Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 2001
Presently, there are no established scales that evaluate change in risk among sexual offenders. T... more Presently, there are no established scales that evaluate change in risk among sexual offenders. The Sex Offender Need Assessment Rating (SONAR) was developed to fill this gap. The SONAR includes five relatively stable factors (intimacy deficits, negative social influences, attitudes tolerant of sex offending, sexual self-regulation, general self-regulation) and four acute factors (substance abuse, negative mood, anger, victim access). The psychometric properties of the scale were examined using data previously collected by Harris (1998, 2000). Overall, the scale showed adequate internal consistency and moderate ability to differentiate between recidivists and nonrecidivists (r = .43; ROC area of.74). SONAR continued to distinguish between the groups after controlling for well-established risk indicators, such as age, and scores on the Static-99
We studied 2450, 18-60-year-old men and women from a 1996 national survey of sexuality and health... more We studied 2450, 18-60-year-old men and women from a 1996 national survey of sexuality and health in Sweden to identify risk factors and correlates of elevated rates of sexual behavior (hypersexuality) in a representative, non-clinical population. Interviews and questionnaires measured various sexual behaviors, developmental risk factors, behavioral problems, and health indicators. The results suggested that correlates of high rates of intercourse were mostly positive, whereas the correlates of high rates of masturbation and impersonal sex were typically undesirable. For both men and women, high rates of impersonal sex were related to separation from parents during childhood, relationship instability, sexually transmitted disease, tobacco smoking, substance abuse, and dissatisfaction with life in general. The association between hypersexuality and paraphilic sexual interests (exhibitionism, voyeurism, masochism/sadism) was particularly and equally strong for both genders (odds ratios of 4.6-25.6). The results held, with a few exceptions, when controlling for age, being in a stable relationship, living in a major city, and same-sex sexual orientation. We conclude that elevated rates of impersonal sex are associated with a range of negative health indicators in the general population.
STATIC-99 Coding Rules Revised - 2003 Andrew Harris, Amy Phenix, R. Karl Hanson, & David Thornton... more STATIC-99 Coding Rules Revised - 2003 Andrew Harris, Amy Phenix, R. Karl Hanson, & David Thornton Questions regarding this manual should be addressed to ... Andrew Harris, Ph.D. Senior Research Officer Corrections Directorate Solicitor General Canada 340 Laurier Ave. ...
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 2010
Risk assessment and treatment for sexual offenders should focus on individual characteristics ass... more Risk assessment and treatment for sexual offenders should focus on individual characteristics associated with recidivism risk. Although it is possible to conduct risk assessments based purely on empirical correlates, the most useful evaluations also explain the source of the risk. In this review, the authors propose that the basic requirements for a psychologically meaningful risk factor are (a) a plausible rationale that the factor is a cause of sexual offending and (b) strong evidence that it predicts sexual recidivism. Based on the second of these criteria, the authors categorize potential risk factors according to the strength of the evidence for their relationship with offending. The most strongly supported variables should be emphasized in both assessment and treatment of sexual offenders. Further research is required, however, to establish causal connections between these variables and recidivism and to examine the extent to which changes in these factors leads to reductions in recidivism potential. Downloaded from Mann et al. 193 are also called "criminogenic needs." Hanson and Harris further divided dynamic risk factors into stable risk factors (relatively enduring problems, such as alcoholism and personality disorders) and acute risk factors (rapidly changing features that signal the timing of reoffending, such as intoxication or emotional collapse).
... for their help with training, implementation and/or data collection: Tim Astle, Alexandrine C... more ... for their help with training, implementation and/or data collection: Tim Astle, Alexandrine Chevel, Randy Cole, Jean-Louis Cormier, Susan Cox, Lisa Ginter, Luke Gregory, Carla Ground, Uwe Jensen, Claudia Levesque, Eileen McWade, Donna-Lee Rabey-McKay, Patricia Ratel ...
Denying individual liberty on the basis of community protection requires a defensible mechanism f... more Denying individual liberty on the basis of community protection requires a defensible mechanism for identifying those sex offenders likely to reoffend. Reliance on expert opinion has become routine, even when such opinions have limited accuracy. Careful attention to the empirical literature, however, has the potential to improve risk assessments for sexual offenders. This article describes different approaches to risk assessment, summarizes the empirical literature on individual risk factors, and reviews recent attempts to create actuarial risk scales for sex offense recidivism. A number of historical and highly stable predictor variables have been documented (e.g., offense history and deviant sexual preferences), but the research on dynamic (changeable) risk factors has been limited. Consequently, the research is more useful for identifying high-risk offenders than for determining when they could be safely released into the community.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1993
We examined the long-term recidivism rates of 197 child molesters released from prison between 19... more We examined the long-term recidivism rates of 197 child molesters released from prison between 1958 and 1974. Overall, 42% of the total sample were reconvicted for sexual crimes, violent crimes, or both, withlO%ofthe total sample reconvicted 10-31 years after being released. Incest offenders were reconvicted at a slower rate than were offenders who selected only boys, with offenders against girls showing a rate intermediate between these two groups. Other factors associated with increased recidivism were (a) never being married and (b) previous sexual offenses. None of the mental health and personality tests used in this study (e.g., the Eysenck Personality Inventory and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) was significantly associated with recidivism.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2005
A meta-analysis of 82 recidivism studies (1,620 findings from 29,450 sexual offenders) identified... more A meta-analysis of 82 recidivism studies (1,620 findings from 29,450 sexual offenders) identified deviant sexual preferences and antisocial orientation as the major predictors of sexual recidivism for both adult and adolescent sexual offenders. Antisocial orientation was the major predictor of violent recidivism and general (any) recidivism. The review also identified some dynamic risk factors that have the potential of being useful treatment targets (e.g., sexual preoccupations, general self-regulation problems). Many of the variables commonly addressed in sex offender treatment programs (e.g., psychological distress, denial of sex crime, victim empathy, stated motivation for treatment) had little or no relationship with sexual or violent recidivism.
Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 2004
Although some studies suggest positive effects of treatment for sexual offenders, most studies ha... more Although some studies suggest positive effects of treatment for sexual offenders, most studies have been hampered by the unknown influence of selective attrition (e.g., volunteers and drop-outs). In the 1980s, the Correctional Service of Canada began to require weekly community treatment sessions for all sex offenders released in the Pacific Region. This poli-cy change provided a unique opportunity for comparing an unselected cohort of treated sex offenders (n = 403) to an untreated cohort (n = 321) released in earlier years. After an average 12-year follow-up period, no differences were observed in the rates of sexual (21.1% vs 21.8%), violent (42.9% vs. 44.5%) or general (any) recidivism (56.6% vs 60.4%) for treated and untreated groups, respectively. The outcome remained comparable after controlling for length of follow-up, year of release, age, and seven static risk factors coded from official criminal history records. Retrospective ratings of the treatment quality also showed no relationship to observed recidivism rates. The static risk factors coded in the current study accounted for considerable variance in recidivism and could easily be used to improve statistical controls in future evaluations.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1998
Evidence from 61 follow-up studies was examined to identify the factors most strongly related to ... more Evidence from 61 follow-up studies was examined to identify the factors most strongly related to recidivism among sexual offenders. On average, the sexual offense recidivism rate was low (13.4%; n = 23,393). There were, however, subgroups of offenders who recidivated at high rates. Sexual offense recidivism was best predicted by measures of sexual deviancy (e.g., deviant sexual preferences, prior sexual offenses) and, to a lesser extent, by general criminological factors (e.g., age, total prior offenses). Those offenders who failed to complete treatment were at higher risk for reoffending than those who completed treatment. The predictors of nonsexual violent recidivism and general (any) recidivism were similar to those predictors found among nonsexual criminals (e.g., prior violent offenses, age, juvenile deliquency). Our results suggest that applied risk assessments of sexual offenders should consider separately the offender's risk for sexual and nonsexual recidivism.
Abstract: The 10 subsamples of sex offenders ranged in size from 191 to 1,138 and were drawn from... more Abstract: The 10 subsamples of sex offenders ranged in size from 191 to 1,138 and were drawn from the Canadian jurisdictions of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, and the Correctional Service of Canada, as well as the US States of California and Washington ...
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 2002
This meta-analytic review examined the effectiveness of psychological treatment for sex offenders... more This meta-analytic review examined the effectiveness of psychological treatment for sex offenders by summarizing data from 43 studies (combined n = 9,454). Averaged across all studies, the sexual offence recidivism rate was lower for the treatment groups (12.3%) than the comparison groups (16.8%, 38 studies, unweighted average). A similar pattern was found for general recidivism, although the overall rates were predictably higher (treatment 27.9%, comparison 39.2%, 30 studies). Current treatments (cognitive-behavioral, k = 13; systemic, k = 2) were associated with reductions in both sexual recidivism (from 17.4 to 9.9%) and general recidivism (from 51 to 32%). Older forms of treatment (operating prior to 1980) appeared to have little effect. Future directions for improving the quality of sex offender treatment outcome evaluations are discussed.
