Are Latinos Who Commit Sexual Offenses Different? A Closer Examination of Characteristics and Offense Patterns

• NCJ Number: 254235
• Journal: Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 30 Issue: 7 Dated: 2018 Pages: 846-868
• Date Published: 2018
• Author(s): Silvia F. Dominguez; Elizabeth L. Jeglic; Cynthia Calkins; Alejandro Leguizamo
• Length: 23 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2007-IJ-CX-0037
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

Since research literature that focuses on sex offenses committed by Latinos is scarce, the current study used archival data from a large sample of individuals who committed sex offenses to examine differences among Latino, White, and African-American individuals related to their characteristics, the offenses, and the victims.

Abstract

The study found that Latinos in the sample were more likely to have a lower educational level and to be living with the victim compared to either White or African-American sex offenders in the sample. To further understand the influence of cultural background, the study also examined differences within the Latino group based on their country of origin. Within the Latino sample, differences emerged in their educational level, criminal background, and psychiatric history. These findings are discussed as they pertain to future research and current practices related to the management and treatment of Latinos who commit sex offenses. 59 references (publisher abstract modified)