Low recidivism rates of child sex offenders in a Finnish 7-year follow-up. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Laajasalo, Taina; Ellonen, Noora; Korkman, Julia; Pakkanen, Tom; Aaltonen, Olli-Pekka
• Is Part Of: Nordic journal of criminology. Volume 21:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 103
• Page End: 111
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Child sexual abuse -- recidivism -- reoffending -- reconviction; Criminology -- Periodicals; Crime prevention -- Periodicals; Crime -- Periodicals; Criminology; Crime prevention; Crime; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 364.05
• DOI: 10.1080/2578983X.2020.1730069
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2578-983X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study examines the recidivism rates of Finnish child sex offenders convicted in 2010 ( n = 361) over a follow-up period of seven years. The results indicate that while reoffending for other types of offences was common (34%), offenders had very low sexual crime recidivism rates (1%). In terms of more persistent criminal careers, less than a quarter of the offenders had both a previous criminal history and at least one subsequent offence during the follow-up period. Offenders with child sexual abuse material-related crimes reoffended more rarely than did others. Study limitations and implications for policymaking, media and rehabilitation are discussed.