In the current focus upon prisons, prisoners, and correctional treatment, there also seems to be an increase in fear of sex
offenders. “Once a sex offender, always a sex offender” has become a common belief. The following study, however, has concluded
that this phrase is mistaken and misleading. The actual number of sex offenders who recidivate are few. This study, and many
prior to this one, have concluded that upwards of 65% do
not commit another sex offense. Most reoffenses are committed between 1 and 5 years after release, and the percentage of reoffenders
declines rapidly after. A positive correlation was found between length of time spent in prison and recidivism rates. Further
studies are suggested to follow up this interesting finding.
Authors' Note: This paper was originally presented at the Society for Police and Criminal Psychology meeting in Austin Texas, October,
2001. The authors wish to thank Amy Phenix, Mary Moss, Roxanne Lieb, Elizabeth Drake, Lee Keene, Neal Christopherson, and
Larry Greenfeld.