NCJ Number
174095
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This report examines recidivism among a sample of 722 sex offenders released from Texas prisons in 1992, the factors associated with the recidivism of sex offenders, and the use of a scale to rank a sex offender's risk of recidivism.
Abstract
The 3-year recidivism rate of these sex offenders was 45 percent, compared to 47 percent for other violent offenders. Most sex offenders who were rearrested after release were not rearrested for a new sex offense. Four percent were subsequently arrested for a new sex offense; 26 percent were arrested for a property or drug offense. Parole violations, property offenses, and drug offenses represented 78 percent of all new arrests. The sex offenders who were less likely to recidivate were older, more educated, married, and employed at the time of the initial arrest; had victimized family members in their own residence; and had not previously violated a supervision. The factors identified in the 1992 sex offender sample were used to develop a scale that ranks a sex offender's risk as low, moderate, or high. Approximately one of five offender with a low risk score and approximately 3 of 5 offenders with a high risk score can be expected to recidivate. The severity of the offense can be used as a separate criterion for screening purposes. Finally, combining offense severity and the risk rating can provide a guide to assessing offenders for release or supervision. Figures and tables