costs. Using linked administrative data from New South Wales government agencies, it compares outcomes and costs for two groups of formerly incarcerated sex offenders – one group who received public housing tenancies at some stage after their release, the other who only received private rental assistance. We find the public housing group had better criminal justice outcomes (e.g. fewer police incidents, court appearances, proven offences, days in custody and days on community-based orders) than the non-public housing group, achieved mostly at less cost to governments. The evidence, likely applicable in other jurisdictions with similar housing systems, strongly supports the increased provision of social housing to this group of ex-prisoners and, we hope, helps disarm the controversy that affects this area of policy in Australia and internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes incident characteristics and dynamics associated with six specific forms of image-based sexual exploitation and abuse of children (IBSEAC). Data were collected on a national sample of 2639 individuals aged 18-to-28 from a probability-based online panel. Respondents completed a self-administered survey questionnaire, providing detailed follow-up information on their experiences of image-based sexual victimization before the age of 18. A total of 607 incidents of IBSEAC were included in the analyses. Findings show substantial diversity in incident characteristics within and across the six forms of IBSEAC (nonconsensual sharing of sexual images, nonconsensual taking or making of images, forced image recruitment, threatened sharing, voluntary image sharing with an older adult, and commercial sexual exploitation involving images). Some notable patterns include frequent involvement of perpetrators who are other youth or young adults, who are known in-person to the victim, and who are intimate partners. The diversity and complexity of dynamics revealed in this study underscores the need for careful design and evaluation of prevention programs and the core messages directed at youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In England and Wales, Management of Sexual or Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) teams are often tasked with managing offenders that are subject to Sexual Harm Prevention Orders SHPOs. These orders are put in place to protect the public and contain a series of prohibitions that allow for an offender's conduct to be regulated and reviewed. SHPOs can be used to govern how offenders use their digital devices, particularly with regard to accessing the internet and the sending of electronic communications. To ensure SHPO compliance, officers frequently conduct reviews of any offender's devices, sometimes manually by traversing a device's menus and screens. These device manual reviews are not easy to conduct, often done under time pressures and in the knowledge that any missed evidence of misconduct may facilitate an offender to continue any wrongdoing and potentially increase the risk of harm to members of the public. Further, it is not always technical specialists undertaking this role. This work outlines a manual review strategy for devices running the operating system iOS (Apple products) to support officers in this role. Guided by commonly included SHPO prohibitions, relevant digital traces for evaluating SHPO compliance are highlighted, and limitations surrounding determining user behaviour are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study analyzes victims' narratives of male-on-male child molestation within the Boy Scouts of America. The focus of previous literature on sex crime victims mostly centered on how to avoid sex offenders based on the offenders' behaviors and effective victims' treatment plans to alleviate their posttrauma as a result of sexual abuse. Yet studies have not provided detailed descriptions of when and how to resist sexual advances to children when such incidents are in progress within youth-oriented institutions. Few have examined victim narratives to discover the dynamics of child molestation, such as physical and verbal interactions between the two parties while sexual touching is occurring. The author used victims' narratives to identify how boy victims responded to unwanted sexual advances by scout leaders within the Boy Scouts of America. Based on qualitative-oriented analysis, this study presents verbal and physical resisting patterns of male victims and the effectiveness of such actions in terminating sexual advances. The findings suggest practical and potential intervention strategies so children know how to stop adult perpetrators from developing unwanted touching within youth-centric institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and child sexual abuse (CSA), employing a rapid evidence assessment of research on the uses of AI for the prevention and disruption of CSA, and the ways in which AI is used in CSA offending. Research from January 2010 to March 2024 was reviewed, identifying 33 empirical studies. All studies that met inclusion criteria examined AI for CSA prevention and disruption--specifically, how technology can be used to detect or investigate child sexual abuse material or child sexual offenders. There were no studies examining the uses of AI in CSA offending. This paper describes the state of current research at the intersection of AI and CSA, and provides a gap map to guide future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Studies on executive functions in child sex offenders relate their findings to the presence of pedophilia, but they are not able to distinguish between paraphilia and abuse. It is therefore this lack of a distinction that leads us to complement the existing information. Thus, the purpose of this review is to find all available evidence on the neurocognitive and neuroanatomical differences in executive functions among pedophilic and non-pedophilic child sex offenders, and non-offender pedophiles. Methods: The present review, in accordance with the PRISMA statement, ran a systematic search of three databases (Web of Science, Scopus and ProQuest). This search identified 5697 potential articles, but only 16 studies met all the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were conducted in Europe, using a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample. Results: The results showed alterations in frontal, temporal and parietal structures related to executive functions (e.g., response inhibition) in child sexual offenders, regardless of the presence of pedophilia. Conclusions: In summary, there are differences in brain structure underlying executive functions related to child sexual abuse, but not to pedophilia as such. