The Criminal Careers of Institutional-Based Sex Offenders

• In Event: Multilevel Approach to Child Sexual Abuse: Profiles, Patterns, and Contexts

Abstract

Recently, many cases of sexual abuse in an institutional context (e.g., churches, sports, schools) have been highly publicized. However, only a few studies have been conducted on this issue and, to our knowledge, no studies have yet thoroughly investigated institutional-based sex offenders’ criminal careers. The aim of this study is to better understand the criminal careers of institutional-based sex offenders. Three objectives were identified: 1) to describe criminal careers of institutional-based sex offenders; 2) to describe how the institutional context may influence the criminal careers of institutional-based offenders; and 3) to make recommendations in connection with existing monitoring measures (e.g., background checks). Cases of Canadian institutional-based sex offenders were identified through police files. Data were coded using a coding grid based on previous studies in criminology (e.g., Blumstein et al., 1986). Descriptive and correlational analyses were then conducted to highlight institutional sex offenders’ criminal careers. Among other things, institutional sex offenders appear to have a high number of victims and a low rate of criminal convictions. Exploring institutional-based sex offenders’ criminal career will help tailor preventive measures.

Authors

• Elisabeth St-Pierre, Université Laval

• Patrick Lussier, Université Laval

• Nadine Deslauriers-Varin, Université Laval