Changing Trajectory: An Integrated Theoretical View of the Roman Catholic Priest Sex Abuse Scandal

ABSTRACT

The sexual abuse of children by Roman Catholic priests across the United States is a direct result of access to children, and that access changes across the life-course of individual priests. Turning points affect not only an individual priest’s motivation to commit the crime, but also the suitability of a target. Guardianship of the victim and the surveillance of the offender play a salient role in facilitating the opportunity for the sexual assault of a child. Two criminological theories are germane to how contextual elements of the abusive situation can fluctuate across the life course: (1) Life Course Theory and (2) Routine Activity Theory.

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Notes on contributors

Ryan Alexander

RYAN ALEXANDER is Associate Professor in the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department at Washburn University. His scholarly interests include sex offender policy, probation and parole issues, and criminological theory.

Michael L. Birzer

MICHAEL L. BIRZER is Professor of Criminal Justice and Director of the School of Community Affairs at Wichita State University. His scholarly interest center on qualitative research methods, racial profiling, police practice and behavior, and applied theoretical perspectives.