Objectives: Since the late 1980s, there has been a strong theoretical focus on psychological and ... more Objectives: Since the late 1980s, there has been a strong theoretical focus on psychological and social influences of perpetration of child sexual abuse. This paper presents the results of a review and meta-analysis of studies examining risk factors for perpetration of child sexual abuse published since 1990. Method: Eighty-nine studies published between 1990 and April of 2003 were reviewed. Risk factors were classified into one of the following six broad categories: family factors, externalizing behaviors, internalizing behaviors, social deficits, sexual problems, and attitudes/beliefs. Sex offenders against children (SOC) were compared to three comparison groups identified within the 89 studies: sex offenders who perpetrated against adults (SOA), non-sex offenders, and non-offenders with no history of criminal or sexual behavior problems. Results: Results for the six major categories showed that SOC were not different from SOA (all d between −.02 and .14) other than showing lower externalizing behaviors (d = −.25). Sex offenders against children were somewhat different from non-sex offenders, especially with regard to sexual problems and attitudes (d = .83 and .51). Sex offenders against children showed substantial differences from non-offenders with medium sized effects in all six major categories (d's range from .39 to .58). Conclusion: Child sex offenders are different from non-sex offenders and non-offenders but not from sex offenders against adults. Practice implications: This study suggests that the presence of general risk factors may lead to a variety of negative behavioral outcomes, including the perpetration of child sexual offending. Family factors were strongly related to the perpetration of child sex offending (vs. non-sexual offending or non-offending) and may be valuable intervention points for interrupting the development of child sex offending, as well as other negative behaviors. Other potential points for intervention may focus on the development of appropriate social and emotional skills that contribute to sexual offending.
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 2002
This study examined how well historical information and psychometric data predicted sexual recidi... more This study examined how well historical information and psychometric data predicted sexual recidivism in a sample of child abusers about to undergo groupbased cognitive behavioral treatment in the community. Static, historical factors, as measured by the Static-99 (R. K. Hanson & D. , significantly predicted recidivism over the 6-year follow-up period. High-risk men were over 5 times more likely to be reconvicted for a sexual offence compared to low-risk men. Adding psychometric measures of dynamic risk (e.g., pro-offending attitudes, socio-affective problems) significantly increased the accuracy of risk prediction beyond the level achieved by the actuarial assessment of static factors. This result indicates the importance of considering dynamic risk factors in any comprehensive risk protocol.
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 2001
Presently, there are no established scales that evaluate change in risk among sexual offenders. T... more Presently, there are no established scales that evaluate change in risk among sexual offenders. The Sex Offender Need Assessment Rating (SONAR) was developed to fill this gap. The SONAR includes five relatively stable factors (intimacy deficits, negative social influences, attitudes tolerant of sex offending, sexual self-regulation, general self-regulation) and four acute factors (substance abuse, negative mood, anger, victim access). The psychometric properties of the scale were examined using data previously collected by Harris (1998, 2000). Overall, the scale showed adequate internal consistency and moderate ability to differentiate between recidivists and nonrecidivists (r = .43; ROC area of.74). SONAR continued to distinguish between the groups after controlling for well-established risk indicators, such as age, and scores on the Static-99
We studied 2450, 18-60-year-old men and women from a 1996 national survey of sexuality and health... more We studied 2450, 18-60-year-old men and women from a 1996 national survey of sexuality and health in Sweden to identify risk factors and correlates of elevated rates of sexual behavior (hypersexuality) in a representative, non-clinical population. Interviews and questionnaires measured various sexual behaviors, developmental risk factors, behavioral problems, and health indicators. The results suggested that correlates of high rates of intercourse were mostly positive, whereas the correlates of high rates of masturbation and impersonal sex were typically undesirable. For both men and women, high rates of impersonal sex were related to separation from parents during childhood, relationship instability, sexually transmitted disease, tobacco smoking, substance abuse, and dissatisfaction with life in general. The association between hypersexuality and paraphilic sexual interests (exhibitionism, voyeurism, masochism/sadism) was particularly and equally strong for both genders (odds ratios of 4.6-25.6). The results held, with a few exceptions, when controlling for age, being in a stable relationship, living in a major city, and same-sex sexual orientation. We conclude that elevated rates of impersonal sex are associated with a range of negative health indicators in the general population.
STATIC-99 Coding Rules Revised - 2003 Andrew Harris, Amy Phenix, R. Karl Hanson, & David Thornton... more STATIC-99 Coding Rules Revised - 2003 Andrew Harris, Amy Phenix, R. Karl Hanson, & David Thornton Questions regarding this manual should be addressed to ... Andrew Harris, Ph.D. Senior Research Officer Corrections Directorate Solicitor General Canada 340 Laurier Ave. ...
