Evaluating the continuity between juvenile and adult sex offending: a review of the literature

Abstract

Sex offenders are thought to be a distinct group of individuals who continue to offend sexually over their lifespan. The purpose of this study is to review the literature on longitudinal studies that have evaluated the continuity of sex offending from adolescence into adulthood. Results indicate that few studies have assessed this relationship longitudinally, and most studies report that sex offenders are not the specialized group that conventional wisdom suggests. Rather, sex offenders are habitual offenders who tend to offend sexually on occasion. Implications for sex offender registration and community notification policies are discussed.

Keywords:

• sex offending
• continuity
• life-course
• recidivism