Female sex offenders: Clinical and demographic features

Abstract

This paper provides clinical and demographic data on 12 female child sex offenders in the correctional system in Victoria. Information was obtained through clinical assessments completed whilst women were incarcerated or in the community setting and from sentencing comments. An analysis of this information revealed that the characteristics of these women and their offences generally fitted the profile of female sex offenders described in the current literature. However, the findings also revealed that the women differed in some respects to the typical portrayal of female sex offenders. Although the majority of women were co-offenders with males, only a few females appeared coerced and motivated by fear. In the group of male accompanied offences, women were also motivated by rejection and revenge, leading to the development and extension of a new category - the male accompanied: rejected/revengeful.

Key Words:

• female sex offenders
• motivation
• demographics
• clinical features
• offence characteristics