000 03556nam a2200361Ia 4500
001 112196
005 20250625151241.0
008 110331s2001 eng
040 _aWSS
_dAFV
100 _aKawa, Izabela
_91467
245 _aSex offending against children in New Zealand :
_ba model for predicting the risk of re-convictions
_cKawa, Izabela
260 _c2001
300 _a105 p.
365 _a00
_b0
500 _aThesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at the University of Canterbury. Available for loan from the University of Canterbury library.
520 _aThe main aims of the present study were to identify variables that predict future sex re-convictions among child sex offenders, and to develop a statistical model for predicting sexual re-convictions. The data was provided by the New Zealand Department of Corrections, and consisted of two cohorts of extrafamilial child sex offenders. The first cohort, the estimation sample, comprised criminal histories of 741 male sex offenders who were convicted between 1988 and 1997 of sexual offences against children. The second cohort, the validation sample, comprised criminal histories of 156 male sex offenders, who were convicted between 1983 and 1988 of sexual offences against children. The variables were grouped into three categories: offender's age and race, offence history, and victim's characteristics. The predicting power of each variable was tested against re-conviction data in the estimation sample using Cox regression. Next, Cox regression and logistic regression prediction models were constructed utilising those variables that predicted re-conviction. The predicting power of both models was then tested and adjusted against the validation sample. Based on Cox regressions and logistic regression analysis, five significant covariate predictor variables were identified (in order of magnitude): preference for a male victim(s), diversity of offending based on criterion convictions, presence of a female victim under the age of 12, race, and age at first sexual conviction. However, both presence of a female victim under the age of 12 and diversity of offending did not show a similar relationship with re-convictions in the validation sample and thus were not included in the final prediction models. The final adjusted prediction models included three predictor variables (in order of magnitude): sex preference for male victim, race, and age at first sex conviction. The above models indicated that those offenders who were convicted for offences against males only, who were white, and who were younger at first sex conviction were most likely to be re-convicted in the future. The results of this study demonstrate that, for some samples of child sex offenders, a number of variables significantly correlate with future re-convictions and thus can be used to predict likelihood of sexual recidivism.--AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aCHILD NEGLECT
_9114
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aCHILDREN
_9127
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aDEMOGRAPHICS
_9189
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aINCEST
_9305
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aINTERVENTION
_9326
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aJUSTICE
_9333
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aOFFENDERS
_9413
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aRAPE
_9488
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aSTATISTICS
_9575
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aTHESES
_9606
650 2 7 _2FVC
_aTREATMENT
_9613
650 2 7 _9458
_aPREVENTION
_2FVC
650 2 4 _aSEXUAL VIOLENCE
_9531
650 2 7 _9103
_aCHILD ABUSE
_2FVC
650 2 4 _aSEXUAL VIOLENCE
_9531
942 _2ddc
_cTHESIS
999 _c3124
_d3124