Sexual Offences Research Articles

Evaluating layperson interpretation of actuarial sexual violence risk data: A multi-method comparison of risk communication with attention to gender bias.

Forensic clinicians are often called upon to help courts determine the likelihood that someone will continue to commit sexually violent acts in the future. The utility of these evaluations depends largely on how effectively the results are communicated to and understood by the trier of fact. Actuarial results, such as those commonly reported in sexual offense risk assessments, appear particularly challenging for laypersons to understand. Using a representative sample of 206 U.S. adults, this study examines three methods of communicating actuarial risk via simulated expert testimony on participants' ratings of a hypothetical evaluee's risk of sexual re-offending. The results suggested that all participants, regardless of how results were communicated, over-estimated the examinee's risk level relative to the expert's probabilistic findings, but tended to agree with the expert's categorical predictions. Participants who were only shown actuarial data consistently rated the evaluee as more dangerous and likely to commit future sexually violent acts. Additionally, it was found that gender significantly impacted participants' perceptions, such that women found the evaluee more dangerousness and desired greater social distance from him. This study has implications for best practices regarding expert communication of actuarial results in cases involving sexual violence.

Male rape: survivors, support and the law in late twentieth-century England and Wales.

Until 1994, men were not recognized legally as victims of rape in England and Wales. This article explores the history of male survivors of rape there, establishing the uneven patchwork of support services available to them prior to 1994. It argues that a growing psychiatric literature which studied male survivors of sexual violence was a major factor in convincing lawmakers to include men as potential victims of rape in updated sexual offence legislation. Other medical professionals played key roles in bringing male survivors to police attention, but psychiatric research was most influential in changing the policy agenda in this arena.

“One a Day Keeps the Prison Away”: Understanding the Experiences of Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offences Receiving Anti-Androgens for the Treatment of Problematic Sexual Arousal

Problematic sexual arousal (PSA) is an umbrella term to describe a range of clinical presentations related to excessive sexual thinking (e.g., sexual preoccupation) and sexual behavior (e.g., hypersexuality). Although such concepts are known to affect sexual recidivism among individuals convicted of sexual offences, PSA is not routinely or directly targeted in offending behavior programs in England and Wales. However, in recent years, there have been moves to incorporate pharmacological interventions for addressing this among people with sexual offence histories. Although some work to understand the experiences of those taking SSRI medication for this purpose has emerged, little is known about the experiences of service users taking anti-androgen medication. In this study, we interviewed all individuals in prison taking anti-androgens for the treatment of problematic sexual arousal following convictions for sexual offences in England at the time of data collection (N = 10). Using a phenomenologically oriented thematic analysis, we established themes pertaining to “Differing needs: Motivations for treatment,” “Medication as a risk management strategy,” and how the medication helped the men in their pursuit of “Discovering a ‘new me’.” This work contributes important knowledge to inform the development of ethical and effective prescribing of anti-androgen medication with this population and offer recommendations for both future research and the development of clinical practice.

Supplemental Material for Validity and Reliability of the Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offense Version in a Community Sexual Offense Outpatient Setting

Supplemental Material for Validity and Reliability of the Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offense Version in a Community Sexual Offense Outpatient Setting

A description of long-stay patients in forensic psychiatric care in Flanders

ABSTRACT Long-term forensic psychiatric care and its population form a specific group within the forensic psychiatric field. The treatment goals, characteristics, and needs of this group are different from those of the wider forensic population. The focus of treatment for this group changes from risk reduction to quality of life and managing risk in the current context. In Belgium, forensic psychiatric care started slowly. This has resulted in a late onset of long-term forensic care. Consequently, there is a potentially large group of long-term forensic patients. The population of the long-stay unit in Flanders, Belgium, is described in this study. Clinical data of forensic long-stay patients were collected. The result was a description of the population in terms of risk profile and sociodemographic data. Compared to other studies, the results show an older population with more sexual offences and mostly a medium/high risk profile. Our findings suggest that the long-stay forensic population has specific challenges that require specific responses in the form of adapted care.

Recidivism outcomes for young people who have committed a sexual offence and received treatment: A systematic narrative review of studies conducted in Australia and New Zealand

ABSTRACT Young people who have committed a sexual offence present unique and serious challenges to the criminal justice systems of Australia and New Zealand. To understand the current state of existing literature, we systematically collated and critically appraised studies using narrative synthesis, examining the recidivism outcomes of young people who have committed a sexual offence and received treatment. Eight studies were identified utilising a sample of 1528 young people. Recidivism was higher among participants who did not complete treatment, compared to those who completed treatment, but highest in those who commenced but subsequently “dropped out”. Our findings highlight a need for more Australian and New Zealand research addressing the recidivism rates post-treatment. More specifically, three future research directives are identified: the need for methodologically strong research, identification of recidivism outcomes for Indigenous young people, and the need for qualitative research to explore the profiles of young people who terminate treatment. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT Our findings identified gaps in three key areas in current research within the Australian and New Zealand context: (1) a need for more methodologically strong evaluative research, (2) identification of recidivism outcomes for Indigenous young people, and (3) qualitative research to explore the profiles of young people who terminate treatment to compliment current research findings.

The “Hector” case and the community rehabilitation of offenders with Intellectual Disability and psychiatric disorders

AbstractHector, 44 years, with mild Intellectual Disability and impulse control disorder, committed serious sexual offences against two children of his partner. Considered “socially dangerous”, he was put in prison, then with a deferment of the enforcement of the prison sentence in the forms of home detention he was hospitalized in a psychiatric facility due to his depressive condition. Upon entering the Community, he presented a deflected mood as a reaction to the discomfort from the custodial experience, which was not cognitively integrated. Both psychotropic and rehabilitation treatments started. He has been involved in a gardening activity, too. After a first period of high degree of denial of the facts and a defensive mode marked by stolidity and fatuity, revealing his poor cognitive resources, during the psychiatric sessions he became even more conscious of his crime and the suffering of the victims. Services/pathways available for offenders with ID and psychiatric disorders will be presented.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Portrayal of dentists in films

To analyze the portrayal of dentists in films, 259 films from the period 1907 - 2018 featuring one or more dentists, were systematically analyzed. A total of 333 dentists were identified, mostly of Caucasian origin (85%) and male (86%). 228 dentists depicted dental procedures, sometimes using gloves (41%), (splash) glasses (35%), and mouth masks (24%). The depicted dental procedures mainly consist of the use of pocket probes and mirrors (46%), drilling/filling (31%), and extractions (25%). Furthermore, dentists in films are relatively often involved in negative activities such as physical violence (29%) and sexual offences (18%). In 16 films (6%), dentists murdered people. Although there is no single stereotypical portrayal of dentists in films, the overall picture seems to need improvement as it is not contributing to the reputation of the dental profession.

Comparing perceptions of individuals who sexually offend against children versus adults.

We examined how the age of the victim influences the public's risk assessment and punishment attitudes for individuals who have sexually offended and whether actuarial feedback influences these ratings. (1) Risk ratings for child victim vignettes would be higher than ratings for adult victim vignettes. This effect would be driven by higher ratings for lower risk individuals. (2) Because of the increased stigma associated with individuals with child victim sexual abuse convictions, participants who rated this subgroup would be less likely than those who rated adult victim vignettes to revise their initial risk ratings. (3) Dispositional placements for the individuals in vignettes with child victims would be more punitive than for those with adult victims, both before and after feedback. Participants (N = 389, 18-77 years, 51.7% male, 73.0% White) read five vignettes of individuals incarcerated for a sexual offense at five different risk levels and with either child or adult victims. They made judgments about recidivism risk and postprison dispositions and then received actuarial feedback and made the ratings again. Risk ratings for child victim vignettes were higher than ratings for adult victim vignettes, particularly for cases of average risk and below (η²p = .17). Participants were equally likely to revise initial risk ratings for child and adult victim vignettes (η²p = .01). Dispositional placements for child victim vignettes were significantly more punitive than for adult victim vignettes both before and after feedback, especially for the lower risk individuals (η²p = .07). Although judgments of risk and disposition toward individuals who sexually offend can be adjusted regardless of victim type, there is a more severe bias against individuals with child victims. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Public Organization Participation in the Prevention of Sexual Crimes against Minors and Adolescents: International Practices

