Family Backgrounds of Serial Rapists (From Sexual Offenders: Context, Assessment and Treatment, P 9-18, 1993, Noel K Clark and Geoffrey M Stephenson, eds. -- See NCJ- 150890)

• NCJ Number: 150892
• Author(s): R A Leonard
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: British Psychological Soc
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This study explored differences between serial rapist and nonrapist criminal groups in terms of offending motive and personal adjustment; it was hypothesized that serial rapists would report more negative family relations and more adverse comments about their family backgrounds than serial robber controls.

Abstract

The study sample included 64 offenders, 44 serial rapists and 20 serial robbers selected from 10 prisons. Information about family backgrounds was collected from case records, and subjects were then interviewed to complete gaps in information. Data revealed a great deal of disruption in the family lives of all offenders. Significantly more rapists than robbers, however, did not have relations with their natural parents at the time of the offense. More rapists than robbers reported parental violence directed at them, and more rapists were from ethnic minority groups. The hypothesis that serial rapists would report more negative family experiences than serial robbers was partially supported. Implications of the findings for sex offender treatment programs are discussed. 12 tables