Offending patterns over time: An examination of specialization, escalation, and de-escalation in the commission of sexual offences

Abstract

Policy development to tackle the issue and promote prevention of sexual abuse seems to be driven by the assumption that sexual offenders are characterized by some pathology, which prevents them from controlling their sexual urges and renders them more likely to reoffend if they live close to places where children congregate. The chapter examines whether or not crime commission patterns in sexual offenders change over time or from one victim to another. It also examines whether or not strategies adopted to commit offense and associated outcomes vary across time. It classifies offenders as escalators, specialists, or de-escalators based on strategies and sexual behaviors performed on victim. It then assesses the synchronicity of changes in offender strategies and sexual behaviors performed during the offense over time. It also looks at presence of covariates for both strategies and sexual behaviors in order to explain the nature of switching over time, if any.