Public Organization Participation in the Prevention of Sexual Crimes against Minors and Adolescents: International Practices

STANDARDS FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS IN THE LIGHT OF THE LAW OF 28 JULY 2023 – ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED REGULATIONS AND COMMENTS DE LEGE FERENDA (PART 1)

The subject of the research is the analysis of current national regulations aimed at protecting minors from violence and strengthening respect for their rights. The research focuses on evaluating the changes introduced by the Act on Counteracting the Threat of Sexual Crime following the tragic death of Kamilek from Czestochowa in May 2023. Among other things, the amendment introduced the concept of standards for the protection of minors and imposed numerous obligations on those intending to work in activities related to minors. In the absence of abundant literature on the subject with a view to the issue at hand, the authors used, in particular, the theoretical-legal and dogmatic-legal method, primarily focusing on the interpretation of the enacted legislation.

여성 북한이탈주민의 성범죄 취약성이 성폭력 범죄피해두려움에 미치는 영향

Recently, crimes targeting socially vulnerable people are constantly occurring. In particular, although women and North Korean defectors are targets that our society must move forward with, crimes against them continue to occur. Research on North Korean defectors' fear of being victimized by crime is continuously conducted, but research on North Korean defectors' fear of being victimized by sexual violence against women is limited. Accordingly, this study sought to study the fear of crime victimization among North Korean defectors in relation to sexual violence crimes against women. Accordingly, to achieve the purpose of this study, an online and offline survey was conducted targeting female North Korean defectors. As a result of the study, it was confirmed that the vulnerability of North Korean defector women to sexual crimes affects their fear of being victims of sexual violence crimes, and that their adaptation to Korean society also affects their fear of being victims of sexual violence crimes. In addition, as a result of analyzing the moderating effect that adaptation to Korean society, which is the main purpose of this study, has on vulnerability to sexual crime and fear of sexual violence crime victimization, vulnerability to sexual crime and adaptation to Korean society were confirmed to be statistically significant results in fear of sexual violence crime victimization. It was confirmed that the more North Korean defector women perceived themselves as vulnerable to sexual crimes, the more they had a higher fear of being victimized by sexual violence crimes, despite their high level of adaptation to Korean society. Therefore, this study sought to construct a basic data base for security policy regarding sexual violence crimes targeting female North Korean defectors.

2023년 헌법 중요 판례 평석 (Ⅰ)

This paper analyzed the meaning and content of major decisions on normative control among the Constitutional Court decisions made in 2023.
 The Constitutional Court made a constitutional decision on the provisions of the former School Violence Prevention Act, which stipulated a written apology as one of the principal's actions against the perpetrators of school violence.
 In a unanimous decision, the Constitutional Court ruled unconstitutional against the provisions of the 'Special Cases Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes', which required life imprisonment or more than 7 years of imprisonment for the crime of forced assault on a residence. The above provisions were contrary to the principle of proportionality between responsibility and punishment.
 In addition, with a 4:5 opinion, the Constitutional Court sentenced a constitutional decision on the provisions of the former Act on Special Cases concerning the Punishment of Domestic Violence Crimes, etc., which did not stipulate the prohibition of access using mail in the victim protection order.
 In the opinion of judges 6:3, the Constitutional Court ruled that the provisions of the Immigration Control Act, which allowed the protection of those who were ordered to deport but did not establish an upper limit on the period of protection, violate the principle of excess prohibition and due process, violating the freedom of the body, and were not in accordance with the Constitution.
 The Constitutional Court recently ruled against the constitutional inconsistency with the consensus of all the judges on the former Act on Assembly and Protests, which bans rallies near the official residence of the National Assembly and punishes those who host rallies in violation of them, and the Public Official Election Act, which prohibits anyone from spraying printed materials or installing wreaths to affect the election from 180 days before the election day.

