RESUMEN
This study aimed at assessing the extent to which factors associated with male child sexual offending may also be applicable to women with a self-identified sexual interest in children. Participants (n = 42) took part in an anonymous online survey covering questions about general characteristics, general sexuality, sexual interest in children, and previously-perpetrated contact child sexual abuse. Group comparisons between women who reported committing contact child sexual abuse compared to those who had not were conducted in terms of sample characteristics. Furthermore, the two groups were compared regarding the factors of high sexual activity, use of child abuse material, indication of ICD-11 pedophilic disorder diagnosis, exclusivity of sexual interest in children, emotional congruence with children, and childhood maltreatment. Our results revealed that high sexual activity, indication of ICD-11 pedophilic disorder diagnosis, exclusivity of sexual interest in children, and emotional congruence with children were associated with previous contact child sexual abuse perpetration. We recommend further research on potential risk factors relating to child sexual abuse on the part of women.
Asunto(s)
Abuso Sexual Infantil , Maltrato a los Niños , Pedofilia , Niño , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Pedofilia/epidemiología , Pedofilia/psicología , Conducta Sexual/psicología , Abuso Sexual Infantil/psicología , SexualidadRESUMEN
Data-driven models, addressing the internal motivations, pathways to offending, and supportive cognitions amongst women who have sexually offended have emerged in recent years, with significant consequences for understanding risk factors and developing treatment programmes. In the current research, recent empirically based models were explored in a national sample consisting of all women who had committed sexual offences and were assessed over a 12-year period (n = 28). The utility of the motivational and cognitive models tested was supported, although not all cases could be easily coded, and new categories are suggested in order to better characterize the unique aspects of sex offending amongst women who have sexually offended. Key findings included fewer women than expected who reported being coerced by a male partner, frequent conjunction between sex and intimacy needs, and a lack of a clear relationship between offence-related cognitions and motivational pathways. The results support the importance of integrating and further developing gender-specific clinical factors within a gender-neutral treatment paradigm.
Asunto(s)
Motivación , Delitos Sexuales , Cognición , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Delitos Sexuales/psicología , Conducta SexualRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Determining the prevalence and characteristics of female-perpetrated child sexual abuse (CSA) is fraught with difficultly. There is a historical lack of empirical research and a discrepancy between the number of cases that reach the attention of the authorities and its suspected prevalence in society. It is also noted that for a myriad of reasons many CSA reports do not progress through the criminal justice process so many remain as allegations rather than proven or disproven crimes. OBJECTIVES: The study set out to answer the research questions: 'What are the characteristics and context of CSA reportedly perpetrated by females, and what are the similarities and differences in the context of alleged CSA committed by male and female suspects?' PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: This study presents data from all service users aged 0-17 years (n = 986) that attended Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for a forensic medical examination over a three-year period. METHODS: Data collection was performed retrospectively from the paper case files recorded at the time of attendance. Due to the small number of female suspects, analysis was restricted to frequency calculations. RESULTS: Results show females were reportedly involved in the alleged abuse of less than 4% of the children attending SARC. Females appeared more likely to be associated with the alleged abuse of younger children and abuse occurring within the child's home. CONCLUSIONS: This study's most arresting feature is that despite the large number of CSA cases examined, it was rare to have a female suspect. This study demonstrates how much is still unknown about female-perpetrated CSA.
Asunto(s)
Abuso Sexual Infantil/estadística & datos numéricos , Criminales/estadística & datos numéricos , Mujeres , Adolescente , Adulto , Niño , Preescolar , Investigación Empírica , Inglaterra/epidemiología , Humanos , Lactante , Prevalencia , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
Although many instruments have been validated to assess risk of sexual recidivism among men, no similar tool exists for women who have sexually offended. As a result, some jurisdictions use male-based instruments to assess women despite the lack of validation research examining the predictive utility for this subgroup. This study examined the utility of the Static-99R in predicting sexual recidivism among women. Based on a sample of 739 women convicted of sexual offenses in Texas, findings show that the total score was not significantly associated with sexual recidivism. When looking at individual items, other than a history of prior sexual offenses and noncontact sexual offenses, no item of the Static-99R was significantly associated with sexual recidivism among women. Furthermore, only three items (female victims/solo offender, 4+ sentencing dates, and having not lived with a romantic other for 2+ years) were significantly associated with nonsexual recidivism. These findings indicate that the Static-99R is not suitable to assess risk of recidivism among women convicted of sexual offenses.
