Relationships Between Denial, Risk, and Recidivism in Sexual Offenders

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between denial, static risk, and sexual recidivism for offenders with different types of current sexual offense. Denial was defined as failure to accept responsibility for the current offense and was assessed using the Offender Assessment System....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of sexual behavior 2015-01, Vol.44 (1), p.157-166
Main Authors: Harkins, Leigh, Howard, Philip, Barnett, Georgia, Wakeling, Helen, Miles, Cerys
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Criminals - psychology
Criminals - statistics & numerical data
Decision Making
Denial (Psychology)
Denials
England - epidemiology
Humans
Male
Medical Decision Making
Middle Aged
Offenders
Offenses
Original Paper
Psychology
Public Health
Recidivism
Retrospective Studies
Risk
Sentencing
Sex Offenders
Sex Offenses - psychology
Sex Offenses - statistics & numerical data
Sexual Behavior
Social Sciences
Wales - epidemiology
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Summary:The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between denial, static risk, and sexual recidivism for offenders with different types of current sexual offense. Denial was defined as failure to accept responsibility for the current offense and was assessed using the Offender Assessment System. Static risk level (measured using a revised version of the Risk Matrix 2000) was examined as a moderator in the relationship between denial and sexual and violent recidivism. In the full sample ( N  = 6,891), lower levels of sexual recidivism were found for those who denied responsibility for their offense, independent of static risk in a Cox regression analysis. Higher levels of violent recidivism among those denying responsibility were not significant after controlling for static risk using Cox regression. For specific offender types, denial of responsibility was not significantly associated with sexual or violent recidivism. In conclusion, the presumption that denial represents increased risk, which is common in much of the decision making surrounding sex offenders, should be reconsidered. Instead, important decisions regarding sentencing, treatment, and release decisions should be based on empirically supported factors.
ISSN:0004-0002
1573-2800
DOI:10.1007/s10508-014-0333-z