A Comparison of Risk Factors Among Discharged Military Veterans and Civilians Involuntarily Hospitalized Under California’s Sexually Violent Predator Act

Abstract

While military veterans have a lower overall rate of incarceration for criminal offenses than civilians, they have a higher rate of incarceration for violent sexual offenses. Despite military veteran overrepresentation among individuals adjudicated for violent sexual offenses, little is known about their risk factors for sexual offending. This study compared military veterans and civilians who had been involuntarily hospitalized and discharged pursuant to California’s Sexually Violent Predator Act. Pedophilic disorder appeared nearly twice as often among veterans than civilians (62.7% vs. 38.7%), whereas antisocial personality disorder was twice as common among civilians compared to veterans (48.1% vs. 23.9%). Consistent with the result for pedophilic disorder, veterans were more likely to target male victims age 13 and below, while civilians tended to target female victims over the age of 13. The results suggest different risk profiles for veterans compared to civilians who have been convicted of sexually violent offenses.

Pathways for VA and community stakeholder management of military veterans with sexual offenses: Sexual and nonsexual recidivism rates and risk factors in military veterans released from California sexually violent predator (SVP) commitment.

“…We used the data set as detailed by Paden et al (2021) and Azizian et al (2022); the methods are as described within these published articles. As detailed within these prior publications (Azizian et al, 2022; Paden et al, 2021), institutional review board (IRB) approval was obtained from the California Committee Protection of Human Subjects, which serves as the IRB for all California state agencies. The study also underwent review by the California State Hospital Research Committee.…”

“…Reference is made to the data coding and entry procedures as detailed in Paden et al (2021). SVP evaluations are conducted independently by two evaluators (primarily psychologists) designated by the California Department of State Hospitals to perform such evaluations (Weinberger et al, 2018).…”

“…Demographic data were extracted from the hospital face sheet, which reported information including that of ethnicity, date of birth, and veteran status. All information extracted from forensic evaluation were coded independently by two of the Paden et al authors and then verified by the second coder for its accuracy (Paden et al, 2021). As described in Paden et al, the coding agreement between the two raters was high; however, interrater reliability was not calculated.…”

Reset for systematic action: Removing VA barriers to housing and treatment for military veterans with sexual offenses.

“…Another study of high-risk sexual offenders released from sexually violent predator commitment, found that military veterans, when compared to civilians, were more likely to target male victims under age 13, were almost twice as likely to have a pedophilic disorder than their civilian counterparts, and had high rates of childhood sexual trauma (Paden et al, 2021). Veterans with sexual trauma history have higher odds of committing a sexual offense than other offenses (Finlay et al, 2019).…”

“…One found that military veterans with a history of multiple sexual offenses (more than one victim) tended to have male victims, histories of alcohol abuse, childhood physical trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD; Brooks Holliday et al, 2021). Another study of high-risk sexual offenders released from sexually violent predator commitment, found that military veterans, when compared to civilians, were more likely to target male victims under age 13, were almost twice as likely to have a pedophilic disorder than their civilian counterparts, and had high rates of childhood sexual trauma (Paden et al, 2021). Veterans with sexual trauma history have higher odds of committing a sexual offense than other offenses (Finlay et al, 2019).…”