Five-year accuracy of assessments of high risk for sexual recidivism of adolescents

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2010 Feb;54(1):61-70. doi: 10.1177/0306624X08325348. Epub 2008 Oct 28.

Abstract

This study looked at 12 juveniles in Wisconsin who were recommended by experts for commitment under Chapter 980, known as the Sexually Violent Person Commitments Act, but who ultimately were not committed. The purpose was to determine the accuracy of these assessments and risk for sexual reoffending for juvenile sexual offenders. The results found a rate of 42% sexual recidivism among these individuals, with a 5-year at-risk period. This figure is in contrast to the low rates of sexual recidivism reported in the general juvenile sexual research. This provides evidence that the capability to assess the risk in juvenile sexual re-offending may at times be higher than previously estimated. Implications of these unusual results are discussed.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology
  • Humans
  • Juvenile Delinquency / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Juvenile Delinquency / statistics & numerical data*
  • Recurrence
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Offenses / psychology*
  • Sex Offenses / statistics & numerical data*
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Time Factors