Myths and Misconceptions About Sex Offenders

Many myths and misconceptions about sex offenders impair opportunities to intervene appropriately, and as a result, protection of victims and Oregon communities are jeopardized. The information presented below addresses some of the most common misunderstandings about those who abuse. In honor of past, current and future victims of sexual assault, we offer this educational effort.

From the OFFENDER MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE of the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force, we thank you for your interest.  It is only through knowledge and understanding, challenging myths and misconceptions, that together, we will be able to reduce sexual assault and contribute to community safety.

Myth: All Sex Offenders are the Same and They can be Easily Detected

Reality:

• Actually sex offenders are not the same and in order to effectively respond to abusers, their differences should be noted.
• Limited resources dictate that a “ONE SIZE FITS ALL” approach does not contribute to community safety since the most dangerous offenders will often be supervised the same as low risk offenders.
• Basically, child molesters and rapists can be divided into two groups based upon sexual arousal preferences.

CHILD ABUSERS

• A small percentage of those who offend children would be considered “pedophiles” and would be described as having an erotic preference for undeveloped bodies without secondary sexual characteristics.
• The majority of child abusers have more of a “thinking problem” rather than an erotic preference for children. These offenders have a capacity to sexually assault children rather than having an erotic preference for children and they tend to have significant “cross over” rates into committing rape or sexual assault

RAPISTS

• A small percentage of those who commit sexual assault (rape) have erotic preference for sexual violence, victim humiliation and shame—usually rendering them dysfunctional under consenting circumstances.
• The majority of rapists have more of a “thinking problem” rather than an arousal connection to violence, demonstrating a capacity to rape under certain circumstances.  These situational rapist tend to have significant “cross over” rates into molesting children.

Myth: Juveniles Never Commit Sexual Assaults

Reality:

• Sexual assaults committed by youth are a growing concern in this country.  It is estimated that adolescents (age 13-17) account for up to one-fifth of all rapes and one-half of all cases of child molestation.  (Barbaree, Hudson & Seto, 1993)
• Sexual assaults committed by youth are a growing concern in this country.  It is estimated that adolescents (age 13-17) account for up to one-fifth of all rapes and one-half of all cases of child molestation.  (Barbaree, Hudson & Seto, 1993)
• In 1995, 16,100 adolescents were arrested for sexual offenses (Sickmund, Snyder, Poe-Yamagata, 1997)
• Although the majority of offending youth are teenagers, prepubescent children also engage in sexually abusive behavior.
• One of the most significant issues related to reducing sexual violence is responding to youth with sexual behavioral problems.  The need for different responses to offending children as compared to adult offenders is imperative since the sexual development of children is “in progress.”  (Barbaree, Marshall & Hudson, 1993) (Bumby & Talbott, in press) Letourneau & Miner, 2005, and Longo & Prescott, 2006)
• Identifying sexual behavior problems in youth is important but identifying risk factors is more difficult for children because of the nature of changing development.
• Studies suggest that assessing risk and recidivism [re-offending] factors for offending youth is possible and that intervening with children has a much more positive outcome if the differences between children and adults are recognized.  (Hunter, Figueredo, Malamuth & Becker, 2003) (Long, Prescott, 2006) (Worling & Langstrom, 2006)

Myth: Sex Offenders Prey on Strangers

Reality:

• Statistics indicate that the majority of rape victims know their offender.  A 1998 National Violence Against Women Survey revealed that 76% of rapes were committed by a current or former husband, live-in partner, or date acquaintance.
• A Bureau of Justice Statistics study found 9 out of 10 rapes involved a single offender with whom the victim had a prior relationship as a family member, intimate or acquaintance.  (Greenfield 1997)
• For child abuse victims, 60% of boys and 80% of girls were assaulted by a family member or acquaintance.  (Lieb, Quinsey, Berliner, 1998)
• “Almost two thirds of all rapes were committed by someone who is known to the victim.  73% of sexual assaults were perpetrated by a non-stranger—38% of perpetrators were a friend or acquaintance of the victims, 28% were an intimate and 7% were another relative.”  (National Crime Victimization Survey, RAINN, 2005)

Myth: Sexual Assault Offenders are Very Different Than Those Who Molest Children

Reality:

• Actually several studies suggest that many offenders commit crimes of child molestation and rape.
• O’Connell—1998  found 64% of rapists molested children and that 59% of intra-familial child abusers sexually assaulted adolescents or adults outside the home.
• Weinrott & Sailer—1991 Discovered that 32% of rapists also offended a child, 34% of extra-familial abusers offended outside the home.  Additionally, 50% of intra-familial child abusers sexually assaulted adults/teens outside the home.
• Heil, Ahimeyer, Simons & English found that through polygraph (lie detector) verification, 82% of child abusers admitted raping adults.  This research also found that 50% of those who raped adults, also admitted to molesting children.
• These crossover studies suggest that considering managing sex offenders, allocating resources or passing laws for “only” child molesters or “only” rapists may be misguided.

Myth: Sexual Offenders Commit Their Crimes as a Result of Being Sexually Abused Themselves

Reality:

• Most sex offenders were not sexually assaulted as children and most children who are victimized do not grow up to become offenders.
• Among adult and juvenile offenders, (verified by polygraph examination) approximately 30% had been sexually abused.  (Hindman, Peters 2001)
• Those offenders who molest young boys however, tend to have higher rates of childhood sexual abuse. (Becker, Murphy 1998)
• Juvenile Offenders were determined to have higher rates of physical & sexual abuse in their childhoods (Hunter, Becker 1998)
• This issue is important since many factors other than being abused in childhood contribute to sexual offending and prevention of sexual assault must consider those additional issues.

