Because of copyright issues + I can only cut-and-paste a section from the journal:
International Perspectives on the Assessment and Treatment of Sexual Offenders (Theory, Practice, and Research) || American Sexual Offender Castration Treatment and Legislation [2011]
Boer, Douglas P., Eher, Reinhard, Craig, Leam A., Miner, Michael H., Pfäfflin, Friedemann
Another key factor in determining an offender’s risk for recidivism is the type
of victim pursued. Consequently, sex offenders are often grouped and defined
based on their victims.
Specific types of sexual offenders, namely homosexual
pedophiles and nonrelated pedophiles have the highest rate of reoffending
(Barbaree, Langton, & Peacock, 2006; Stone, Winslade, & Klugman, 2000).
Several studies have reported that bisexual and homosexual pedophiles have
higher rates of reoffending compared to their heterosexual counterparts, as
opposed to incest pedophiles who are the least likely to reoffend (Bartosh,
Garby, Lewis, & Gray, 2003; Beier, 1998;Maletzky & Steinhauser, 2002; Seto,
Harris, Rice, & Barbaree, 2004). Positive predictors of recidivism in the
homosexual and bisexual pedophilic populations were: (1) those offenders
that were “exclusive pedophiles,” (2) above or of average intelligence, (3)
offenders were middle-aged at time of first offense, (4) abused peripubescent
children, (5) offender history of early sexual experiences, and (6) diagnosis of a
personality disorder (Beier, 1998; Hall, 2007). Heterosexual pedophiles had
different predictors of recidivism. This population was most likely to reoffend if
(1) they had a poor support system, (2) they had their first sexual experience
before 19 years of age, (3) they were middle-aged or older at the time of the first
offense, and (4) if they had abused children unknown to them (Beier, 1998).
It should be pointed out that the average age of first sexual intercourse
has decreased over the years to 16 (as of 2008) making the Beier’s second
predictor of recidivism for heterosexual pedophiles unlikely to hold in today’s
social climate.
When evaluating child molesters, the target victim (intrafamilial vs. extra-
familial) has a profound impact on recidivism rates. In two studies looking at the
recidivism rates of subgroups of child molesters, intrafamilial offenders had the
lowest rates of sexual recidivism, violent recidivism, or any type of offending (6%,
12%, 27% respectively) compared to extrafamilial child molesters (15%, 20%, 42%
respectively) (Firestone et al., 2000). Harris confirmed that incest child moles-
ters display lower rates of recidivism than extrafamilial child molesters (Harris &
Hanson, 2004).
Perhaps the most critical factor in determination of recidivism rate is the
motivation behind the crime.
Under this categorization, two independent risk
factors that greatly influence sexual recidivism are perverse sexual fantasies
(paraphilic motivations) and antisocial orientation (nonparaphilc motivations)
(Hanson & Bussiere, 1998; Stone et al., 2000).
Paraphilics are at risk for
recidivism because of their sexual preference “combined with compulsive
fantasies and urges to engage in this illegal conduct” (Hanson & Bussiere,
1998). In general, the greater the paraphilic interest the higher the chance of
reoffense (Barbaree et al., 2006; Blanchard & Barbaree, 2005; Hanson &
Morton-Bourgon, 2005; Maletzky & Steinhauser, 2002; Olver & Wong, 2006;
Scott & Gerbasi, 2003; Seto et al., 2004). Data from Hanson and Morton-
Bourgon show that most child molesters and rapists are not paraphilics, but
rather antisocials or nonparaphilics (Hanson & Morton-Bourgon, 2005)
