See alsoRapid Risk Assessment for Sexual Offense
Recidivism (RRASOR); Sex Offender Needs Assessment
Rating (SONAR); Sex Offender Recidivism; Sex Offender
Typologies; STATIC–99 and STATIC–2002 InstrumentsFurther Readings
Abracen, J., & Looman, J. (2004). Issues in the treatment of
sexual offenders: Recent developments and directions for
future research. Aggression and Violent Behavior,
9,229–246.
Hanson, R. K., Gordon, A., Harris, A. J. R., Marques, J. K.,
Murphy, W., et al. (2002). First report of the collaborative
outcome data project on the effectiveness of psychological
treatment for sex offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of
Research and Treatment, 14,169–194.
Marques, J. K. (1999). How to answer the question, “Does
sex offender treatment work?”Journal of Interpersonal
Violence, 14,437–451.
Marshall, W. L., Fernandez, Y. M., Marshall, L. E., & Serran,
G. A. (2006). Sexual offender treatment: Controversial
issues.West Sussex, UK: Wiley.
Rice, M. E., & Harris, G. T. (2003). The size and sign of
treatment effect in sex offender therapy. Annals of the
New York Academy of Sciences, 989,428–440.SEXOFFENDERTYPOLOGIES
Sex offenders are a heterogeneous group. While there is
no standardized system for the taxonomy of sex offend-
ers, they are generally classified into various typologies
based on their offense characteristics, motivations for
offending, and likelihood of recidivism. Typologies are
important in that they capture the characteristics of sex
offenders, and they can be useful for treatment interven-
tion and risk assessment. However, it should be noted
that these typologies do not always coincide with crim-
inal justice classifications of sex offenders. Sex offend-
ers are generally separated into those that commit
contact sex offenses and those that commit noncontact
sex offenses. Contact sex offenders include child moles-
ters, incest offenders, and rapists. Noncontact sex
offenders include exhibitionists, voyeurs, and frotteurs.Child Molesters
Child molesters are sex offenders whose victims include
minors (under the age of 18). Child molesters can be
further categorized by their sexual preferences. Thosechild molesters who are sexually attracted to children
under the age of 13 (i.e., prepubescent children) are
referred to as pedophiles, while child molesters whose
sexual preference is for teenagers or those between the
ages of 13 and 18, are considered hebophiles. However,
it should be noted that neither pedophilia nor hebophilia
are considered crimes, as they relate only to sexual inter-
est and not to the commission of any sexual act.
Child molesters generally report attraction to
children of a certain age that are not related to them.
Some child molesters have only male victims, some
only female victims, while other child molesters
offend against both boys and girls. Child molesters
who offend against boys have been found to have
higher rates of recidivism.
Child molestation can involve a variety of inappro-
priate sexual activities and behaviors. These include
undressing the child, exposing themselves to the
child, masturbating in front of the child, or touching
and fondling the child. They could also include more
serious sexual offenses, including performing fellatio
or cunnilingus on the child or penetrating the child’s
vagina, mouth, or anus with their fingers, foreign
objects, or penis. Physical force, coercion, or threats
may be used to compel the child into the sexual act.
To gain access to their victims, child molesters
often engage in relationships with the child or with the
adult guardians of the child. This is referred to as
grooming behavior. The sex offender appears to be
very interested in the child’s needs to gain the child’s
affection and loyalty and the guardian’s confidence so
that the molestation will not be reported. Some child
molesters may also use threats to prevent the children
from reporting the abuse.
Child molesters often believe that their victims
want to be involved in a sexual relationship. When a
child responds positively to the grooming behavior,
the child molester interprets this as the willing partic-
ipation of the victim. As a result, the child molester
can believe that the molestation is not damaging to the
child. This is referred to as a cognitive distortion.Incest Offenders
Incest offenders are sex offenders who offend against
minors (children) who are related to them by blood.
Additionally, offenders are also considered incest offend-
ers if they abuse a child that they have quasiparental
authority over, such as a stepfather or the boyfriend of the
child’s mother.Sex Offender Typologies——— 733S-Cutler (Encyc)-45463.qxd 11/18/2007 12:44 PM Page 733