NCJ Number
227921
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 36 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2009 Pages: 778-792
Date Published
August 2009
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This comparative analysis examined personality profiles of incarcerated male and female sex offenders.
Abstract
The result of the examination of self-reports revealed significant reported differences in mental health, personality, and substance use pathology among male and female sex offenders. Male sex offenders were more likely to be included in the Elevated Drug and Alcohol group, whereas the female sex offenders were more likely to be included in the Moderate or Elevated Psychopathology group. However, the scope of the study was limited, in that the participants involved only a limited sample of incarcerated sex offenders. To date, there have been only a few noteworthy studies comparing the characteristics of male and female sex offenders. This study sought to compare a large group of female sex offenders with a sample of male sex offenders assessed and treated in the same State prison system. It examined potential gender differences in self-reported psychopathology and discussed the treatment implications of the findings. The authors believe that female sex offenders would be more prevalent than male sex offenders in a group of sex offenders reporting extensive and severe symptoms of psychopathology. Personality profiles of the incarcerated male and female sex offenders were examined utilizing Latent Profile Analysis to categorize offenders based on their responses on the Personality Assessment Inventory. The sample of sex offenders was described using a 4-class model: Moderate Defensiveness, Elevated Alcohol and Drug Use, Moderate Psychopathology, and Elevated Psychopathology. Figure, tables, notes, and references