Community reentry and the revolving door problem: Are individuals convicted of sexual offenses adequately prepared?

Abstract

PurposeThe case management of individuals convicted of a sexual offense tends to be specialized and focused on the prevention of sexual recidivism, leaving little room for criminogenic risk and need factors that are critical for community reentry and reintegration. The current study examines the criminogenic risk and needs of those individuals coming back in the criminal justice system and their subsequent criminal recidivism. MethodsThis longitudinal study is based on a sample of 13,240 justice-involved adults serving short-term sentences, which included a subsample of 1084 individuals with sexual offense convictions. Criminogenic risk and need profiles were examined using a series of survival analyses regarding reconvictions over up to 8 years. ResultsFindings highlight that individuals with prior convictions for sexual offenses returning in the criminal justice system for nonsexual offenses have high criminogenic risk and needs, which are predictive of general and violent recidivism. Upon reentry, this group showed higher and faster general and violent recidivism rates. ConclusionsCurrent case management practices exclusively focused on preventing sexual reoffenses can leave important intervention needs unaddressed. Overlooking criminogenic risk and needs can create a context conducive to a revolving door process which can further obscure the path toward desistance from crime.