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to validate the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale-Perpetration Version (ISOS-P), a measure that assesses sexual objectification perpetration. The sample consisted of 356 heterosexual men of Spanish nationality. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed. The Spanish validation of the ISOS-P comprises 15 items and showed a trifactorial structure. McDonald's omega values ranged from 0.71 to 0.80, and evidences of validity are shown by positive correlations with the endorsement of a positive attitude toward rape and having perpetrated several sexual aggression types. The Spanish validation of the ISOS-P is a valid and reliable scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stigma associated with sexual victimization (SV) can add to the psychological burden on survivors. We compared experiences of SV and SV stigma by survivor gender and sexuality and evaluated the relevance of public and internalized sources of this stigma to their psychological functioning. An online survey containing measures of SV type (sexual harassment and assault), public SV stigma, internalized SV stigma (self-blame, self-shame, anticipated-shame), and psychological functioning (depression, anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptomatology) was completed by 877 women and 211 men aged 18 to 66 years (M = 30.2, SD = 8.06), of whom 73.9% were heterosexual and 26.1% identified as a sexual minority (same-sex-attracted, bisexual, pansexual, or asexual). Sexual harassment and assault were more prevalent in women and sexual minority men. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) with age and SV frequency as covariates also revealed poorer psychological functioning in sexual minority men, and higher levels of SV stigma in sexual minority women and men. Multigroup path analyses further showed that exposure to public stigma was associated with poorer psychological functioning, that internalized stigma partly mediated these associations, and that the magnitude of the associations (particularly those involving self-shame and anticipated shame) was often greater in men and sexual minorities. The results add to our understanding of the role of gender and sexuality in the experience, internalization, and psychological impact of SV-related stigma on survivors. The results also highlight the need for societal shifts toward acknowledging and validating experiences of SV in men and sexual minorities, alongside women, and the development of intersectionality-informed interventions for SV stigma in survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual assault (SA) victimization is a prevalent issue both in the U.S. and globally. Although SA victimization is usually perpetrated by a single-perpetrator, multiple-perpetrator sexual assaults (MPSAs) also occur. Unfortunately, there is less literature concerning MPSAs, including the well-being of survivors' post-assault. One factor that has been shown to be important in the well-being of SA survivors' post-assault are the social reactions survivors receive from others following disclosure. The current study sought to compare social reactions received by MPSA survivors to the social reactions received by single-perpetrator sexual assault (SPSA) survivors in a community sample of adult female SA survivors (N = 1,863). We examined "turning against" (TA) reactions, a type of negative social reaction in which the supporter expresses more overtly distressing reactions that focus blame on the victim. We also examined unsupportive acknowledgment reactions (UA) the second type of negative reaction in which survivors receive acknowledgment that the assault occurred but are not supported. Additionally, we examined differences in positive reactions that survivors received from their support systems. One-way Analysis of Variance showed statistically significant differences in social reactions to disclosure according to number of offenders in the SA, with MPSA survivors receiving more TA and UA negative reactions than SPSA survivors. There were no differences in positive reactions by number of offenders. Multiple regression analyses also revealed that several demographics, assault characteristics, and post-assault factors (total Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, coping, attributions of self-blame) were related to the social reactions received by MPSA survivors post-assault. Implications and recommendations for support providers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of sex offenses committed by women has received relatively little attention until recent decades. The scarcity of research in this domain underscores the urgent need for a more comprehensive understanding and effective interventions. Women who committed child sexual abuse (CSA) exhibit a distinct psychological profile compared to men, requiring specific intervention programs. The current systematic review has two aims: the primary aim is to analyze the effectiveness of psychological interventions with women who committed CSA, and the secondary aim is to identify the intervention models and strategies used with them. Six databases were searched for studies examining the effectiveness of psychological interventions. All retrieved papers were excluded after full-text assessments as none met the primary objective. However, eight publications fulfilled the secondary objective of identifying models and strategies that could inform intervention development. The intervention programs presented addressed specific targets focused on criminogenic needs highlighted in the literature as central to this population, as well as targets that complement the intervention according to individual characteristics. Moreover, the studies frequently emphasize an intervention approach centered on individuals' potential (and not just their deficits), employing a gender paradigm to underpin psychological interventions with this population. The results of this review highlight a major gap in the current literature concerning both the delivery and effectiveness assessment of psychological intervention for women who committed CSA. The studies incorporated for the second objective elucidated critical treatment targets and models to inform intervention strategies, which are subsequently discussed in terms of their practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of mass incarceration has been wide-reaching, affecting not only those who are incarcerated, but substantially burdening their family members. Parents of incarcerated individuals often carry the emotional and financial burden of incarceration, in addition to the stigma of having a child behind bars. Supporting a loved one or child incarcerated for a sexual offense can exacerbate the burden, particularly due to the stigma and shame attached to such