A descriptive study of rapists and child molesters: Developmental, clinical, and criminal characteristics

Abstract

Abstract Descriptive statistics were collected on a group of 184 men determined to be sexually dangerous and incarcerated in a correctional/mental health facility designed for the treatment of sexual offenders. Data were obtained by reviewing each patient's clinical file and abstracting information on over 600 discrete variables. Selected variables from that database were rationally grouped into five categories: (1) family, (2) child/juvenile, (3) adult/incompetence, (4) criminal, (5) clinical. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the prevalence of various characteristics among the entire sample, as well as between groups of rapists and child molesters. Results are discussed in terms of rapist‐child molester differences, and the more global issues of offender subtyping.