NCJ Number
64270
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
STUDIES OF SEX OFFENDERS AND THEIR TREATMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE REVIEWED, AND THE CLASSIFICATION OF INMATES AT THE UTAH STATE PRISON AS SEX OFFENDERS IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
STUDIES SHOW THAT SEX OFFENDERS ARE USUALLY YOUNG AND COME FROM POOR EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC. THE IMPLICATION OF NUMEROUS CASE STUDIES, SURVEYS, AND REPORTS IN THAT PERSONS WHO COMMIT RAPE ARE USUALLY FIRST OFFENDERS. MANY CONVICTIONS FOR SEXUAL BEHAVIOR ARE DISGUISED UNDER SUCH BROAD CHARGES AS VAGRANCY, PUBLIC NUISANCE, AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT. AT THE UTAH STATE PRISON, INMATES ARE CLASSIFIED AS SEX OFFENDERS IF THEY ARE SERVING A SENTENCE FOR A SEXUAL OFFENSE, IF THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH SUCH AN OFFENSE IN THE PAST, OF IF THEIR RECORDS PRESENT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SEXUAL OFFENSE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED OR CONVICTED. RECORDS OF INMATES WHOSE BACKGROUNDS FIT THE SEX OFFENDER CLASSIFICATION WERE STUDIED TO EVALUATE ANY HISTORY OF SEXUAL ACTING OUT PRIOR TO INCARCERATION. THE SAMPLE INCLUDED 110 MALE INMATES WHO HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM THE PRISON AND 100 INMATES WHO WERE SERVING TIME WHILE THE RESEARCH PROGRESSED. ALSO INCLUDED WERE INMATES WITH SEXUAL OFFENSE HISTORIES WHO SERVING TIME FOR VIOLENT OFFENSES AGAINST PERSONS; I.E., ASSAULT, MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER, AND KIDNAPPING. WITH SEX OFFENSES CATEGORIZED AS RAPE, UNLAWFUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, FORCIBLE SEX ABUSE, AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND SODOMY, RESULTS CLEARLY INDICATED THAT MANY CONVICTED FELONS HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH OR WERE REPORTED TO HAVE SEX OFFENSES IN THEIR PREINCARCERATION HISTORY. FOLLOWUP STUDY IS RECOMMENDED TO CONSIDER DEMOGRAPHIC, PERSONALITY, AND SOCIAL FACTORS IN SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING AN ASSESSMENT OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN OFFENDERS AND VICTIMS. SUPPORTING DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)