acts. This is especially evident in the experiences of mothers navigating this challenging circumstance. Using data from the Facebook group, incarcerated loved ones, and through a phenomenological approach, six themes emerged. The themes included painful emotions, physical health impacts, barriers and challenges, systemic issues, mental health services, advocacy, and support. Clinical and policy implications are embedded into the discussion and future research directions are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to examine how, and when, criminal history conditions the effect of defendant sex on incarceration and prison sentence length decisions in Minnesota state courts. Results suggest that sex differences in sentencing are largely concentrated amongst those who have extensive criminal histories, bypassing those who have little or no criminal history. Moreover, criminal history's aggravating contextual effect on sex often depends on the dependent variable examined and type of offense committed. Study results shed light on the situations where extralegal disparities are "hidden" in the nuances of case characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Research on sexual homicides has primarily focused on male offenders, and thus little is known about female offenders who perpetrated sexual homicides. This study aimed to develop the first statistical classification of female single‐victim (SV) sexual homicide offenders (SHOs) using the U.S. FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reports database that spanned over a 47‐year period (1976–2022). A latent class analysis (LCA) was computed to detect subtypes of female SHOs in a sample of 158 offenders. Findings of the LCA identified two unique classes of female SHOs exist within the data: White intra‐familial offenders and Black extra‐familial offenders. The distinguishing features of these two classes were the offender's racial group, the victim's age and racial groups, the offender‐victim relationship, the geographical urbanness level of crime location, and weapon use. This empirically‐derived offender classification can be informative to law enforcement agents and security professionals in their investigative strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) is a response frequently exhibited by perpetrators of wrongdoing after being confronted or held accountable for their harmful behaviors. Consistent with the original conceptualization of DARVO as a strategy used by sex offenders to deflect blame and responsibility, sexual violence survivors report experiencing DARVO from their perpetrators following an assault. The purpose of the current study was to extend research on the connections between DARVO and sexual violence. We examined whether people who use DARVO as a means of responding to confrontations involving a range of wrongdoings also engage in behaviors and ascribe to beliefs that contribute to sexual violence. A sample of 602 university students was recruited to test hypotheses predicting positive associations between individuals' use of DARVO responses, sexual harassment perpetration, and acceptance of rape myths. Supporting predictions, small but positive correlations emerged between study variables. Data from a second sample of 335 community adults from MTurk were analyzed to replicate findings from the undergraduate sample. Results from the community sample also revealed significant associations between DARVO use, sexual harassment perpetration, and rape myth acceptance. Findings offer further confirmation of a link between DARVO and sexual violence and suggest this defensive response is part of a larger worldview that justifies participation in sexual violence and blames victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few victims of sexual assault (SA) report to the police. Research on the role of support persons in victims' reporting is sparse. We address this gap by examining the association of victim, assailant, victimization incident, and support characteristics with reporting rates among victims attending sexual assault care centers (SACCs). Logistic regression results show that type of SA, delay between SA and presentation at SACC, and presence of an informal support person at SACC and SACC site are significantly associated with police reporting. These findings reveal the importance of targeting victims' support persons to alter reporting behavior among SA victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feminist scholars have long asserted that the label assigned to someone after an experience of sexual violence (e.g., victim or survivor) can shape personal outcomes due to the internalization of societal perceptions of these labels. While there is a growing body of literature on the effects of self-labelling, the societal perceptions of victims and survivors are less explored, with little understanding as to how dominant discourses such as rape culture and rape myths are embedded into these perceptions. Adopting from critical discourse analysis and feminist poststructuralism, we offer critical feminist poststructuralism (CFPS) as a useful framework for understanding discursively shaped societal perceptions of victims and survivors. Considering the presence of rape culture and rape myths on university campuses, we set out to explore the potentially mediated nature of rape myths and rape culture discourse and perceptions of victims and survivors among undergraduate students. Electronically submitted responses to an online prompt were analyzed using CFPS to explore how victim and survivor discourses were activated through language and institutional and social discourses of rape culture and rape myth. We describe four dominant threads of discourse from our analysis that suggest sexual violence labels function as regulatory mechanisms for rape myth and rape culture discourse. The findings highlight the need for continued applied work on the multiplicity of victim and survivor identities produced through rape culture and rape myth discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it originated within online pro-pedophile groups, the term "minor attracted person" (MAPs) has been adopted by some academic researchers as a neutral and non-stigmatizing alternative to the term "pedophile." The transferral of this term from pedophile advocates to academic scholarship has been highly controversial. Claims that the use of the term "minor attracted people" normalizes or endorses pedophilia deserve closer scrutiny. This paper is based on a rapid evidence review of all peer-reviewed papers between 2015 and 2023 that used variants of the term "minor attracted" in their title and/or abstract. After screening, 30 studies were identified for review. Our analysis took a thematic approach to understanding