How important is sexual preference in sexual recidivism? A sample of child sexual offenders study.

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Not only does sexual preference play an important role in the commission of a sexual offence, but also in its recidivism. In fact, sexual preference for children was found to be the best predictor of sexual recidivism among child sexual offenders in multiple research studies. But could the addition of contextual elements alter the statistical probability that a preferential child sexual offender will reoffend? To answer this question, we conducted a series of moderation analyses on a sample of 276 child sexual offenders to test the efficacy of various protective factors that are associated with the reduction of the risk of sexual offending recidivism. These analyses were not only based on literature specific to the study of sexual delinquency but also, to crime in general. Different protective factors were found to be effective in this research and so the theoretical and empirical implications of our results will be discussed.

Authors

• Etienne Garant, Université de Montréal

• Caroline Deli, Université de Montréal

• Ingrid Ménard, University of Montreal

• Jean Proulx, University of Montreal