Aligning Criminal Behaviors to Societal Expectations: Exploring the Excuses and Justifications of Sex Offenders

• In Event: Advances in Sexual Offense Policy Research: Qualitative Examinations of Sex Offender Populations

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to explore the excuses and justifications of individuals who were convicted of sexually assaulting adults and those who were convicted of abusing minors. We specifically focused on how these offenders aligned their criminal behaviors to societal expectations pre-and post-conviction. Our data consists of interview narratives from sex offenders who were released from prison and were assessed in 2014. All interviews were supplemented by criminal history reports, court records, police investigative reports, initial victim and offender statements, social history surveys, and probation and parole reports. Policy implications and recommendations for future research will also be discussed.

Authors

• Mollee Steely, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Tusty ten Bensel, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Molly Smith, University of Arkansas at Little Rock