the construction and use of the term MAPs in this scholarship. The analysis found that the term MAPs was operationalized in different and contradictory ways, however, the literature broadly agreed that MAPs constitute an oppressed sexual minority who are subject to undue stigmatization and discrimination. We point to the similarities between this sympathetic framing of MAPs and the political goals of the pro-pedophile advocacy groups that created the term MAPs, and from which many MAPs studies recruit their research participants. The review concludes that, in the absence of adequate self-reflexivity and awareness of bias, academic collaborations with pro-pedophile groups can produce work that minimizes the risk and harm of child sexual abuse and has the potential to delegitimize child sexual abuse prevention and treatment efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many new surveys have been developed to assess the prevalence of online sexual abuse. An important type of question asked in many of these surveys is about online sexual solicitation. However, not all sexual solicitations of children necessarily qualify as sexual abuse as it has conventionally been defined. Sexual solicitations from other same age youth may be legal and nonabusive. Solicitations of youth above the age of consent by adults may also be legal. At the same time, many true online sex offenses may not be identified with questions about solicitation wanted or unwanted. This article reviewed 25 online sexual abuse survey reports. It also examined episodes and narratives from the U.S. National Technology Facilitated Abuse (TFA) survey, which asked about online solicitation and other online sexual offenses. Among the surveys reviewed, 9 of 25 elicited and counted online sexual solicitation from adults only, but the rest counted other youth solicitors as well as adults. Eight of 25 asked about only "unwanted" solicitations, but the rest had no such qualification, possibly including solicitations with positive or neutral reactions. Analysis of the TFA survey showed that in over half of solicitation episodes, the recipients did not actually know the age or identity of the solicitor. Very large differences in prevalence rates can occur depending on what types of solicitation are counted and how missing information is classified. Recommendations are made about classifying and reporting on findings about online solicitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although 9 million older adults are estimated to be victims of sexual violence and abuse (SVA) globally each year, this population is largely overlooked in criminological research. Given the known impacts of SVA, particularly for older victims, enhanced understanding of incident characteristics, and how these events unfold, is crucial to improving prevention and response. Guided by environmental criminology perspectives, a scoping review was conducted to assess the extent to which SVA events against older people have been empirically examined to gain an understanding of the immediate circumstances in which incidents occur and how this can inform early intervention and prevention. Eight databases were searched, with records included if they reported characteristics of SVA events occurring in older adulthood, were original, peer-reviewed, empirical research, and published in English. After screening 1,278 records, 33 studies were included for review. Findings demonstrate that considerable attention has been given to understanding who is involved in SVA events and what typically occurs, however, there is a dearth of information regarding when and how these crimes are perpetrated, and the situational factors influencing offending. Resultingly, prevention recommendations largely focus on actors (e.g., victims, perpetrators, witnesses), rather than the environment in which abuse occurs, emphasizing significant gaps in understanding and response to this growing issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the first qualitative systematic review of studies examining the barriers and facilitators to male sex offenders reintegration from prison or secure care into the community. A search of 16 electronic databases produced 14,218 potential sources, which, after screening, resulted in 79 articles for inclusion. Papers were included if they used qualitative research methods about the barriers, facilitators, perceptions, experiences, and attitudes toward community reintegration from prison or secure care for men convicted of sexual offenses. Included papers were critically appraised and the findings were thematically synthesized. The findings identified that formal and cultural aspects of reintegration, such as probation services, stigmatization, and registration, were the three largest barriers that men faced upon their release, with stability aspects, such as positive relationships, religion, and support groups, being key facilitators to their successful reintegration. The implications for future research, and policy and practice, including prioritizing risk assessment and management, offering appropriate and timely treatment and rehabilitation, educating the community, better access to housing and employment, and services adopting a collaborative approach, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considerable investment has been made in recent years to address sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment by aid workers in the humanitarian sector. However, such sexual misconduct remains a persistent, complex challenge with wide-ranging impacts, including on sexual health, for individuals and communities hosting humanitarian responses. This article considers the state of research regarding sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in humanitarian contexts, and identifies gaps in the evidence base necessary for reinforcing prevention and response efforts. We first report what we know about sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, including its impacts on sexual health, risk factors and the permissive enabling organizational cultures. We then identify several critical knowledge gaps that must be addressed for more effective future strategies and approaches to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. We discuss system-wide knowledge gaps, such as lack of evidence on programming approaches and effectiveness of prevention and accountability mechanisms. We explore potential options that health-care programming provides for preventing and responding to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. We also describe population-level knowledge gaps, including in patterns of perpetration and specific challenges faced by marginalized groups. We conclude with reflections for a future integrated research and policy agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experimental vignette study used nationally representative survey data (n = 841) to examine the effects of perpetrator sex and sexuality and victim sex on simulated juror punitivity and sentencing recommendations for individuals convicted of aggravated assault and domestic abuse. Results show participants recommended longer sentences and higher fines for male than for female offenders, and for those who victimized women than for those who victimized men, suggesting the effects of jurorbias on punitive attitudes are influenced by offender and victim sex. However, the effects of offender sexuality were insignificant in modeling. Path analysis showed that sex differences found in baseline models were partially explained by stigmatization (i.e., perceptions of dangerousness, fatalism blame, and social distance) hypothetical jurors attached to offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex offender recidivism (SOR) has been the subject of research for over 70 years. Myths, misconceptions, and erroneous conclusions about SOR, however, remain widespread, impeding the development of evidence-based policies aimed at preventing sexual offenses. To address the rich but uneven literature, a comprehensive review was conducted making it possible to provide a contextualized overview of scientific knowledge against the backdrop of methodological issues, challenges, and shortcomings. Over the years, researchers have been asked to provide a simple answer to a seemingly simple question: what are the recidivism rates for sexual offending? In response, the field has produced a wide range of findings making it difficult to draw firm conclusions, leaving room for interpretation and personal biases. The variations in recidivism rates are attributable to offender and methodological characteristics, both of which are embedded in a particular sociolegal context. As a result, the base rate of SOR is more effectively considered in terms of a series of questions that should include the type of recidivism, with whom, over what period, and in what context. Issues and debates that have marked the field and fueled its growth are highlighted. Research innovations and important areas of research are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is about the 'pains of probation' experienced by young adult men with a sexual conviction. It draws on the findings from a research study completed between July and August 2022. Seventeen participants who were subject to a probation Community Order or Suspended Sentence Order in England and Wales were interviewed about their experiences, and the impact, of community punishment on their lives. Three groups of pains were identified, which are pervasive, reaching beyond the boundaries of the Order. The strategies utilised by the young adults to manage these pains are explored, with the supervisory relationship a key factor in alleviating pains. This article argues that being subject to a probation order is experienced as painful, with the nature and type of deprivation affected by offence type and demographic variations. Despite the limitations of the exploratory study from which this article is drawn, there are implications for penal policy and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Contrary to public opinion, empirical studies have consistently shown that persons convicted of a sexual offense (PCSO) are less likely to recidivate with a general offense. While researchers often point toward the surreptitiousness of sexual offending to explain low rates of recidivism, this paper tests a novel explanation: SOs recidivate at lower rates than persons convicted of a non-sexual offense (PCNSO) because they are more often revoked to prison before they are able to commit a new crime, perhaps owing to more restrictive post-release supervision guidelines. Methods: Using a sample of 196,468 unique male releases, the difference in general and sexual recidivism between PCSO (n = 29,420) and PCNSO was assessed through survival analyses (Cox regression models). Results: Results demonstrated that PCSO were significantly less likely to be reconvicted for a general crime, but more likely for a sex offense. They were also more likely to be reincarcerated due to a revocation without a new sentence. Accounting for revocations, the difference in reconviction risk lessens between the groups but does not disappear. Conclusions: This analysis provides evidence that differences in community supervision are contributing to the difference in recidivism rates between PCSO and PCNSO. Implications and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractEnd-of-life care options in Australia, recently including Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD), are available to people in prison. Little is known about how the public perceives this right. We aimed to identify the attitudes of the public by conducting a qualitative content analysis of comments across four Australian online news media outlets discussing the first case of a person in prison being granted VAD (a sexual offender). From 434 comments, we identified four overarching categories: not punished enough; unsupportive of VAD; approving of VAD; and negative characteristics of VAD recipient and other stakeholders involved. Most comments were punitive, highlighting the opinion that VAD was escaping punishment and reflected a tension between the rights of the individual versus the perceived rights of the community. We highlight the risks these attitudes can pose in terms of providing end-of-life care to people in prisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Individuals who sexually offend often engage in manipulative and coercive behavior to begin, conceal, and continue the sexual abuse of children over time, referred to as grooming behavior. The large majority of research regarding grooming behavior derives exclusively from male sex offending samples, which is problematic because male and female sex offenders vary widely in their offending patterns, motivations, and behaviors. For the present study, we examined the nature of sexual grooming and processes exhibited by a sample of 50 women convicted of sexual offenses against a child. We were guided by Craven et al. model of sexual grooming, which focuses on self, environmental, and child grooming. To date, this is the only proposed model of sexual grooming that includes self-grooming as a step in the grooming process. Data included narrative interviews with women who were arrested, convicted, and assessed for risk and community notification purposes between 2014 and 2019. We also examined interviews with victims, witnesses, and other guardians. The findings from the current study indicated that women who sexually offend utilize a variety of self, environmental, and child grooming behaviors. Self-grooming was an intricate, complex, and layered process that continued throughout the duration of the offense. Details provided by the women in our sample suggested that environmental and child grooming occurred simultaneously rather than two distinct steps. A better understanding of grooming behaviors can assist in the detection of grooming behavior, development of appropriate responses to child victims, and inform future legislation and its implementation. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female-perpetrated sexual violence research in Australia and elsewhere has been limited, part of a less common and arguably contentious field of criminology. Because of gendered social and cultural stereotypes, female sexual offending is often perceived as harmless or too rare to warrant attention. Utilizing Schippers' pariah femininities, this paper presents a critical criminological exploration of social media users' constructions of female sex offenders and their male victim-survivors. Examining 28 Facebook posts from 13 popular Australian newspapers, our findings identified social media users' tendency to question offence severity and sexualize offenders based on appearance, revealing how offender legitimacy and conceptions of harm are shaped by gendered expectations of "pretty women" and "lucky blokes." Conclusions suggest online discourse remains influenced by gendered stereotypes, though awareness of pariah femininities is growing, with further research needed worldwide to explore the impact of such social media attitudes and commentary on the incidence of and reactions to female sexual offending against men, including victim-survivors' help-seeking behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although numerous predictors of sexual violence (SV) have been identified, there is a need to further explore protective factors and examine the nature and strength of associations between predictors and SV outcomes using a hierarchical predictive model. Cross-sectional data from the My World Survey Post-Second Level (2019) in Ireland were used. The sample contained 8, 288 post-secondary students, 69% female, aged 18 to 25 years (M = 20.25, SD = 1.85). Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify correlates of two SV outcomes (i.e., forced/pressured to have sex and being touched in a sexual manner without consent) across societal, community, relationship, and individual levels. Approximately 25% of females and 10% of males reported being forced/pressured to have sex, whereas 55% of females and 23% of males reported being touched in a sexual manner without consent. Key predictors of SV in multivariate analyses included being female and experiencing violence in a romantic relationship, whereas discrimination, living on campus or in rented accommodation (compared with living at home) were also significant predictors of both SV outcomes. Parental conflict, sexual initiation, depressive symptoms, older age, and an avoidant coping style significantly predicted being forced/pressured to have sex, whereas being bullied and engaging in problem drinking were unique predictors of being touched sexually without consent. Findings highlight the importance of considering salient risk and protective factors at the individual, relationship, community and societal level to predict SV and effectively guide the delivery of interventions and support services for post-secondary students affected by SV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual violence (SV) survivors face negative social reactions, which can affect their recovery. Based on the socio-interpersonal model of trauma, understanding how societal circumstances impact SV survivors' mental health is important. This study examined conditional indirect effects of interpersonal shame and social acknowledgment on the relationship between perceived SV event severity and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) symptoms. Cross-sectional data from 157 community-based adults who had previously experienced SV were collected from an online panel. Exploratory factor analysis of the Social Acknowledgment Questionnaire was conducted, followed by conditional indirect analyses using Models 1, 4, and 7 of PROCESS macro. First, results showed that a two-factor model of social acknowledgment consisting of "social disapproval" and "social recognition" was more suitable for this study than a three-factor model predominantly used by Western societies. Second, interpersonal shame partially mediated the relationship between perceived SV event severity and CPTSD symptoms. Third, the conditional indirect effect of social disapproval on the mediating effect of interpersonal shame was significant when the social disapproval level was high. This indicates that the indirect effect of interpersonal shame on CPTSD increases when the social disapproval level is high. This study supported the socio-interpersonal perspective of trauma and suggested that increasing social acknowledgment beyond personal-level intervention would be a critical step for recovery of SV survivors to decrease their interpersonal shame and CPTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the public's estimates of recidivism risk among sex offenders and the ways those estimates are impacted by base rate information. Participants were 400 individuals (200 males and 200 females) in Japan recruited by a web-based research company. Each participant was allocated to either the experimental group with or the control group without base rate recidivism information and asked to estimate the recidivism rate of a sex offender after release from prison. The results show that the average estimated recidivism rates were 54.4% and 33.8% in the control and experimental groups, respectively, indicating a significant difference (Welch's t (389.70) = 8.32, p <.001, Cohen's d =.83). However, even the experimental group's average estimated rate was much higher than the actual national base rate of 17.0%. Multiple regression analysis revealed that punitive attitudes toward crime and confidence in estimation significantly contributed to higher estimates of recidivism risk, whereas sex, age, and fear of crime did not. These results suggest that the public overestimates the recidivism rate of sex offenders and that simply presenting a base rate is not sufficient for risk communication. Practical implications and future research directions are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the behavioral manifestation of sadism in females involved in sexual crimes. The sample includes 24 female sex offenders for which sadism was assessed with the SeSaS. To conduct a gender-based comparison analysis, we conducted a random selection of 100 sadistic