NCJ Number
140201
Journal
Reports of the National Research Institute of Police Science Volume: 33 Issue: 1 Dated: (July 1992) Pages: 30-41
Date Published
1992
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Offender traits of child molesters in Japan were analyzed using 270 child molestation cases which occurred in 1989 and 1990.
Abstract
Although most molesters were strangers to the victims, some were neighbors. All offenders were male, and most were under 30 years of age. People with a history of mental disorders and mental retardation constituted 17 percent of the offenders. The educational background of molesters was generally low; only 44 percent had completed compulsory education. About 40 percent were either unemployed or employed as construction laborers and belonged to a socioeconomically lower class. Only 17 percent of the offenders had spouses, 43 percent lived with parents, and 22 percent lived alone. Slightly over half (52 percent) of the offenders had one or more previous offenses, and 36 percent had committed one or more sexual offense, including child molestation and rape. With respect to personality, about half of the offenders were assessed as gloomy, lonely, introverted types. Their interest in children, therefore, appeared to represent a substitute for feelings of inferiority and difficulties in contacting adult females. The use of alcoholic beverages reduced inhibitions in molesting children, and about half of the offenders were interested in pornographic videos and magazines. Offenders who used a car in the molestation offense ranged in age from 20 to 50 years, were employed, and were socioeconomically middle class people. Approximately half of the offenders who used a bicycle were juveniles, and most of these were students. 9 references and 16 tables