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Life-course persistent offenders and the propensity to commit sexual assault
Brian B Boutwell1, J C Barnes, Kevin M Beaver
1Sam Houston State University, College of Criminal Justice, Huntsville, TX 77341-2296, USA. brian.boutwell@shsu.edu
Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment
|July 13, 2012
Summary
Life-course persistent offenders, identified by Moffitt's theory, commit more serious crimes. This study finds they are also disproportionately more likely to perpetrate sexual coercion.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Developmental Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
Background:
- Moffitt's (1993) developmental theory posits distinct pathways for criminal behavior.
- Life-course persistent offenders are characterized by early-onset, persistent antisocial behavior and disproportionately commit serious crimes.
- The association between life-course persistent offending and sexual coercion remains less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between life-course persistent offending and the perpetration of sexual assault.
- To determine if individuals identified as life-course persistent offenders are more likely to engage in sexually coercive behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a nationally representative sample of individuals.
- Examined the prevalence of sexual coercion among life-course persistent offenders compared to other groups.
Main Results:
- Findings indicate that life-course persistent offenders are significantly more likely to engage in sexually coercive acts.
- This group accounts for a disproportionate number of serious crimes and also exhibits a higher tendency for sexual coercion.
Conclusions:
- Life-course persistent offenders, as defined by Moffitt's theory, represent a high-risk group for both general offending and sexual coercion.
- The study supports the extension of Moffitt's theory to include sexual coercion as a characteristic behavior of life-course persistent offenders.
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