NCJ Number
170431
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This report presents statistics concerning recidivism of convicted sex offenders in Texas.
Abstract
Statistical tables, like those used by insurance companies to calculate the risk of insuring a person, can be developed to assist parole officials in determining the risk of recidivism when paroling a sex offender. In theory, more offenders approved for release should be in a low risk, low severity category. However, 19 percent of sex offenders released from prison in 1992 would be scored as high risk for recidivism and ranked as having the most severe offense characteristics according to the guidelines presented in this report. The parole board, which did not have a scoring system to assist them in their decision-making process in 1992, could use a statistical score similar to the one developed as part of this study to supplement the individual case assessment to help determine the best candidates for parole. The sex offenders who are less likely to recidivate are older, more educated, were married and employed at the time of arrest, victimized family members as opposed to strangers, and were first offenders or had not been revoked while under supervision. The report includes other data of use in establishing risk ratings and severity of offense categories. Figures