Short term re-offending by high risk sexual offenders with child victims in New Zealand

Abstract

Identifying risk of re-offending by sexual offenders with child victims is an important area of investigation. In New Zealand sexual offenders with child victims considered at high risk of re-offending sexually when released into the community are subject to Extended Supervision Orders; these allow supervision in the community for up to ten years post-release. To date there has been no follow-up of recidivism by offenders subject to an Order; legislation which was enacted in mid-2004. The present study looked at 89 offenders subject to an Order over the 33-month period since the legislation was passed. All types of reoffending by this group were investigated. For comparison a matched sample of high risk sexual offenders with child victims released prior to the legislation and a sample of offenders judged to be lower risk were looked at. It was found offenders subject to an Order re-offended, both sexually and generally, faster and at a higher rate than those deemed lower risk, but at a lower rate than the control. The relationship between specialist programme attendance, specialist programme completion and ASRS risk category and recidivism in the Order sample were also investigated. These variables were found not to be significant predictors of recidivism. Individual risk characteristics of sexual recidivists in the sample were highlighted. Areas for farther investigation amongst the Order sample were suggested.