Abstract
There has been a considerable amount of scholarship devoted toward the study of individuals who have sexually offended, particularly their recidivism and specialization. This work has shown that sexual recidivism rates are relatively low and that the majority of individuals who sexually offend are generalists, engaging in both sexual and nonsexual crimes. Despite this empirically robust evidence, this research is often lacking with regard to a clearly defined theoretical perspective and framework. In this vein, the proliferation of developmental/life-course theoretical perspectives and criminal careers research in recent decades stands uniquely situated to provide an interdisciplinary and international theoretical framework for empirical research on individuals who sexually offend, to inform prevention, treatment, and policy.
This special issue of Sexual Abuse aims to advance the existing knowledge base with regard to sexual offending through a developmental/life-course theoretical lens, with a focus on the international applicability of these theoretical perspectives. Specific areas of interest include (a) research on recidivism and the continuity of sexual offending over the life-course; (b) developmental/life-course typologies of individuals who sexually offend; (c) analyses examining the type and roles of risk and protective factors for sexual offending over the life-course; (d) factors associated with the length of criminal careers among those who sexually offend; (e) identification of life transitions that promote desistance from sexual offending; (f) comparisons and contrasts of the risk factors associated with criminal career dimensions for offenders who sexually offend versus those who offend for nonsexual crimes; (g) promising developmental/life-course theoretically informed practices for treatment for individuals who sexually offend; and (h) evaluations of policies aimed at reducing offender recidivism and promoting reintegration for individuals who sexually offend.
Manuscripts may be original empirical analyses, critical analyses, tests of existing developmental/life-course theoretical perspectives, presentations of new developmental/life-course theoretical perspectives, or program or policy evaluations. Given the focus of the special issue, international and/or cross-cultural articles are particularly emphasized and welcomed. All manuscripts will undergo blind peer review and will be processed using the journal’s online electronic submission and review platform: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/sajrt. Eligible manuscripts must conform to the style and recently revised guidelines of Sexual Abuse, which can be accessed and reviewed here: https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/sexual-abuse/journal201888#submission-guidelines.