Statistical Typologies Of Psychopathology In Women Who Have Sexually Offended

• In Event: Sexual Offending and Victimization within Criminal Justice Contexts

Abstract

Although early research on individuals who have sexually offended have been skewed to focus on men, there have been recent efforts to increase knowledge regarding women who perpetrate these crimes. Prior researchers have attempted to create typologies for women who have sexually offended (WWSO) but have created profiles based on factors that cannot be targeted in treatment or may have questionable use when predicting recidivism. The current study expanded on prior research pertaining to typologies of WWSO by incorporating gender-specific risk variables, precisely psychopathology and prior history of abuse during childhood and/or adulthood into statistically developed profiles. We used latent profile analysis to assess data from a sample of 203 women who were arrested, convicted, and sentenced for a sexual offense and participated in a treatment program in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Preliminary results suggest there are three prevailing profiles for WWSO, based on their psychopathology and abuse histories. These profiles differentially predicted sexual and non-sexual recidivism in the sample. Full results and implications of the present findings will be discussed.

Authors

• Nhi Ngoc Hoang Le, Sam Houston State University

• Holly A. Miller, Sam Houston State University

• Ethan A. Marshall, University of Houston-Downtown