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Sexual Murderers: Sex Offender, Murderer, or Both?
Eric Beauregard1, Matt DeLisi2, Ashley Hewitt1
11 Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment
|June 7, 2017
Summary
Violent non-homicidal sex offenders exhibit more extensive criminal careers than sexual homicide offenders. This suggests a re-evaluation of how sexual homicide offenders are classified, potentially emphasizing their role as murderers.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Forensic Psychology
- Criminal Justice
Background:
- Sexual murderers blend homicide and sexual offenses, posing classification challenges.
- Existing research often groups diverse non-homicidal sex offenders (NHSOs), overlooking distinctions between violent and nonviolent individuals.
- Identifying violent sex offenders with potentially lethal injury capabilities is crucial for accurate risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare criminal career trajectories across three distinct groups: NHSOs, violent NHSOs, and sexual homicide offenders (SHOs).
- To determine if SHOs or violent NHSOs demonstrate more severe criminal career patterns.
- To inform the classification and understanding of sexual offenders based on their offending behavior.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of criminal career data from 616 incarcerated male sex offenders in a Canadian federal penitentiary.
- Comparison of measures including number of prior convictions and criminal career versatility.
- Categorization into three groups: NHSOs, violent NHSOs, and SHOs.
Main Results:
- Violent NHSOs presented the most concerning criminal career profiles.
- This group exhibited a higher number of prior convictions compared to SHOs.
- Violent NHSOs also demonstrated more varied and versatile criminal histories.
Conclusions:
- Based on criminal career data, SHOs may warrant classification primarily as murderers rather than solely sex offenders.
- The findings highlight the significant risk posed by violent NHSOs, who display more extensive criminal histories.
- Further research including non-sexual homicide offenders is recommended for a comprehensive understanding.