NCJ Number
155532
Date Published
1995
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This study of convicted sex offenders in Texas found that females comprised 91 percent of all sexual assault victims and 84 percent of all indecency with child victims.
Abstract
Victims were under 18 years of age in 65 percent of all sexual assault cases, while 39 percent of all indecency with child victims were under 10 years of age. Sex offenses were most often committed against a family member or an acquaintance, usually occurred within a residence, and often occurred repeatedly over time. In particular, children were likely to be victimized by a person known to them. In 61 percent of all aggravated sexual assault/child offenses, the victim was a family member; 88 percent of all offenses were committed in a residence. Convicted sex offenders were less likely to have a prior felony conviction than other convicted felon. Those sex offenders with a prior felony conviction were likely to have a prior prison sentence and/or be under felony supervision when they committed their offense. Specifically, 65 percent of sex offenders who had a prior felony conviction also had a prior prison sentence, and 66 percent of sex offenders with a prior felony conviction were under some type of felony supervision when they committed their offense. Offenders convicted of sex offenses against children were disposed to deferred adjudication more often than those convicted of sex offenses against adults. The impact of potential policy changes related to longer sentences for sex offenders and the elimination of deferred adjudication and community supervision are discussed. 10 tables and 15 figures