Asunto(s)
Criminales , Reincidencia , Delitos Sexuales , Mujeres , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Medición de RiesgoRESUMEN
Despite the importance of studying sexual assaults perpetrated by women, the field knows very little about female sexual offenders' (FSOs) use of violence or physical injury resulting from these assaults. This study draws more than 20 years of National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data reported to police (1992-2014) to identify factors that distinguish between female perpetrated incidents of sexual assault that result in severe, minor, or no physical victim injuries above and beyond the sexual assault itself. Using a multinomial logistic regression model (MNLM), 15,928 incidents of FSO-perpetrated sexual assault were analyzed from the NIBRS. The results showed that the extent of victim injuries sustained during the sexual assault incidents was associated with a number of factors, including the presence of a female victim, the age of victim, a greater number of offenders, and the presence of weapons. In particular, incidents that resulted in major victim injuries were significantly associated with alcohol and drug use by the perpetrator. In general, incidents with young children were at increased risk of a sexual assault resulting in a major or minor victim injury. Although further investigation is needed to continue to better understand female sexual offending behaviors, these findings suggest that certain incident characteristics increase the likelihood of the assault to involve the use of violence by an FSO against her victims.
Asunto(s)
Víctimas de Crimen , Criminales , Delitos Sexuales , Mujeres , Niño , Preescolar , Crimen , Femenino , HumanosRESUMEN
Studies have highlighted differences in the victim choice, offender, and offense characteristics of female and male sexual offenders. However, little is known about how solo and co-offending females differ from solo male sexual offenders. We compared the characteristics of 20 solo and 20 co-offending females (co-offended with a male and/or female accomplice), and 40 male sexual offenders against children. We found that solo female offenders showed the most evidence of personal problems, including depression and sexual dissatisfaction. Compared with male offenders, female co-offenders showed poorer self-management, but better sexual self-regulation. Male offenders had a greater history of offending and showed more evidence of sexual abuse supportive cognitions relative to both solo and co-offending females. These results are consistent with the need for a gender-specific approach to working with sexual offenders and may have implications for understanding the often complex treatment needs of these clients.
Asunto(s)
Abuso Sexual Infantil , Criminales , Autocontrol/psicología , Factores Sexuales , Delitos Sexuales , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Niño , Abuso Sexual Infantil/prevención & control , Abuso Sexual Infantil/psicología , Comorbilidad , Víctimas de Crimen/estadística & datos numéricos , Criminales/clasificación , Criminales/estadística & datos numéricos , Bases de Datos Factuales/estadística & datos numéricos , Demografía , Depresión/psicología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Personalidad , Rol , Delitos Sexuales/prevención & control , Delitos Sexuales/psicología , Delitos Sexuales/tendencias , Estados Unidos/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Research in the last few years has begun to examine the prevalence of female sexual offending as well as attempting to understand the predictors of sexually coercive behavior among women. Although women engage in sexual coercion significantly less often than men, more research on female sexual coercion is warranted. The current study provides an exploratory examination of the relationship between several attitudinal, experiential, and situational factors, and the use of various sexual coercion tactics among a sample of 582 sexually active, female undergraduate students, as well as proposing an explanatory model of female sexual coercion. Results indicate that several variables that are significant predictors of sexual aggression for men are also predictive for women. However, these variables seem to work differently in predicting sexually coercive behavior for women. Implications for theory and further study are discussed.
Asunto(s)
Coerción , Conducta Sexual , Adulto , Agresión , Actitud , Femenino , Humanos , Modelos Psicológicos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
The general consensus among researchers is that the prevalence of sexual paraphilias among female sexual offenders is low relative to male sexual offenders (Cortoni & Gannon, 2013). In addition, there is very limited information about gender specific paraphilic behaviors and characteristics pertaining to females who commit sexual assaults (Pflugradt & Allen, 2014). This study examined the characteristics of female, solo sexual offenders who sexually assaulted prepubescent (n = 14) and postpubescent (n = 15) children. A content analysis was utilized to examine their psychological characteristics. Nonparametric analysis indicated that significantly more offenders with prepubescent victims had multiple paraphilias, poor cognitive problem-solving, noncompliance with supervision, and negative social influences. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.
Asunto(s)
Víctimas de Crimen/psicología , Literatura Erótica , Trastornos Parafílicos/psicología , Pubertad/psicología , Delitos Sexuales/psicología , Adolescente , Conducta del Adolescente/psicología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Maduración Sexual/fisiología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
In recent years, there has been accumulating evidence that sexual abuse committed by females is not rare and can be just as traumatic as sexual abuse committed by males. Despite the increased recognition given to sex offending by adult women, however, very little attention has been given to sex offenses committed by juvenile females. There has further been very little published material that has focused specifically on intervening with female children and adolescents before they offend. In an attempt to fill this gap, this article describes common characteristics of juvenile female sex offenders, ways in which juvenile female sex offenders are similar to and different from juvenile male sex offenders, and the limitations that exist related to our knowledge about these offenders. Based on this information, suggestions are given for possible ways to intervene in the lives of at-risk female youth before they offend.
Asunto(s)
Conducta del Adolescente/psicología , Víctimas de Crimen/psicología , Conducta Peligrosa , Delincuencia Juvenil/psicología , Prevención Primaria/métodos , Delitos Sexuales/psicología , Adolescente , Víctimas de Crimen/estadística & datos numéricos , Literatura Erótica , Femenino , Humanos , Delincuencia Juvenil/estadística & datos numéricos , Delitos Sexuales/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
Some jurisdictions have legally decreed that certain nonsexual offenses (e.g., promoting prostitution of a minor, arson, burglary) can be considered sexual offenses. Offenders convicted of these crimes can be subjected to sexual offender-specific social control policies such as registration, as well as be included in sexual offender research such as recidivism studies. No studies, however, have systematically examined differences and similarities between this new class of sexual offenders and more traditional sexual offenders. The current study used a sample of 94 women convicted of sexual offenses to investigate whether women convicted of promoting prostitution of a minor differed on demographic and criminogenic features from those convicted of more traditional sexual offenses. Results show that women convicted of promoting prostitution offenses have criminal histories more consistent with general criminality and exhibit more general antisocial features than women convicted of traditional sexual offenses. These results support the notion that the inclusion of legally defined sexual offenders with traditional ones obscures important differences in criminogenic features among these women.
Asunto(s)
Abuso Sexual Infantil/estadística & datos numéricos , Criminales/estadística & datos numéricos , Trabajo Sexual/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Niño , Abuso Sexual Infantil/legislación & jurisprudencia , Crimen/legislación & jurisprudencia , Crimen/estadística & datos numéricos , Femenino , Humanos , Medición de Riesgo , Delitos Sexuales/legislación & jurisprudencia , Delitos Sexuales/estadística & datos numéricos , Trabajo Sexual/legislación & jurisprudencia , Políticas de Control Social , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Female sex offenders may be implicated in up to one fifth of all sex crimes committed in the United States. Despite previous research findings that suggest unique patterns of offending among female sex offenders, limited empirical research has investigated the motivations and processes involved. The present study qualitatively examined female sex offenders' offense-related experiences and characterized the internal and external factors that contributed to offending. Semi-structured interviews with 24 female sex offenders were analyzed by a team of coders with limited exposure to the existing literature using grounded theory analysis. A conceptual framework emerged representing distinctive processes for solo- and co-offending, contextualized within ecological layers of social and environmental influence. This model extends previous work by offering an example of nested vulnerabilities proximal to female sexual offending. Implications for future research, prevention, and treatment are discussed.
Asunto(s)
Adultos Sobrevivientes del Maltrato a los Niños/psicología , Abuso Sexual Infantil/psicología , Víctimas de Crimen/psicología , Criminales/psicología , Delitos Sexuales/psicología , Estrés Psicológico/psicología , Mujeres/psicología , Adulto , Niño , Femenino , Teoría Fundamentada , Humanos , Acontecimientos que Cambian la Vida , Persona de Mediana Edad , Motivación , Investigación Cualitativa , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
This study examined all group sexual offending cases in the Netherlands between 1995 and 2009 (n = 26) in which at least one juvenile female offender (n = 35) had been adjudicated. Information from court files showed that the majority of juvenile female group sexual offenders have (inter)personal problems and (sexual) abuse experiences. The aims of the offender groups in committing the offense could be categorized in three themes: harassing the victim, sexual gratification, and taking revenge. The reasons why juvenile female offenders participated in a group could be categorized into group dynamics versus instrumental reasons. The findings are contrasted with findings on juvenile male group sexual offenders. Implications of the findings for research and treatment are discussed.
Asunto(s)
Abuso Sexual Infantil/estadística & datos numéricos , Conducta Cooperativa , Criminales/estadística & datos numéricos , Delincuencia Juvenil , Adolescente , Adulto , Niño , Abuso Sexual Infantil/psicología , Víctimas de Crimen/estadística & datos numéricos , Criminales/psicología , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Países Bajos , Delitos Sexuales/psicología , Delitos Sexuales/estadística & datos numéricos , Conducta Social , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Although recent typologies of female sexual offenders have recognized the importance of having a co-offender, the clinical characteristics of solo and co-female sexual offenders remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to compare solo (n = 20) and co- (n = 20) female sexual offenders on a variety of clinical characteristics. It was found that although solo and co-offenders reported similar developmental experiences and psychological dispositions, differences were found in environmental niche, offense preceding, and positive factors. Specifically, solo offenders demonstrated a greater presence of personal vulnerabilities including mental health and substance abuse difficulties. Co-offenders reported a greater presence of environmentally based factors, including a current partner who was a known sex offender and involvement with antisocial peers. It is suggested that these results have implications for understanding assessment and intervention needs for these groups of sexual offenders.
Asunto(s)
Abuso Sexual Infantil/estadística & datos numéricos , Conducta Cooperativa , Criminales/estadística & datos numéricos , Esposos/estadística & datos numéricos , Mujeres , Adolescente , Adulto , Trastorno de Personalidad Antisocial , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Grupo Paritario , Personalidad , Delitos Sexuales/estadística & datos numéricos , Conducta SocialRESUMEN
Identifying the ways in which male and female sex offenders differ is an important but understudied topic. Studies that do exist have been challenged by a reliance on small and select samples. Improving on these limitations, we use the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) to compare male and female sex offenders among all 802,150 incidents of sexual assault reported to police across 37 states between 1991 and 2011. Findings indicated some broad similarities between groups, including the most prominent offense location (home), most common victim-offender relationship (acquaintance), and the rarity of injuries or drug abuse during crimes. However, the data also showed several important differences between male and female sexual offenders. Most notably, females offended with male accomplices in more than 30% of their sexual crimes--far more often than occurred among male sexual offenders (2%). Likewise, females offended against a victim of the same sex in nearly half of their crimes, yet this was only true in approximately 10% of male sexual offenses. Implications for future research are discussed.
Asunto(s)
Abuso Sexual Infantil/estadística & datos numéricos , Víctimas de Crimen/estadística & datos numéricos , Criminales/estadística & datos numéricos , Delitos Sexuales/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Niño , Bases de Datos Factuales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores Sexuales , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/epidemiología , Estados Unidos/epidemiología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
National statistics on the incidence of rape play an important role in the work of policymakers and academics. The Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) have provided some of the most widely used and influential statistics on the incidence of rape across the United States over the past 80 years. The definition of rape used by UCR changed in 2012 to include substantially more types of sexual assault. This article draws on 20 years of data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System to describe the impact this definitional change will have on estimates of the incidence of rape and trends over time. Drawing on time series as well as panel random effects methodologies, we show that 40% of sexual assaults have been excluded by the prior definition and that the magnitude of this error has grown over time. However, the overall trend in rape over time (year-to-year change) was not substantially different when comparing events meeting the prior definition and the subgroups of sexual assault that will now be counted.
Asunto(s)
Violencia Doméstica/legislación & jurisprudencia , Violencia Doméstica/prevención & control , Aplicación de la Ley , Violación/legislación & jurisprudencia , Violación/prevención & control , Maltrato Conyugal/legislación & jurisprudencia , Criminales/clasificación , Criminales/legislación & jurisprudencia , Femenino , Humanos , Política Pública/legislación & jurisprudencia , Factores de Riesgo , Maltrato Conyugal/prevención & control , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
This study explored the prevalence of early trauma in a sample of U.S. female sexual offenders (N = 47) using the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scale. Compared with females in the general population, sex offenders had more than three times the odds of child sexual abuse, four times the odds of verbal abuse, and more than three times the odds of emotional neglect and having an incarcerated family member. Half of the female sex offenders had been sexually abused as a child. Only 20% endorsed zero adverse childhood experiences (compared with 35% of the general female population) and 41% endorsed four or more (compared with 15% of the general female population). Higher ACE scores were associated with having younger victims. Multiple maltreatments often co-occurred in households with other types of dysfunction, suggesting that many female sex offenders were raised within a disordered social environment by adults with problems of their own who were ill-equipped to protect their daughters from harm. By enhancing our understanding of the frequency and correlates of early adverse experiences, we can better devise trauma-informed interventions that respond to the clinical needs of female sex offender clients.
Asunto(s)
Adultos Sobrevivientes del Maltrato a los Niños/estadística & datos numéricos , Abuso Sexual Infantil/estadística & datos numéricos , Víctimas de Crimen/estadística & datos numéricos , Criminales/estadística & datos numéricos , Delitos Sexuales/estadística & datos numéricos , Mujeres , Adolescente , Adulto , Adultos Sobrevivientes del Maltrato a los Niños/psicología , Adultos Sobrevivientes de Eventos Adversos Infantiles/psicología , Adultos Sobrevivientes de Eventos Adversos Infantiles/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Abuso Sexual Infantil/psicología , Víctimas de Crimen/psicología , Criminales/psicología , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Prevalencia , Factores de Riesgo , Delitos Sexuales/psicología , Estados Unidos , Mujeres/psicología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
The present study aimed to examine differences in psychosocial and developmental characteristics between Adolescent Females who have committed Sexual Offenses (AFSOs; n = 40), Adolescent Females who have committed nonsexual Violent Offenses (AFVOs; n = 533), and Adolescent Males who have committed Sexual Offenses (AMSO, n = 743). Results showed that AFSOs and AMSOs were remarkably similar, whereas AFSOs and AFVOs were remarkably different on the measured variables. Compared to AFVOs, AFSOs less often had antisocial friends and problems in the domains of school (truancy, behavior problems, dropping out of school) and family (e.g., parental problems, poor authority and control, and run away from home). Victimization of sexual abuse outside the family and social isolation were found to be more common in AFSOs than in AFVOs. Victimization of sexual abuse outside the family was the only specific characteristic of female adolescent sexual offending, as this was more common in AFSOs than in both AMSOs and AFVOs.