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Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment
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Age and Sexual Recidivism: A Variable Connection

David Thornton

Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, Mauston, Wisconsin

Meta-analysis (R. K. Hanson & M. T. Bussière, 1998) has indicated an overall negative correlation between age and sexual recidivism, but also found that the size of this inverse relationship varies significantly between samples. The present study examined the relationship between age on release and sexual recidivism in a large (N = 75 2), nationally representative, sample of imprisoned male sexual offenders followed up for 10 years. Sexual offenders released at a younger age tended to be more general criminals while those released at an older age tended to be sexual specialists. Consistent with C. F. Roberts, D. M. Doren, and D. Thornton (2002), age on release was found to make a significant contribution to the prediction of sexual reconviction when two aspects of criminal history (sexual deviance and general criminality) were controlled. Overall, the odds of being sexually reconvicted declined by about 0.02 with each year of increasing age. In addition to this general decline in recidivism with increasing age, there was also a cubic effect of age for the offenders who had been sentenced for sexual offenses on at least two prior occasions. This group showed an exceptionally high sexual recidivism rate when released between the ages of 18-24 (80%). For those aged between 25 and 59 their sexual reconviction rate was consistently just under 50% regardless of age. Then for the small group aged 60+ no further sexual reconvictions were found.

Key Words: age • sexual offenders • recidivism • risk assessment.

Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, Vol. 18, No. 2, 123-135 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/107906320601800202
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