NCJ Number
170701
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 59 Issue: 5 Dated: (August 1997) Pages: 24-29
Date Published
1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article examines pedophilia and the implications for the prison system of the growing numbers of pedophiles.
Abstract
Pedophilia is a sexual orientation involving a sexual attraction to children, with an erotic arousal pattern and fantasy life centered on them. Researchers know little about the causes of pedophilia, and it is improbable that therapy will change the pedophile's desire for a child. The average incarcerated pedophile reports being arrested for only one out of every 30 molestations; the average non-incarcerated pedophile molests 117 youngsters. In general, incarcerated pedophiles are not major disciplinary problems for correctional facilities. While treatment has not, in general, been successful in reducing recidivism, there is evidence that group therapy with other sex offenders, combined with medications to inhibit sex drive, can help some pedophiles learn to restrain acting out their desires to molest children. Because corrections facilities house the largest, most centralized population of pedophiles, the institutions can study individuals, attempt different ways to treat and understand them, and better predict their behavior. References