Criminal Risk Assessment, Sexual Offending

Although legal definitions of sexual offenses vary, the term sexual offending typically denotes offenses whereby an individual engages in unwanted sexual acts with another person who does not give, or is unable to provide, consent. Given the impact such acts have on survivors, sexual offenses receive considerable attention from the media, policy makers, and the criminal justice system. These concerns highlight the need for accurately assessing the likelihood that those who have offended sexually will recidivate or commit future sexual offenses. After reviewing factors associated with risk of sexual reoffending, this entry describes assessment techniques commonly used by those conducting risk assessments for sexual offending and outlines the components of a sex offender risk assessment.