Citation

Perillo AD, Laake ALW, Calkins C. Int. J. Forensic Ment. Health 2017; 16(1): 58-68.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Simon Fraser University - Mental Health, Law and Policy Institute, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/14999013.2016.1236304

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The current study compares offending trends of sexually abusive clergy (n = 1,428) to general sex offenders (n = 2,842) on risk measure items coded across the course of offending.

RESULTS suggest significant differences on most risk-relevant variables. Clergy were particularly more likely to have male victims, V =.62, 95% CI [.58,.65], and less likely to be married, V =.59, 95% CI [.56,.63], or use force, V =.76, 95% CI [.73,.79]. The magnitude of differences remained when matched on offense factors (e.g., male child acquaintance victims).

FINDINGS suggest sexually abusive clergy are a unique subgroup differing from general sex offenders on factors associated with recidivism.

Language: en

Keywords

clergy; offense trends; sex offenders; Sexual abuse