Citation

Doren DM. Behav. Sci. Law 1998; 16(1): 97-114.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/(SICI)1099-0798(199824)16:1<97::AID-BSL295>3.0.CO;2-K

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Predictions of future sexual offending have been mandated by various "Sexual Predator" commitment laws, despite historical arguments that clinicians are frequently inaccurate and over-predict violence. The basis for those arguments has been the perspective that sexual recidivism is a relatively rare event. Research is reviewed, however, with the finding that sexual recidivism for certain offenders is a rather common occurrence when the definition of recidivism is in keeping with the sex offender commitment laws. This finding is used to demonstrate that under-, rather than over-prediction of the designated violence is necessarily today's practice. Practical and ethical implications are discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Language: en