Testing the Assumption that People Incarcerated for Sex Crimes Against Children are at an Increased Risk of Violent Victimization in Prison

ABSTRACT It is a commonly held belief that people convicted of sex crimes against children are at an increased risk for being targeted for violence in correctional facilities due to their low status in the prison hierarchy, but most of these assumptions are based on anecdotal evidence or extreme cases. The current study is the first quantitative assessment of victimization risk for incarcerated people convicted of sex crimes that separates cases according to the age of the sex crime victim (children 0–12 years old, young teenagers 13–15 years old, teenagers 16–17 years, and adults 18 years old and over). Data were obtained from the administrative records of 1,487 incarcerated men convicted of sex crimes and held in Minnesota state prisons. Cox regression models and negative binomial models found that people convicted of sex crimes against adults were the most likely to suffer prison victimization out of the four groups, contrary to the assumption of incarcerated people committing violence to avenge child victims. Possible explanations and pathways for future research are discussed.

Reformulation of Rehabilitation Sanctions for Perpetrators of Sexual Violence Crimes

This research aims to explore the best way to reconstruct rehabilitation sanctions for perpetrators of sexual violence. The formulation of the problems raised in this study are first: why perpetrators of sexual violence need to be rehabilitated and which perpetrators of sexual violence can be subject to rehabilitation punitive measures and what kind of rehabilitation, Second: how to reformulate the best sanctions against sexual violence in the future (ius constituendum) to make it more effective. The type of research used by the author is normative research. The results of this study suggest that perpetrators of sexual violence should be rehabilitated if certain conditions require rehabilitation measures, such as sexual deviation. However, it should be noted that the implementation of rehabilitation measures must be very selective and right on target. Reformulation of future sanctions must show an indication of the feasibility of the perpetrator and should mention what are the indicators of perpetrators who can be subject to rehabilitation and what form of rehabilitation in order to provide legal certainty.

Protective + Risk Observations For Eliminating Sexual Offense Recidivism (PROFESOR): rationale for development and an initial investigation of reliability

ABSTRACT The Protective + Risk Observations For Eliminating Sexual Offense Recidivism (PROFESOR) is designed to identify risk and protective factors for individuals aged 12–25 who have engaged in, or have been accused of engaging in, illegal or otherwise abusive sexual behaviour. Unlike most risk assessment tools which are designed to predict the future, the PROFESOR is designed to identify dynamic protective and risk factors that can inform interventions that will facilitate sexual and relationship health and, thus, eliminate sexual offense recidivism. The rationale for the development of the PROFESOR is outlined, and an investigation of the tool’s reliability is presented. For this study, 58 individuals (aged 12–20 years; M = 16.3; SD = 1.63) in residential treatment for male youth who have engaged in sexually harming behaviour were rated by a pair of clinicians from a group of 15 clinicians (therapists and their supervisors). Unlike typical investigations of interrater agreement where a small number of raters utilise identical file material, PROFESOR ratings were made based on the clinicians’ working knowledge of the individuals in their care. Excellent interrater agreement was demonstrated with the Total score, as were significant item-total correlations and internal consistency estimates, indicating encouraging evidence of the reliability of the PROFESOR. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT This paper identifies the limitations of risk prediction tools for adolescent sexual recidivism and outlines the rationale for the development of the PROFESOR, an assessment tool designed to inform intervention goals and intensity by identifying both risk and protective factors. Data from therapists and supervisors at a residential treatment facility indicated encouraging evidence of the reliability (i.e. interrater agreement, item-total correlation, and internal consistency) of the PROFESOR.

