Rights statement: The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Journal of Criminal Justice 42 (2), 2014, © ELSEVIER.
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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The long term recidivism risk of young sexual offenders in England and Wales - enduring risk or redemption?
AU - Hargreaves, Claire
AU - Francis, Brian
N1 - The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Journal of Criminal Justice 42 (2), 2014, © ELSEVIER.
PY - 2014/3
Y1 - 2014/3
N2 - Purpose: To examine the long-term sexual recidivism risk of juvenile sex offenders in England and Wales, and to compare the risk to that of a first time sexual offense for non-convicted juveniles. Additionally, the study explores the long term sexual recidivism risk of other types of juvenile offenders, and the long term violent recidivism risk of these groups. Methods: The England and Wales Offenders Index was used to extract birth cohort data. Life table methods were used to estimate cumulative recidivism risk, and discrete time hazard models were used to compare hazard functions. Results: At the five year period, 7% of juvenile sexual offenders have been reconvicted of a sexual offense; reaching 13% by the end of the 35 year follow-up. When the reconviction hazard of the juvenile sexual offenders was compared with the first sexual conviction risk of a non-convicted comparison group, the hazards converged statistically after 17 years. Conclusions: The study has implications for the registration periods of juvenile sex offenders. Indefinite registration for some juveniles needs to be considered, and a review of registration after a conviction free period would provide more balance between the protection of the public and the rights of the offender.
AB - Purpose: To examine the long-term sexual recidivism risk of juvenile sex offenders in England and Wales, and to compare the risk to that of a first time sexual offense for non-convicted juveniles. Additionally, the study explores the long term sexual recidivism risk of other types of juvenile offenders, and the long term violent recidivism risk of these groups. Methods: The England and Wales Offenders Index was used to extract birth cohort data. Life table methods were used to estimate cumulative recidivism risk, and discrete time hazard models were used to compare hazard functions. Results: At the five year period, 7% of juvenile sexual offenders have been reconvicted of a sexual offense; reaching 13% by the end of the 35 year follow-up. When the reconviction hazard of the juvenile sexual offenders was compared with the first sexual conviction risk of a non-convicted comparison group, the hazards converged statistically after 17 years. Conclusions: The study has implications for the registration periods of juvenile sex offenders. Indefinite registration for some juveniles needs to be considered, and a review of registration after a conviction free period would provide more balance between the protection of the public and the rights of the offender.
KW - sexual recidivism
KW - redemption
KW - SORN
KW - sex offender registration
KW - juveniles
KW - reconviction
U2 - 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2013.06.017
DO - 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2013.06.017
M3 - Journal article
VL - 42
SP - 164
EP - 172
JO - Journal of Criminal Justice
JF - Journal of Criminal Justice
IS - 2
ER -