NCJ Number
230804
Date Published
2010
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This chapter reviews current knowledge about the prevalence, assessment, treatment needs, and risk of sexual recidivism for women sex offenders.
Abstract
Generally, female sex offenders have significantly lower rates of any type of offending and tend to reoffend at much lower rates than males. Although some female sex offenders have the same characteristics as male sex offenders, significant differences must be taken into account when assessing and treating women sex offenders. Specifically, the context in which the offense occurred in interaction with the woman's life must be examined. Women's lives and their societal experiences differ from those of men, and their gender-related experiences influence both their criminal behavior and their rehabilitation. In addition to factors related specifically to the offending sexual behavior, a significant percentage of female sex offenders have mental health problems, high levels of substance abuse, personality disorders, problematic interpersonal difficulties, and general psychosocial deficits. Given the various distinctions between male and female sex offenders and differing gender-related contexts for criminal sexual behavior, it is critical that the treatment of female sex offenders focus on five broad areas: cognitive processes, emotional processes, intimacy and relationship issues, sexual dynamics, and social functioning. Treatment should address the interrelationships among these factors and develop a self-management plan that includes goals for a healthier life free of offending behaviors. Using the woman's history, core beliefs that facilitate the sexual deviance and habitual thinking patterns can be identified and examined in terms of their impact on all spheres of the woman's life. 39 references