Explaining Desistance in Female Sexual Offending

• In Event: Desistance and Re-entry of Female Offenders

Abstract

The scarce literature on female sexual offending indicates that adult female sexual offenders comprise about 1 to 5% of all sex offenders. This study has examined all adult female offenders (N=260) adjudicated in the Netherlands between 1990 and 2011 for a hands-on sexual offense. The majority of the female sexual offenders committed the sexual offense together with a male (romantic) partner and they victimized mostly children. The average age at which the women had started their criminal career was almost 33 years. Over their entire career, more than half (51%) of the women committed other offenses besides sexual offenses. The majority of the female sexual offenders desisted (defined as staying free from offending for a period of at least 5 years before the last date the offending data were collected, i.e. 2013). This study has examined which factors play a role in the termination of the criminal career of female sexual offenders. It is likely that extant theories of desistance do not apply to female sexual offenders and that factors like having children and supportive relations play a different role. The study concludes by discussing implications for research and treatment.

Authors

• Miriam Wijkman, VU University Amsterdam

• Catrien Bijleveld, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR)