Sex offenders reoffended after getting out of prison.

[Cainkane1]

I was watching CSI Miami and the episode featured a sex offender released from prison stalking a child with a knife in a park. How often does this actually happen? It seems to me prison would be such a frightening experience that the offender would be too intimidated to reoffend. I know it happens but how often?

[ponderingturtle]

I was watching CSI Miami and the episode featured a sex offender released from prison stalking a child with a knife in a park. How often does this actually happen? It seems to me prison would be such a frightening experience that the offender would be too intimidated to reoffend. I know it happens but how often?

The problem is that sex offender is now a very broad term. But child molesters and the like do seem to have high recidivism rates. Someone who was say 20 having sex with a 15 year old after a party, I don't know.

[Bikewer]

From my reading regarding paraphilia, most authorities indicate that one is never cured of these conditions.
They may be controlled by drugs that suppress the libido, but like many of these drugs there are unpleasant side effects.

[Modified]

The problem is that sex offender is now a very broad term. But child molesters and the like do seem to have high recidivism rates. Someone who was say 20 having sex with a 15 year old after a party, I don't know.

I just did a web search and it seems to be the opposite. Child molesters have lower recidivism rates than sex offenders in general, and those have much lower recidivism rates than criminals in general.

[luchog]

I just did a web search and it seems to be the opposite. Child molesters have lower recidivism rates than sex offenders in general, and those have much lower recidivism rates than criminals in general.

You have to be careful of the sources, since many don't differentiate between monitored and unmonitored offenders. Convicted child molesters are required to undergo an extended period of monitoring and treatment as a condition of their release; and are typically highly regulated in what occupations they're allowed to pursue, locations they're allowed to live, and so on. Community notification laws, such as Megan's Law, also tend to ensure that they're informally monitored (and often harrassed) by whatever community they relocate to. Monitored offenders do in deed have a very low recidivism rate, specificially because of the monitoring. That's what it's there to do.

Unmonitored offenders who are not in treatment have a recidivism rate far higher. Most studies I've seen have put the long-term recidivism rate between 50 and 75% percent; with the longer-term studies registering high rates of recidivism. The problem with studies that show very low rates is that they are typically very short term, under 5 years. There's also the issue that the more serious offenders typically do not get released, but frequently serve sentences that are frequently life sentences de facto, if not de novo; and a significant number do not survive in prison.
http://www.safe-nz.org.nz/Articles/sexoffenders.htm
http://www.safe-nz.org.nz/Articles/paedos.htm

[gumboot]

I was watching CSI Miami and the episode featured a sex offender released from prison stalking a child with a knife in a park. How often does this actually happen? It seems to me prison would be such a frightening experience that the offender would be too intimidated to reoffend. I know it happens but how often?

Do you mean sex offenders specifically, or offenders in general?

Some figures I have seen:

60% of prisoners reoffend within 2 years in the UK.

40% of prisoners reoffend within 2 years in Australia.

90% of youth offenders reoffend in New Zealand (youths make up 50% of all prisoners in New Zealand).

[Modified]

Unmonitored offenders who are not in treatment have a recidivism rate far higher. Most studies I've seen have put the long-term recidivism rate between 50 and 75% percent;

Yes, that is what I was seeing for sex offenders in general (lower for child molesters specifically). But for convicted criminals in general, you get that recidivism rate after only two years or so, so by comparison it is very low.

[Kestrel]

The problem is that sex offender is now a very broad term.

It is a very broad term.

In my state, the term "sex offender" includes prostitutes, guys picked up attempting to hire a prostitute, indecent exposure and even streaking (http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/apr/26/aclu-lobby-nudity-laws-sex-offender-naked-boulder/).

All of these people can end up on the official "registered sex offender list", a term the public equates to "people who rape children".

[Lonewulf]

Fred Phelps might make a website like that. "Prostitutes Rape Kids!"

[casebro]

Or consensual sex in less-than-total privacy, or even urinating in less-than-total privacy.

[Professor Yaffle]

Does anyone have any details on how/if Megan's Law has affected rates of reoffending or "going undergound" (out of supervision)?

[luchog]

Yes, that is what I was seeing for sex offenders in general (lower for child molesters specifically). But for convicted criminals in general, you get that recidivism rate after only two years or so, so by comparison it is very low.

Except, as I noted, the comparison was a false one. General offenders are not subject to the monitoring, treatment, and community notification requirements that many sex offenders, particularly paedophiles, are. This skews the numbers dramatically.

There is also the issue that most other offenses are opportunistic and can be committed very easily. Child molesters typically take a considerable amount of time to locate, target, and "groom" their victims. It's a very slow process; which the short-term recidivism rate numbers don't take into account. Technically, they're "re-offending" within a similar period of time, but the nature of the process disguises the re-offense, which doesn't fully manifest until much later. Furthermore, targets of paedophiles are typically closely related or well-know to them (family friends, neighbors); so they don't have nearly as many opportunities for recidivism as those convicted of, say, robbery or violent rape. The non-sexual crime that most closely approaches similar circumstances is embezzlement.

Studies which take these factors into account show a recidivism rate that is typically far higher than any other criminal act. Those that project a "likelihood" of recidivism, as opposed to a demonstrated rate, most often put the figure at or near 100%. The fact that the rate is as low as it is shows that the monitoring and community notification laws work reasonably effectively.

[Darth Rotor]

Man, this thread gets to me.
Or consensual sex in less-than-total privacy, or even urinating in less-than-total privacy.

How is taking a piss a sex offense?

[Lonewulf]

How is taking a piss a sex offense?

Indecent exposure, of course. :rolleyes:

I roll my eyes not at you, in case it wasn't obvious, but the law.

This is getting way too farking ridiculous.

[Darth Rotor]

Indecent exposure, of course. :rolleyes:

I roll my eyes not at you, in case it wasn't obvious, but the law.

This is getting way too farking ridiculous.
We have an accord.

If I stand in your lawn, and wave me willie at your aunties, that might be a sexually construed offense.

If I piss on a telephone pole, it's because I need to, and I have had too much beer, and I am not with woman.

No sex involved.

And no, officer, that goat wandered up on its own ... :jaw-dropp

DR

[Lonewulf]

The thing is, I know it's stupid. You know it's stupid. Hell, everyone, their family, and their pets know it's stupid.

How the **** are these laws getting passed?

[ponderingturtle]

Except, as I noted, the comparison was a false one. General offenders are not subject to the monitoring, treatment, and community notification requirements that many sex offenders, particularly paedophiles, are. This skews the numbers dramatically.

There is also the issue that most other offenses are opportunistic and can be committed very easily. Child molesters typically take a considerable amount of time to locate, target, and "groom" their victims. It's a very slow process; which the short-term recidivism rate numbers don't take into account. Technically, they're "re-offending" within a similar period of time, but the nature of the process disguises the re-offense, which doesn't fully manifest until much later. Furthermore, targets of paedophiles are typically closely related or well-know to them (family friends, neighbors); so they don't have nearly as many opportunities for recidivism as those convicted of, say, robbery or violent rape. The non-sexual crime that most closely approaches similar circumstances is embezzlement.

Studies which take these factors into account show a recidivism rate that is typically far higher than any other criminal act. Those that project a "likelihood" of recidivism, as opposed to a demonstrated rate, most often put the figure at or near 100%. The fact that the rate is as low as it is shows that the monitoring and community notification laws work reasonably effectively.

That and also remember that unlike many crimes the recitivism rate does not decrease with age.

[Modified]

Except, as I noted, the comparison was a false one. General offenders are not subject to the monitoring, treatment, and community notification requirements that many sex offenders, particularly paedophiles, are. This skews the numbers dramatically.

There is also the issue that most other offenses are opportunistic and can be committed very easily. Child molesters typically take a considerable amount of time to locate, target, and "groom" their victims. It's a very slow process; which the short-term recidivism rate numbers don't take into account. Technically, they're "re-offending" within a similar period of time, but the nature of the process disguises the re-offense, which doesn't fully manifest until much later. Furthermore, targets of paedophiles are typically closely related or well-know to them (family friends, neighbors); so they don't have nearly as many opportunities for recidivism as those convicted of, say, robbery or violent rape. The non-sexual crime that most closely approaches similar circumstances is embezzlement.

Studies which take these factors into account show a recidivism rate that is typically far higher than any other criminal act. Those that project a "likelihood" of recidivism, as opposed to a demonstrated rate, most often put the figure at or near 100%. The fact that the rate is as low as it is shows that the monitoring and community notification laws work reasonably effectively.

All that may be true, but if someone says the recidivism rate for child molesters is higher than for other criminals, and I know that most criminals will reoffend within two years, that may give me an unrealistic picture of what is actually happening. The difference between short term and long term recidivism rates is enlightening though.

[luchog]

All that may be true, but if someone says the recidivism rate for child molesters is higher than for other criminals, and I know that most criminals will reoffend within two years, that may give me an unrealistic picture of what is actually happening.
Not necessarily. It's highly likely that the recidivism in unmonitored paedophiles is in fact occurring within the first two years after the monitoring period ends. The problem is that it's a very long-term process; so while the paedophile may begin the process within the first two years, the effects will very likely not be visible for quite a long time after that. It's a much more complex situation than most other crimes.

[Ferguson]

I remember reading an article in Time years ago, saying that over 50% of criminals released on parole commit crime again. If they mean real criminals who commit murder or rape, I say why on Earth are we still letting them out on parole? If they mean over 50% of 'criminals' smoke a joint after they're released... well, no duh.

[luchog]

I remember reading an article in Time years ago, saying that over 50% of criminals released on parole commit crime again. If they mean real criminals who commit murder or rape, I say why on Earth are we still letting them out on parole? If they mean over 50% of 'criminals' smoke a joint after they're released... well, no duh.

Good point, I hadn't thought about that one. The general "criminals re-offend within 2 years" claim is meaningless without a breakdown by the type of crime committed at the very least; with the type of re-offense (similar, lesser, escalation) and offender demographic being very useful as well.

[Beerina]

The problem is that sex offender is now a very broad term. But child molesters and the like do seem to have high recidivism rates. Someone who was say 20 having sex with a 15 year old after a party, I don't know.


Let's not forget the assholic prosecutors trying to convict teenagers as adults for producing and distributing child pornography -- newd phonecam shots of themselves. And often sending it to children -- their friends!