Classification of perpetrators of sexual offences

Abstract

To understand and explain the heterogeneity that characterises individuals who commit sex offences, numerous typologies have been developed over the years. To date, the key typologies, developed mainly by psychologists, have typically distinguished among this population of individuals based on: the motivation for their sex offences; differences in victim and offence characteristics; and, the level of risk of reoffending posed by the perpetrator. These classification systems have often emerged parallel to policies changing the way that individuals who commit sex offences are dealt with in the criminal justice system. Importantly, they have all been characterised by varying degrees of theoretical and methodological sophistication, and all have critical strengths and limitations. This chapter reviews the development of key typologies of individuals who commit sex offences, and explores the utility of criminological approaches for classification purposes.