An examination of the assumptions of specialization, mental disorder, and dangerousness in sex offenders

Abstract

Sex offenders have been singled out for differential treatment by the legal and mental health systems. This article attempts to inform law reform efforts and criminal justice mental health policy by examining the assumptions underlying differential legal and mental health treatment of sex offenders. These assumptions include the theories that sex offenders are mentally disordered and in need of treatment, specialists in sex crimes, and more dangerous than other criminal offenders. Empirical findings demonstrate that sex offenders are not specialists in sex crimes and are not mentally disordered. Examination of past research suggests that sex offenders are not at more risk than other criminal offenders to commit future sex crimes. Implications of research findings for selective prosecution of sex crime cases, mental health policy, sex offender legislation, and predictions of future dangerousness are discussed. Proposals for future research needs and law reform are presented.

Developmental Factors in Adolescent Child Sexual Offenders

“…Rather, adolescents who have committed a sexual offense are more likely to commit another nonsexual offense than a sexual offense (Carpentier, Leclerc, & Proulx, 2011; Hagan, King, & Patros, 1994; Rubenstein, Yeager, Goldstein, & Lewis, 1993; Waite et al, 2005). This is consistent with research on adult sex offenders whereby versatility in offending is more likely to characterize their criminal histories than is evidence of specialization (Simon, 2000; Smallbone & Wortley, 2004), although some degree of specialization appears to exist among a smaller number of sexual offenders, especially child sex offenders (Lussier, Proulx, & LeBlanc, 2005; Meithe, Olsen, & Mitchell, 2006).…”

Developmental Factors in Adolescent Child Sexual Offenders

“…Rather, adolescents who have committed a sexual offense are more likely to commit another nonsexual offense than a sexual offense (Carpentier, Leclerc, & Proulx, 2011; Hagan, King, & Patros, 1994; Rubenstein, Yeager, Goldstein, & Lewis, 1993; Waite et al, 2005). This is consistent with research on adult sex offenders whereby versatility in offending is more likely to characterize their criminal histories than is evidence of specialization (Simon, 2000; Smallbone & Wortley, 2004), although some degree of specialization appears to exist among a smaller number of sexual offenders, especially child sex offenders (Lussier, Proulx, & LeBlanc, 2005; Meithe, Olsen, & Mitchell, 2006).…”

Postrelease Specialization and Versatility in Sexual Offenders Referred for Civil Commitment

“…These policies include community registration and notification, residency restrictions, mandatory specialized treatment, and second generation civil commitment laws. Along with other recent studies (Lussier et al, 2005;Miethe et al, 2006;Simon, 2000;Smallbone & Wortley, 2004;Soothill et al, 2000), the present conclusion that sexual offenders, like other offenders, tend to be versatile in their criminal behavior call such approaches into question. Broader prevention efforts clearly need to do much more than rely on the selective policing and incapacitation of men identified as sexual offenders.…”

Decision Making in the Crime Commission Process

“…It has been well documented by several scholars that the community protection goal is clearly in reaction to pressure stemming from victims’ rights movements and the public reaction to isolated but extreme cases reported by the media (Lafond, 2005; Simon, 1998). Such policies are in line with a long tradition of beliefs suggesting that sex offenders are mainly driven by an uncontrollable urge to sexually offend (e.g., Simon, 2000). This assumption is not well supported by empirical evidence (e.g., Lussier, Proulx, & Leblanc, 2005).…”

Developmental Factors in Adolescent Child Sexual Offenders

“…Rather, adolescents who have committed a sexual offense are more likely to commit another nonsexual offense than a sexual offense (Carpentier, Leclerc, & Proulx, 2011; Hagan, King, & Patros, 1994; Rubenstein, Yeager, Goldstein, & Lewis, 1993; Waite et al, 2005). This is consistent with research on adult sex offenders whereby versatility in offending is more likely to characterize their criminal histories than is evidence of specialization (Simon, 2000; Smallbone & Wortley, 2004), although some degree of specialization appears to exist among a smaller number of sexual offenders, especially child sex offenders (Lussier, Proulx, & LeBlanc, 2005; Meithe, Olsen, & Mitchell, 2006).…”

Postrelease Specialization and Versatility in Sexual Offenders Referred for Civil Commitment

“…These policies include community registration and notification, residency restrictions, mandatory specialized treatment, and second generation civil commitment laws. Along with other recent studies (Lussier et al, 2005;Miethe et al, 2006;Simon, 2000;Smallbone & Wortley, 2004;Soothill et al, 2000), the present conclusion that sexual offenders, like other offenders, tend to be versatile in their criminal behavior call such approaches into question. Broader prevention efforts clearly need to do much more than rely on the selective policing and incapacitation of men identified as sexual offenders.…”

Decision Making in the Crime Commission Process

“…It has been well documented by several scholars that the community protection goal is clearly in reaction to pressure stemming from victims’ rights movements and the public reaction to isolated but extreme cases reported by the media (Lafond, 2005; Simon, 1998). Such policies are in line with a long tradition of beliefs suggesting that sex offenders are mainly driven by an uncontrollable urge to sexually offend (e.g., Simon, 2000). This assumption is not well supported by empirical evidence (e.g., Lussier, Proulx, & Leblanc, 2005).…”

Developmental Factors in Adolescent Child Sexual Offenders

“…Rather, adolescents who have committed a sexual offense are more likely to commit another nonsexual offense than a sexual offense (Carpentier, Leclerc, & Proulx, 2011; Hagan, King, & Patros, 1994; Rubenstein, Yeager, Goldstein, & Lewis, 1993; Waite et al, 2005). This is consistent with research on adult sex offenders whereby versatility in offending is more likely to characterize their criminal histories than is evidence of specialization (Simon, 2000; Smallbone & Wortley, 2004), although some degree of specialization appears to exist among a smaller number of sexual offenders, especially child sex offenders (Lussier, Proulx, & LeBlanc, 2005; Meithe, Olsen, & Mitchell, 2006).…”

Postrelease Specialization and Versatility in Sexual Offenders Referred for Civil Commitment

“…These policies include community registration and notification, residency restrictions, mandatory specialized treatment, and second generation civil commitment laws. Along with other recent studies (Lussier et al, 2005;Miethe et al, 2006;Simon, 2000;Smallbone & Wortley, 2004;Soothill et al, 2000), the present conclusion that sexual offenders, like other offenders, tend to be versatile in their criminal behavior call such approaches into question. Broader prevention efforts clearly need to do much more than rely on the selective policing and incapacitation of men identified as sexual offenders.…”

Decision Making in the Crime Commission Process

“…It has been well documented by several scholars that the community protection goal is clearly in reaction to pressure stemming from victims’ rights movements and the public reaction to isolated but extreme cases reported by the media (Lafond, 2005; Simon, 1998). Such policies are in line with a long tradition of beliefs suggesting that sex offenders are mainly driven by an uncontrollable urge to sexually offend (e.g., Simon, 2000). This assumption is not well supported by empirical evidence (e.g., Lussier, Proulx, & Leblanc, 2005).…”