male offenders. Bivariate comparisons and multidimensional scaling analysis were used to determine whether behavioral manifestation and dimensions of sadism are different in female sex offenders. Results showed that sadism in women manifests itself differently from male offenders and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) are now part of the criminal justice landscape in various parts of the world. While CoSA have received considerable media attention, it is not yet known how they are portrayed in the media. This study addressed this gap by analyzing newspaper coverage of CoSA from across the English-speaking world. Overall, it identified that representations of those convicted of sexual violence in print media accounts of CoSA differ substantially from those identified in previous scholarship. We argue therefore that the nature of CoSA as an intervention may allow for more sympathetic and humanistic representation. The findings provide a platform from which the international CoSA community can develop strategic approaches to interacting with the media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychologically meaningful risk factors are central to understanding why certain individuals commit sexual violence and to the provision of effective clinical service. The present study examined whether risk factors and other clinically relevant factors distinguished those with sexual interest in children who have (n = 39) and have not sexually offended (n = 172), and a community control group (n = 65). Participants completed several established measures of risk factors (e.g. hypersexuality), answered questions about the nature of their sexual interest, and reported their history of adverse childhood experiences. The overarching finding was that individuals with sexual interest in children had elevations in various risk factors in comparison to community controls. Although there were fewer significant differences between those with sexual interest in children with and without an offending history, effect sizes across many of these analyses were moderate to large. Several clinically relevant factors distinguished all three groups. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT There is some evidence that psychologically meaningful risk factors and other clinically relevant factors (e.g. adverse childhood experiences) identified in the wider literature on sexual offending distinguish those with sexual interest in children who have offended, have not offended and a community control group. These findings underscore the importance of identifying the presence of these specific factors via a comprehensive assessment, which would be important to consider in treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual crimes committed by minors occupy an important position in overall juvenile crimes, yet their severity has not been adequately emphasized. This study investigated the views of juvenile sex offenders in China on sexual consent and their judgments on victims expressing consent. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 39 minor sex offenders independently. Thematic analysis revealed shifts in notions about the necessity of consent based on various external conditions, with nonresistance often interpreted as consent. Furthermore, the study found a lack of self-attribution of impulsive control issues in criminal behavior, instead highlighting the risks posed by inadequate understanding of sexual consent. These insights provide important implications for prevention measures and intervention strategies to address juvenile sex crimes in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates how the intersection of race and sex affects contact sex crime arrest odds. Logistic regression analyses of 2012–2016 U.S. National Incident‐Based Reporting System data for 391,352 people reported to law enforcement for contact sex crimes reveals that Black people reported for contact sex crimes have higher odds of arrest than those reported who are not Black, and the relationship between race and arrest odds varies by sex—the effect is stronger for those labeled "female" or "other" and weaker for those labeled "male." I posit that sex strengthens the effect of race on contact sex crime arrest odds for those who are not male because race helps construct non‐male bodies as masculine, and in a U.S. cultural context that has viewed sex as a legitimate way of asserting male dominance, sexual violence is masculine. However, race is not necessary to construct most male bodies as masculine, making the strength of race's effect on contact sex crime arrest odds less significant for males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The criminal career approach has been widely employed in the context of sexual delinquency, contributing significantly to our understanding of the criminal activities of sex offenders. To date, no studies have examined the criminal trajectories of online groomers within the framework of a criminal career analysis. To address this gap, the primary objective of this paper is to analyze this group’s criminal trajectories to expand our knowledge on participation, frequency, duration, seriousness, and versatility. To achieve this, an LPA was thus conducted using a sample of 1201 online groomers. The results support the existence of multiple distinct trajectories followed by individuals who engage in online sexual solicitation of minors, revealing the presence of four distinctive profiles: one-timer groomers, versatile and late groomers, specialist sex offender groomers, and polymorphous and prolific groomers. The profiles differ based on the number and types of offenses committed, the duration of their criminal involvement, and the diversity of their criminal activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term "dirty work" reflects employment that is distanced from mainstream society. Treating those who commit sex offenses can be a form of dirty work: sex offenders are often persona non grata and reviled by society. The treatment – inpatient and outpatient- tends to be involuntary. It can stigmatize and maligns the clinician even though the work may be required by public policy- as in conditions of probation and parole. Consequently, it can set conditions for moral injury, an overlooked occupational hazard for sex offender treatment providers. Moral injury is distinct from compassion fatigue and burnout. It is painful dissonance a person experiences when they act in ways that transgress deeply held morals and beliefs. Moral injury can be developed when sex offender treatment providers hold a punitive stance toward their clients, that is in direct conflict with professional values to have regard for and not harm their clients. Conversely, moral injury can also arise from