Sexual Recidivism in Sex Offenders

OBJECTIVE: To examine the recidivism rates of the various types of adult sex offenders including incest offenders, extrafamilial child molesters, exhibitionists, and rapists. METHOD: An examination of the literature over the past 4 decades and the data from our own study group. RESULTS: Methodological shortfalls and differences across the studies make statistical appraisal of the results difficult. Nevertheless, there is a consensus that incest offenders are less likely to reoffend compared with extrafamilial child molesters. Rapists and exhibitionists are thought to be at a higher risk for recidivism. CONCLUSION: A combined actuarial predictive approach in conjunction with empirically guided clinical assessment is probably the best method to predict recidivism of sex offenders.