Criminal Histories, Risk Profiles, and Predictors of Recidivism Among Men Who Sexually Offend Over the Age of 60 Years

Abstract

Research has consistently found sexual recidivism risk drops as men convicted of sexual offenses age, but little research exists on those few men who do sexually offend when older. The current study examined the criminal histories, risk profiles, and predictors of sexual recidivism in a large sample of men who sexually offended over the age of 60 years. Analyses showed low levels of sexual offending under the age of 60 years prior to the commission of a sexual offense over the age of 60 years, with only 27% of the sample having sexually offended under 60 years. Examination of the risk profiles of the sample evidenced high levels of possible deviant sexual attraction and sexual cognitive distortions, which restricted the range on these variables, and limited their ability to predict sexual recidivism. Instead, nonsexual risk factors and protective factors appeared better predictors of sexual recidivism for men who have sexually offended over the age of 60 years.