A Comparison of Sex Offenders and Other Types of Offenders Referred to Intellectual Disability Forensic Services

Abstract

This study compared 131 sex offenders with ID and 346 other types of offenders with ID using case file records.. All the females in the study were non sexual offenders. Significantly more sexual offenders were referred from court and criminal justice services while significantly fewer were referred from secondary healthcare. A higher percentage of sex offenders had some form of legal status at time of referral. Greater proportions of non sexual offenders were referred for aggression, damage to property, substance abuse and fire setting while only the sex offenders had an index sex offence. For previous offending, the non sexual offenders had higher rates of aggression, cruelty and neglect of children, property damage and substance abuse while the sexual offenders had higher rates of previous sexual offending. For psychiatric disturbance and adversity in childhood, only ADHD showed a significant difference between groups with the non sexual offenders recording higher rates.

The Impact of Known Criminogenic Factors on Offenders with Intellectual Disability: Previous Findings and New Results onADHD

“…However, the forensic group had significantly higher rates of personality disorder. Lindsay et al (2012a) reported no differences between sexual offenders and violent offenders on the rates of mental illness although rates for both groups were consistent with findings from other populations with intellectual disability at around 35%. Vinkers (2013) in a large study on 12 186 individuals in the Netherlands who had been subject to pre-trial psychiatric reports found that those with an IQ of less than 70 had lower rates (nonsignificant) of psychotic disorder than those with an IQ above 85.…”

A meta-analysis of the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in incarcerated populations

“…The authors of 11 studies were contacted directly in personal communications to ascertain missing information relating to age of the study population (Black et al 2004 ; Sanz-Garcia et al 2010 a , b ), gender (Vitelli, 1996 ), method of assessment of ADHD (Gordon & Moore, 2005 ), study population (Cahill et al 2012 ; Colins et al 2012 ) and verification of the incarcerated status of the sample (Langevin, 2003 ; Rosler et al. 2009 ; Retz & Rosler, 2010 ; Lindsay et al 2012 ). All responded with additional information that had not been included in the original publication and, if meeting inclusion criteria, was included in this meta-analysis (indicated in Supplementary Tables S1 and S2).…”

Sex Trafficking of Girls With Intellectual Disabilities: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study

“…Several researchers have documented the opinions of police, prosecutors, and social workers regarding individuals with ID involved in prostitution based on a small number of cases (Kuosmanen & Starke, 2011, 2013). Other researchers have examined the types of crimes committed by those with ID in comparison with those without ID (Lindsay et al, 2011) or compared sex offenders with ID with non-sex offenders with ID (Lindsay et al, 2004; van den Bogaard, Embregts, Hendriks, & Heestermans, 2013) with prostitution arrests recorded against both male and female adults with ID (Lindsay, Steele, Smith, Quinn, & Allan, 2006). However, research exploring the circumstances elevating risk for exploitation in sex trafficking of girls with ID or detailing victim–offender dynamics between sex traffickers and girls with ID is lacking.…”