Myth: Tough Penalities and Harsh Punishments are the Best Response to Sexual Assault

Reality:

• Sex offender registration, sex offender notification and increased prison sentences are thought to be effective in reducing recidivism.
• However, when all sex offenders are managed the same, resources are shared and the most dangerous offenders may be supervised the same as less dangerous offenders.
• Studies show that comparing sex offenders sent to prison versus community sentences, the recidivism rate was 7% higher for prisoners compared to those offenders kept in the community.  Additionally, longer prison terms also increased risk upon release.  (Smith, Goffin & Gendreau, 2002)
• Sex Offender notification and registration has not been found to be significantly effective since secrecy is such a part of sexual offending.  Studies show that registration and notification have little impact on stopping offending however when crimes were committed, apprehension was easier. (Washington State Institute for Public Policy, Leib 1996)
• It is noted however, that when sex offenders are driven underground (without supervision) because of harsh penalties they are considerably more dangerous.
• Contrarily, when offenders are connected to their communities, when they are allowed to work and intensely involved with a therapeutic community, (Circles of Support, Faith Community & Accountability) recidivism was significantly reduced. (Wilson, Picheca & Prinzo, 2005)
• Since most individuals are offended by someone known to them, (often in their family) harsh penalties can further traumatize victims when others in the relationship realm of the victim & offender often turn against the person making the report.
• Even though punishment makes communities, legislatures, and many in the media feel vindicated, that response is not always shared by victims. 
• Additionally, harsh penalties often make victims, or the caretakers of victims reluctant to report and subject the acquaintance or family member to punitive punishment—actually making the sexual assault problem worse.

Myth: The Majority of Sex Offenders are Caught, Convicted and in Prison for a Lifetime Sentence

Reality:

• Studies suggest that sexual assault is an under reported crime, with a 1992 study reporting only 12% of rapes came to the attention of authorities. (Kilpatrick, Edmunds, & Seymour 1993)
• National Crime Victimization Surveys in 1994, 1995, & 1998 indicate only 32% of sexual assault against victims 12 years and older resulted in a report.
• It is believed that the 265,000 convicted sex offenders under the authority of corrections represents only 10% of sex offenders.  (Greenfield, 1997)
• With low reporting rates, many sex offenders remain in American communities, undetected.
• In spite of harsh punishments, most sex offenders do not remain in prison and will be released into communities and will be returned to their community of conviction.
• Harsh punishments tend to provide a false sense of safety for most Americans in spite of the reality that they may not be more effective than creative prevention efforts.

Myth: Sexual Offending is on the Increase

Reality:

• Despite the increase in publicity about sexual crimes, the actual rate of reported sexual assault has decreased in recent years.
• The rate of reported rape decreased by 10% from 1990 to 1997. (Greenfield, 1997)
• The arrest rate for all sexual offenses dropped 16% between 1993 to 1998.
• It is difficult for researchers to know if the drop in sexual offender arrests is due to an actual drop in crime or, because punishment has drastically increased, victims may be reluctant to come forward and prosecutor’s ability to convict may be limited because offender’s admissions to crimes has practically ceased.
• With the Internet and other forms of mass communication, the problem of sexual assault appears to be increasing yet statistics may suggest this may be an error in perception.
• The drop in reported rates however, must be considered in the context of under reporting of sexual assault.

Myth: Sex Offender Treatment Doesn't Work

Reality:

• In answering the question regarding whether treatment is effective for sex offenders, several distinctions must be made.
• Treatment success rates will depend upon the (1) the type of offender (arousal rapist, incest offender, etc.), (2) the type of treatment, and (3) the management/supervision of the offender from the department of corrections.
• Effective treatment strategies include cognitive/behavioral, relapse prevention, psycho-educational, psychodynamic & pharmacology.
• Several studies present optimistic conclusion about the effectiveness of treatment that are empirically based, offense-specific and comprehensive. (Lieb, Quinsey & Berliner, 1998)
• Even though harsh penalties for sex offenders are preferred as compared to treatment, studies show that community (cognitive/behavioral) treatment decreased risk more than prison treatment and more than only supervision/management of sex offenders.  (Aos, Miller & Drake, 2006)
• Meta-analysis suggested an 8% reduction in recidivism rate for offenders who attended treatment. (Hall, 1995).
• Research also suggests that sex offenders who fail treatment are at increased risk to re-offend. (Hanson & Bussiere, 1998)
• Prison sentences without sex offender treatment have not been found to reduce recidivism. (Aos, Miller, Drake 2006)
• The most effective response to sexual offenders in the community is a combination and partnership of treatment and supervision.
• Research has found that identifying youth with sexual behavioral problem and implementing early treatment is significantly effective.  (Longo, Prescott, 2005)
• It is also important to consider the victim’s needs in treating sex offenders.  The “trauma bond” between offenders and victims may call for innovative “victim-centered” sex offender programs where healing for those who suffer may be of paramount importance.

Myth: Once a Sex Offender, Always a Sex Offender

Reality:

• Clearly, some sex offenders choose not to change their behavior, but generally recidivism tendencies reveal promising data.
• Rapists had a 19% reconviction rate for sexual offenses and 46% reconviction rate for new, non-sexual offenses over a 5 year period.
• Another study found reconviction rates for child molesters to be 20% and for rapists, 23%. (Quinsey, Rice, Harris, 1995)
• It is noteworthy that recidivism rates for sex offenders are lower than for the general criminal population. (Bureau of Justice Statistics)
• Reconviction data suggest that sexual offenders do not necessarily continue their abusive patterns.
• Persons who commit sex offenses are not a homogeneous group and as a result, research has identified varying differences in re-offense patterns.
• Treatment has effective outcomes, especially if sexual and non-sexual recidivism is considered.
• It is also important to recognize that the medical model of “cure” is inappropriate for considering sexual criminal conduct.