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Research reports into sexual offending
08/11/2002
Three research reports, published today by Social
Research, confirm the need for standardised assessment of
sexual offenders across all agencies - Police, Prisons and
Social Work.
The research takes forward the recommendations of the
MacLean Committee on serious violent and sexual
offenders which identified a need for further research into
risk assessment and reconviction in Scotland.
The reports provide not only an audit of risk assessment
instruments currently in use with this group of offenders,
but also a review of the most pertinent literature and its
relevance to the roles and responsibilities of staff
engaged in the risk assessment and management of such
offenders.
The package of research will provide a point of
reference for the future work of the Risk Management
Authority which is being set up to provide a focal point
for multi-agency working.
REPORT ONE
RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF SERIOUS VIOLENT AND
SEXUAL OFFENDERS:A REVIEW OF CURRENT ISSUES
This presents criteria for a "defensible decision" and
concludes that two current methods for sex offence
recidivism prediction both have predictive accuracy.
REPORT TWO
SERIOUS VIOLENT AND SEXUAL OFFENDERS: THE USE OF RISK
ASSESSMENT TOOLS IN SCOTLAND
Among the report's main findings:
- Various approaches to risk assessment were being
adopted by different professional groups working in
different settings across Scotland
- Professionals expressed concern about the absence
of appropriate risk assessment tools for use with young
people, women and mentally disordered offenders
- Different tools and approaches were perceived to
have different strengths, but their ability to inform
risk management plans was considered critical
REPORT THREE
RECIDIVISM AMONGST VIOLENT SERIOUS AND SEXUAL
OFFENDERS
Among the report's main findings:-
- Rates of reconviction of sex offenders vary, though
are fairly low compared to other types of offending.
Recidivism for violent offenders is higher than for
sexual offences, but again is generally lower than for
other types of crime
- For both sexual and violent offenders, reconviction
is not usually for a further sexual or violent
offence
- Consistent, thorough, and accessible information
about sexual and violent offenders, particularly
regarding past offending and the nature of offences, is
crucial for the management and prevention of further
serious crimes
Report One was researched by Hazel Kemshall, De Montfort
University. Report Two by Gill McIvor, University of
Stirling and Hazel Kemshall. Report Three by Nancy Loucks,
independent criminologist.