Evading Detection

Characteristics of Individuals With Extrafamilial Child Sexual Offences and Long Detection Lags

Bibliographic Data

ID21513480
AuthorsSamuel J Nicol (0000-0002-5133-177X, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia, corresponding author), James Ogilvie (0000-0003-2294-5665, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia), Danielle Arlanda Harris (0000-0001-8412-3662, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia), Mark R Kebbell (0000-0003-0660-2902, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia), Tony B Christie (Queensland Police Service, Brisbane, Australia), Tony Christie (Queensland Police Service)
Year2024
Volume68
Issue8
Pages767-784
Publication date2024-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0306-624X • E-ISSN: 1552-6933
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0306624x221106320
PMID35723512
OpenAlexW4283164911
LanguageEN
References cited37

Most child sex offending is unreported and undetected. Despite this, most research relies on the characteristics of those frequently detected and arrested. This study aims to address this disparity by examining a group of men convicted of child sexual abuse (CSA) offences with multiple victims and who evaded detection for long periods of time ( n = 170). This sample was compared to a group of men caught quickly for CSA offences against multiple victims ( n = 170). The two groups were compared on demographic, lifestyle, sexual deviancy, and criminogenic measures. Individuals with long detection lags had more child victims, including more pre-pubescent and male victims and commenced their sexual offending at a comparatively earlier age. Additionally, individuals with long detection lags were more likely to be non- Indigenous and to show specialization in their sexual offending. These findings have implications for identifying and managing high harm child sexual offenders who evade detection for long periods

Child sexual abuse · Developmental psychology · Harm · Medical emergency · Poison control · Psychiatry · Sex offense · Sexual abuse · Sociology · Child Abuse and Trauma · Clinical Psychology · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Demography · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Psychology · Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending · Social Psychology

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