RECIDIVISM RATES OF SEXUAL PREDATORS

Recidivism Rates of Sexual Predators



Recidivism Rates of Sexual Predators

Problem Statement

The recidivism rates of sexual predators continue to rise, despite sexual registration and community notification laws, policies, and acts (Filler, 2001). Existing punishment strategies for convicted child sexual offenders are based on incarceration, retribution, and limited parole supervision. Research indicated current incarceration methods do not provide treatment or deter convicted child sexual offenders from recidivating (Levenson & D'Amora, 2006). Current punishment approaches do not consider the perspectives of convicted child sexual offenders, which may lead to forming effective programs and treatment options. An estimated one out of three children who are sexually molested were victimized by a non-relative community member (The National Child Abuse and Neglect Center, 2007). The recidivism rates of sexual predators continue to rise, despite sexual registration and community notification laws, policies, and acts. A longitudinal study conducted in Canada, followed 4,724 known sex offenders over a period of 15 years. Twenty-four percent of these sex offenders were either convicted of a sexual offense, or charged with a sexual offense (Harris & Hanson, 2004). The dissertation project will address the problem by studying the perspectives and perceptions of convicted male child sexual offenders.

Background of the Study

Current punishment models do not seek to include alternative strategies to incarceration based on the perceptions of convicted child sexual offenders (Levenson & D'Amora, 2006). Understanding the perceptions of convicted child sexual offenders may permit unconventional programs, such as residential treatment, group therapy, and indeterminate parole practices to be included in a federal or state comprehensive sexual registration and community notification law (Levenson & D'Amora). Present policies do not provide legislators the opportunity to develop efficient and effective laws based on alternative strategies to incarceration (Trivits & Reppucci, 2002).

Current punishment models focus on retribution of sexual offenders rather than rehabilitation and do not involve using alternative punishment models based on rehabilitative programs like housing, employment, educational placement and indeterminate parole periods (Levenson & Cotter, 2000). Based on statistics and surveys the implementation of a comprehensive sexual registration and community notification law is needed to deter and reduce recidivism rates among convicted child sexual offenders (Levenson & D'Amora, 2006). Current punishment models do not consider useful and humane public policies for sexual offenders and expand alternative crime prevention strategies inside and outside the criminal justice system (Stockholm Criminology Symposium, 2008). Once a sexual offender is released from prision the same parole practices are instituted for a drug dealer or robbery offenders. Parole practices are not customized for convicted child sexual offenders based on their thoughts and opinions which may lead to reducing recidivism rates. These problems combined with current ineffective strategies lead to higher recidivism rates among convicted sexual offenders and force prolonged incarceration practices (Levenson & Cotter, 2000).

A comprehensive sexual registration and community notification law using alternative forms of punishment from the perspective of convicted child sexual offenders may provide criminal justice leaders greater opportunity to protect the nation's youngest and most vulnerable victims from convicted child ...