Veterans in Prison for Sexual Offenses: Characteristics and Reentry Service Needs. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Finlay, Andrea K.; McGuire, Jim; Bronson, Jennifer; Sreenivasan, Shoba
• Is Part Of: Sexual abuse. Volume 31:Number 5(2019)
• Page Start: 560
• Page End: 579
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: sex offenses -- prison -- criminal behavior -- reentry; Sex offenders -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Sex offenders -- Psychology -- Periodicals; 616.8583
• DOI: 10.1177/1079063218793633
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1079-0632

Abstract

Among prison-incarcerated men in the United States, more veterans (35%) have a sexual offense conviction than nonveterans (23%). Limited research has investigated factors explaining the link between military service and sexual offending. Nationally representative data from prison-incarcerated men ( n = 14, 080) were used to examine the association between veteran status and sexual offenses, adjusting for demographic, childhood, and clinical characteristics. Veterans had 1.35 higher odds (95% confidence interval = [1.12, 1.62], p < .01) of a sexual offense than nonveterans. Among veterans, those who were homeless or taking mental health medications at arrest had lower odds and veterans with a sexual trauma history had higher odds of a sexual offense compared with other offense types. Offering mental health services in correctional and health care settings to address trauma experiences and providing long-term housing options can help veterans with sexual offenses as they transition from prison to their communities.