NCJ Number
214770
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 70 Issue: 1 Dated: June 2006 Pages: 18-32
Date Published
June 2006
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This paper provides an overview of the demographics of sex offenders and the factors associated with their ability to successfully complete their Federal postconviction supervision.
Abstract
Demographically, sex offenders are a diverse group who also demonstrate differences in level of risk posed to the community. White males account for approximately 64 percent of the sex offender population and they tend to have slightly more education than other types of offenders. Most sex offenders tracked through the Probation and Pretrial Services Automated Case Tracking System (PACTS) entered the Federal probation system straight from incarceration and thus, did not have employment at the start of their supervision period, a major risk factor for recidivism. Of the sex offenders who began their supervision unemployed, 25 percent ended their supervision with some type of employment. The use of special conditions for sex offender supervision has emerged as one of the key tools in managing these offenders. The two main goals of special conditions are to add an extra level of protection for the community and to assist the offender in addressing deviant behaviors. Risk assessment indicators that measure the level of risk offenders pose for reoffending are discussed and results of recidivism studies are presented that highlight the importance of employment for lowering recidivism risk. Data on probation revocations for sex offenders is examined, suggesting over half of the probation violations reported in PACTS cases were for general violations ranging from testing positive for drug use to failure to report for scheduled office visits. Moreover, revocations for technical violations were significantly higher than they were for new sex offenses. Data on 7,617 sex offenders who were under postconviction supervision from 1999 through 2005 were drawn from the Federal Probation and Pretrial Services System, which tracks offenders in 94 judicial districts using the PACTS database. Tables, figures, footnotes, appendixes