helping a population that society tends to loathe. In this paper, we explore some pathways to moral injury and review methods to potentially prevent and mitigate moral injury in the context of sex offender treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative attitudes toward offenders may hinder the rehabilitation process. The present study examines the relationship between attitudes toward sex offenders and stated acceptance of offenders and non‐offenders into various aspects of daily life. Sixty female members of the public (18–50 years old, UK residents, recruited by word of mouth and via social media) completed an attitudes towards sex offenders (ATS) scale and indicated for each of eight vignettes describing ex‐offenders and non‐offenders whether they would accept them in various situations (housing, employment, day‐to‐day activities). Results indicate that in this group of female participants, harsher attitudes toward sex offenders are associated with lower acceptance of sex offenders (around 50% less acceptance) and other offenders (around 25% less acceptance), but not non‐offenders, suggesting a tight coupling between attitudes and acceptance. The observed coupling between attitudes toward sex offenders and acceptance of offenders suggests that it will be difficult to change one without changing the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is widespread scientific evidence that validates tonic immobility (TI) as part of the trauma response in victims of rape, and criminal justice practitioners are increasingly trained in trauma-informed approaches. Yet, legal and policy definitions of consent do not fully recognize TI during the incident as evidence of nonconsent. Using a systematic review of U.S. law and policy regarding sexual violence and consent, this paper analyzes the substantial legal reform of rape law and definitions of consent, suggesting ways to further integrate TI into existing law and legal practices to improve public health approaches and justice responses for victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although most offenders who have committed a sex crime will not reoffend, an excessive amount of attention has been paid to the process that leads a minority to commit a new offense. What are the protective factors that contribute to the absence of recidivism among most of these sex offenders? This scoping review provides an overview of the current state of the literature on desistance among sex offenders as well as a list of the empirically tested protective factors that contribute to it. Peer-reviewed articles and grey literature were retrieved through database searches and reference harvesting following the elaboration of an internal grid composed of approximately 20 keywords and specific inclusion criteria. Articles were included if the majority of each study's sample had committed a sex offense, factors explaining desistance from sexual offending were explicitly addressed, and all participants in the various studies were still considered desistors at the time of our search. From a database of 6,556 articles published between 1985 and 2022, 26 studies were retained, and more than 150 different protective factors were identified and grouped into 32 distinct subcategories. Our analysis revealed that the selected studies conceptualize desistance differently and that this choice not only affects the protective factors identified but could also influence ideas about how to intervene with sex offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, sexual violence is a significant public health issue. Although any person can be victimized, the vast majority of sexual violence is perpetrated by men against women. Research has increasingly explored the experiences of victims, however, the perspectives of male perpetrators of sexual violence have largely been sidelined. This limits the ability to design effective public health and policy responses to sexual violence. Our aim was to synthesize the available peer-reviewed qualitative research exploring the perspectives of adult male perpetrators of sexual violence against women. Five databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO, CINAHL and SocINDEX. We included qualitative, peer-reviewed English-language studies published in the past 40 years, focused on the perceptions and experiences of male perpetrators of sexual violence. Fourteen articles (describing 12 studies) were identified. Most (10) of the articles examined the perspectives of convicted male sex offenders serving a custodial sentence. Of the remaining four articles, two focused on anonymous users of the online forum, Reddit.com, and the remaining two focused on students on university campuses. These four articles were the most recent. We developed four major themes from our thematic analysis of the study findings that represent the experiences and perceptions of male perpetrators of sexual violence. These themes describe deflecting blame onto the victim, external circumstances as mitigating factors, or the perpetrator's uncontrollable biological urges. One theme involved some expression of remorse or acceptance of responsibility. Although our findings may have implications for prevention and rehabilitation programs, further research is urgently needed in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged incest, where children are sexually abused by familial perpetrators into adulthood, has been documented in clinical and criminological scholarship, however it is often overlooked in research, policy and practice approaches to familial sexual abuse. This article draws on interviews with ten Australian therapists about their clinical work with clients subject to incestuous abuse continuing into adulthood. It outlines their descriptions of these cases, the nature of the reported abuse and factors that facilitated prolonged and ongoing incest, including at the time of therapy. The therapists and their clients were female. The clients were highly dissociative and experienced significant psychiatric and medical comorbidity, and extensive socio-economic disadvantage. Reported abuse was sadistic, ongoing, often involved multiple perpetrators, and sometimes had links to organized abuse. Therapists' conceptualizations of the factors related to the abuse included: enmeshed and disorganized attachment to the perpetrator; symptoms of severe dissociation; having absent, abusive or non-protective mothers; and social isolation which limited help-seeking. The study concludes that attachment, trauma and dissociation-informed therapy is essential, while further research is needed to further explore effective interventions and responses to this clinical cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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