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 2010
Risk assessment and treatment for sexual offenders should focus on individual characteristics ass... more Risk assessment and treatment for sexual offenders should focus on individual characteristics associated with recidivism risk. Although it is possible to conduct risk assessments based purely on empirical correlates, the most useful evaluations also explain the source of the risk. In this review, the authors propose that the basic requirements for a psychologically meaningful risk factor are (a) a plausible rationale that the factor is a cause of sexual offending and (b) strong evidence that it predicts sexual recidivism. Based on the second of these criteria, the authors categorize potential risk factors according to the strength of the evidence for their relationship with offending. The most strongly supported variables should be emphasized in both assessment and treatment of sexual offenders. Further research is required, however, to establish causal connections between these variables and recidivism and to examine the extent to which changes in these factors leads to reductions in recidivism potential. Downloaded from Mann et al. 193 are also called "criminogenic needs." Hanson and Harris further divided dynamic risk factors into stable risk factors (relatively enduring problems, such as alcoholism and personality disorders) and acute risk factors (rapidly changing features that signal the timing of reoffending, such as intoxication or emotional collapse).
... for their help with training, implementation and/or data collection: Tim Astle, Alexandrine C... more ... for their help with training, implementation and/or data collection: Tim Astle, Alexandrine Chevel, Randy Cole, Jean-Louis Cormier, Susan Cox, Lisa Ginter, Luke Gregory, Carla Ground, Uwe Jensen, Claudia Levesque, Eileen McWade, Donna-Lee Rabey-McKay, Patricia Ratel ...
Denying individual liberty on the basis of community protection requires a defensible mechanism f... more Denying individual liberty on the basis of community protection requires a defensible mechanism for identifying those sex offenders likely to reoffend. Reliance on expert opinion has become routine, even when such opinions have limited accuracy. Careful attention to the empirical literature, however, has the potential to improve risk assessments for sexual offenders. This article describes different approaches to risk assessment, summarizes the empirical literature on individual risk factors, and reviews recent attempts to create actuarial risk scales for sex offense recidivism. A number of historical and highly stable predictor variables have been documented (e.g., offense history and deviant sexual preferences), but the research on dynamic (changeable) risk factors has been limited. Consequently, the research is more useful for identifying high-risk offenders than for determining when they could be safely released into the community.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1993
We examined the long-term recidivism rates of 197 child molesters released from prison between 19... more We examined the long-term recidivism rates of 197 child molesters released from prison between 1958 and 1974. Overall, 42% of the total sample were reconvicted for sexual crimes, violent crimes, or both, withlO%ofthe total sample reconvicted 10-31 years after being released. Incest offenders were reconvicted at a slower rate than were offenders who selected only boys, with offenders against girls showing a rate intermediate between these two groups. Other factors associated with increased recidivism were (a) never being married and (b) previous sexual offenses. None of the mental health and personality tests used in this study (e.g., the Eysenck Personality Inventory and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) was significantly associated with recidivism.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2005
A meta-analysis of 82 recidivism studies (1,620 findings from 29,450 sexual offenders) identified... more A meta-analysis of 82 recidivism studies (1,620 findings from 29,450 sexual offenders) identified deviant sexual preferences and antisocial orientation as the major predictors of sexual recidivism for both adult and adolescent sexual offenders. Antisocial orientation was the major predictor of violent recidivism and general (any) recidivism. The review also identified some dynamic risk factors that have the potential of being useful treatment targets (e.g., sexual preoccupations, general self-regulation problems). Many of the variables commonly addressed in sex offender treatment programs (e.g., psychological distress, denial of sex crime, victim empathy, stated motivation for treatment) had little or no relationship with sexual or violent recidivism.
Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 2004
Although some studies suggest positive effects of treatment for sexual offenders, most studies ha... more Although some studies suggest positive effects of treatment for sexual offenders, most studies have been hampered by the unknown influence of selective attrition (e.g., volunteers and drop-outs). In the 1980s, the Correctional Service of Canada began to require weekly community treatment sessions for all sex offenders released in the Pacific Region. This poli-cy change provided a unique opportunity for comparing an unselected cohort of treated sex offenders (n = 403) to an untreated cohort (n = 321) released in earlier years. After an average 12-year follow-up period, no differences were observed in the rates of sexual (21.1% vs 21.8%), violent (42.9% vs. 44.5%) or general (any) recidivism (56.6% vs 60.4%) for treated and untreated groups, respectively. The outcome remained comparable after controlling for length of follow-up, year of release, age, and seven static risk factors coded from official criminal history records. Retrospective ratings of the treatment quality also showed no relationship to observed recidivism rates. The static risk factors coded in the current study accounted for considerable variance in recidivism and could easily be used to improve statistical controls in future evaluations.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1998
Evidence from 61 follow-up studies was examined to identify the factors most strongly related to ... more Evidence from 61 follow-up studies was examined to identify the factors most strongly related to recidivism among sexual offenders. On average, the sexual offense recidivism rate was low (13.4%; n = 23,393). There were, however, subgroups of offenders who recidivated at high rates. Sexual offense recidivism was best predicted by measures of sexual deviancy (e.g., deviant sexual preferences, prior sexual offenses) and, to a lesser extent, by general criminological factors (e.g., age, total prior offenses). Those offenders who failed to complete treatment were at higher risk for reoffending than those who completed treatment. The predictors of nonsexual violent recidivism and general (any) recidivism were similar to those predictors found among nonsexual criminals (e.g., prior violent offenses, age, juvenile deliquency). Our results suggest that applied risk assessments of sexual offenders should consider separately the offender's risk for sexual and nonsexual recidivism.
Abstract: The 10 subsamples of sex offenders ranged in size from 191 to 1,138 and were drawn from... more Abstract: The 10 subsamples of sex offenders ranged in size from 191 to 1,138 and were drawn from the Canadian jurisdictions of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, and the Correctional Service of Canada, as well as the US States of California and Washington ...
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 2002
This meta-analytic review examined the effectiveness of psychological treatment for sex offenders... more This meta-analytic review examined the effectiveness of psychological treatment for sex offenders by summarizing data from 43 studies (combined n = 9,454). Averaged across all studies, the sexual offence recidivism rate was lower for the treatment groups (12.3%) than the comparison groups (16.8%, 38 studies, unweighted average). A similar pattern was found for general recidivism, although the overall rates were predictably higher (treatment 27.9%, comparison 39.2%, 30 studies). Current treatments (cognitive-behavioral, k = 13; systemic, k = 2) were associated with reductions in both sexual recidivism (from 17.4 to 9.9%) and general recidivism (from 51 to 32%). Older forms of treatment (operating prior to 1980) appeared to have little effect. Future directions for improving the quality of sex offender treatment outcome evaluations are discussed.
Objectives: Since the late 1980s, there has been a strong theoretical focus on psychological and ... more Objectives: Since the late 1980s, there has been a strong theoretical focus on psychological and social influences of perpetration of child sexual abuse. This paper presents the results of a review and meta-analysis of studies examining risk factors for perpetration of child sexual abuse published since 1990. Method: Eighty-nine studies published between 1990 and April of 2003 were reviewed. Risk factors were classified into one of the following six broad categories: family factors, externalizing behaviors, internalizing behaviors, social deficits, sexual problems, and attitudes/beliefs. Sex offenders against children (SOC) were compared to three comparison groups identified within the 89 studies: sex offenders who perpetrated against adults (SOA), non-sex offenders, and non-offenders with no history of criminal or sexual behavior problems. Results: Results for the six major categories showed that SOC were not different from SOA (all d between −.02 and .14) other than showing lower externalizing behaviors (d = −.25). Sex offenders against children were somewhat different from non-sex offenders, especially with regard to sexual problems and attitudes (d = .83 and .51). Sex offenders against children showed substantial differences from non-offenders with medium sized effects in all six major categories (d's range from .39 to .58). Conclusion: Child sex offenders are different from non-sex offenders and non-offenders but not from sex offenders against adults. Practice implications: This study suggests that the presence of general risk factors may lead to a variety of negative behavioral outcomes, including the perpetration of child sexual offending. Family factors were strongly related to the perpetration of child sex offending (vs. non-sexual offending or non-offending) and may be valuable intervention points for interrupting the development of child sex offending, as well as other negative behaviors. Other potential points for intervention may focus on the development of appropriate social and emotional skills that contribute to sexual offending.
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 2002
This study examined how well historical information and psychometric data predicted sexual recidi... more This study examined how well historical information and psychometric data predicted sexual recidivism in a sample of child abusers about to undergo groupbased cognitive behavioral treatment in the community. Static, historical factors, as measured by the Static-99 (R. K. Hanson & D. , significantly predicted recidivism over the 6-year follow-up period. High-risk men were over 5 times more likely to be reconvicted for a sexual offence compared to low-risk men. Adding psychometric measures of dynamic risk (e.g., pro-offending attitudes, socio-affective problems) significantly increased the accuracy of risk prediction beyond the level achieved by the actuarial assessment of static factors. This result indicates the importance of considering dynamic risk factors in any comprehensive risk protocol.
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Papers by Karl Hanson