Protection of Human Rights for Minors Against Acts of Sexual Abuse

The state's unequivocal responsibility to safeguard children as victims of violence, particularly sexual abuse, is imperative due to their pivotal role in future development. The study method used the normative way. The research findings aim to serve as a guide for crafting policies aligning with national law, contributing positively to legal science by addressing material and formal legal aspects, as well as enhancing victim protection and recovery. The prevalence of unsettling acts of sexual harassment underscores a pressing need for vigilant attention. Child victims of sexual violence endure profound psychological impacts, ranging from mild to severe trauma, leading to a loss of self-confidence, shame, and, tragically, suicide in some cases. This study delves into child protection policies in Makassar, Indonesia, scrutinizing shortcomings in addressing sexual crimes against minors. Therefore, legal innovations for enhanced handling of such cases, ensuring justice for the victims and fostering societal balance are needed.

Comparing Attitudes toward Sexual Consent between Japan and Canada

Japanese and Canadian laws regarding sexual assault vary in the degree to which they incorporate the concept of sexual consent, with Japanese law being less consent-oriented than Canadian law. Although the Japanese law has incorporated the concept of sexual consent in the 2023 amendment, the public understanding of the concept is still limited. Reflecting such difference, it could be expected that the general public in both countries also differ in their perceptions and attitudes regarding punishment of sexual crime and sexual consent. The present study aimed to test these expectations and further examine the mediational mechanism that explains the national difference between Japan and Canada. The data from 1125 Japanese and 1125 Canadian respondents showed that Japanese respondents were less likely to perceive the imposition of punishment on an alleged perpetrator described in scenarios as appropriate. In contrast, the difference in the perceived victim’s consent was significant only in three out of seven scenarios. The relation between nations (Japan vs. Canada) and perceived appropriateness of punishment was mediated by the perceived victim’s consent.

Self-report psychopathy-III facet scores predict sexual crimes, sexual preferences, and sexual deviance index validity more precisely than total scores.

Understanding the profiles of sexual offenders, such as the presence of psychopathic traits, is key to preventing future sexual crimes. The self-report psychopathy-III (SRP-III) is a tool used to assess the characteristics of psychopathy, but improvements on its interpretation are required to maximize its precision. The SRP-III can be interpreted by examining the scores on each of the four facets (interpersonal manipulation, callous affect, erratic lifestyle, antisocial behavior), on each of two factors (factor 1, factor 2), or by examining the total score. Here, we investigate the interpretation of the results from the SRP-III using these three approaches of analysis of the data for predicting types of sexual crimes, sexually deviant preferences (measured via PPG), and the validity of the sexual deviance results. Logistic regressions were carried out using either the four facets, two factors, or the total score of the SRP-III. Data were previously obtained from 198 Canadian men who were convicted of, or who admitted to committing, at least one sexual crime, or who reported experiencing sexually deviant fantasies. We also examined the point-biserial correlations between each of the methods of interpreting the SRP-III results and each of the dependent variables. We find that SRP-III facet scores most precisely predict types of sexual crimes, sexually deviant preferences, and sexual deviance index validity, followed by SRP-III factor scores, and lastly SRP-III total scores. Additionally, significant correlations are only found between SRP-III scores and one dependent variable. Potential reasons for this are discussed. Based on these findings, we recommend that future studies consider facet and factor scores in addition to the standard practice of examining total scores.

Does the sex of judges matter? Analysis of sentencing in sex crimes in Spain

More women are increasingly joining the judiciary, especially during the last four decades. This has led to more research on the influence of sex on judicial decisions. Judge’s sex is a non-legal factor whose importance lies in the generally acknowledged historical difference between male and female roles in society, which may generate significantly different points of view and differences in the outcome of judicial proceedings, especially in cases related to sexual violence. However, there is no consensus regarding the effect of sex on sentencing. Indeed, findings to date vary widely, making a more profound study of this topic even more necessary. This study is based on a quantitative analysis of court sentences dictated by Provincial Courts in Spain (i.e. panels made up of men, women, or both) issued between 2019 and 2020.