Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Recurrent Escherichia coli Urinary Tract Infection Triggered by Gardnerella vaginalis Bladder Exposure in Mice
Published on: December 4, 2020
Inevitable recidivism--the origin and centrality of an urban legend
1University of Miami, School of Law, 1311 Miller Drive, Room G268, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States. tlave@law.miami.edu
Abstract:
This paper examines the pervasive conviction that sex offenders - particularly child molesters - will continue to re-offend. This belief in inevitable recidivism turns out to be absolutely essential to both the justification for, and the structure of, the sexually violent predator laws. When actual evidence of sex offender recidivism is examined, however, a huge gap exists between what is assumed and what the data actually show because most sex offenders do not in fact re-offend. Thus there is a galaxy of sexually violent predator laws and an entire branch of Supreme Court jurisprudence that is founded upon a demonstrable urban legend.
Related Concept Videos
Fundamental Attribution Error
Hindsight Biases
False Memories
One primary source of false memories is misattribution, where individuals incorrectly associate external information with...
Social Traps
Magical Thinking
Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies

