Understanding Sexual Offending: Definitions and Trends

Sexual Offending

There is wide variation in types and definitions of sexual offending, including forcible rape, statutory rape, sexual assault, forcible fondling, molestation, and other sexual offenses or lewd acts.

Statutory Rape

Nonforcible sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent, which varies by jurisdiction across the United States.

Rape (Old Definition)

The carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will, used through 2011.

Rape (New Definition)

Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim, used from 2012 to present.

Sex Offenses

Any sexual act including rape, sodomy, sexual assault with an object, or fondling directed against another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.

Sodomy

Oral or anal sexual intercourse with another person, without consent of the victim.

Sexual Assault with an Object

Use of an instrument/object to unlawfully penetrate, however slight, the genital/anal opening of the victim's body without consent.

Fondling

The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification without consent.

Incest

Nonforcible sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.

Date Rape

Forcible rape that involves romantic partners or acquaintances in a dating relationship, typically involving various forms of verbal or physical coercion.

Voyeurism

Achieving sexual gratification by illegally spying on others, usually strangers, often referred to as 'peeping Toms.'

Exhibitionism

Criminal exposure of genitals to unsuspecting people in public places, often referred to as 'indecent exposure.'

Pedophilia

Adults (above sixteen years of age) who have sexual desires for prepubescent children, often involving manipulation and coercion.

Grooming

Attempts to manipulate or coerce someone into performing sexual acts for a proposed reward, often involving building trust with a child.

Sex Trafficking

The process whereby people (mostly women or children) are recruited, kidnapped, or sold and/or moved across national or international borders for economic profit.

Victim Characteristics - Sex

Females predominate among victims of rape and sexual assault.

Victim Characteristics - Race

Highest rates of rape and sexual assault are reported by Black women, while White and Hispanic women report lower rates of victimization.

Victim Characteristics - Age

Highest rates of rape and sexual assault are among persons between 16 and 24.

Male Offenders

Commit roughly 99% of officially recorded forcible rapes.

Female Offenders

Approximately 6% of male victims are assaulted by a male and female offending together; approximately 7% are assaulted by a woman alone.

Victim-Offender Relationship

Sexual offenders and their victims are likely to have a prior relationship, especially for young victims.

Childhood Victimization

Childhood sexual victimization has immediate traumatic effects and may lead to behavioral and psychological problems later in life.

Prostitution

Any sexual exchange for money or other reward, legal in some countries and parts of the U.S., often with restrictions.

Call Girl/Escorts

Well-paid, high-status sex workers who work largely away from public scrutiny.

Escort Agency Workers

Workers employed by an escort agency, acting as intermediaries between clients and sex workers.

Brothel Employees

Work in specific houses that may provide massages, saunas, or other services to clients.

Window Workers

Low-paid sex workers who attract clients by sitting in windows or houses along city streets.

Bar Girls/Casino Workers

Solicit clients in public bars, often posing as patrons, with lower economic rewards.

Streetwalkers

Solicit clients in public places, generally in large urban areas, and are often the most dangerous and least well-paid.

Sextortion

Incidents wherein offenders threaten to expose sexual images to coerce victims into providing additional pictures, sex, or other favors.

Online Offenders

Victimize children and teenagers through various means, including enticing victims through online contact and soliciting sexual activities.

Expert Online Offenders

Highly sophisticated internet predators who develop strategies to identify potential victims and avoid detection.

False Identity

Using a fictitious persona to exploit victims.

Cynical Offenders

Less sophisticated, often use true identity.

Attention-focused Offenders

Emotionally close to victims, disregard age and consent.

Sex-focused Offenders

Desire sexual encounters without emotional investment.

Power/Aggression-motivated

Use force to assert power over victims.

Anger/Retaliatory Offenders

Act out of anger, often surprise victims.

Sexual/Reassurance Motivated

Attack strangers, may stalk victims beforehand.

Sadistic Offenders

Inflict pain on victims for stimulation.

Power Perspective

Sex crimes motivated by need for control.

Desire Perspective

Sex crimes driven by sexual desire.

Feminist Theorists

Argue male dominance normalizes violence against women.

Anomie (Merton)

Frustration leads to deviant sexual lifestyles.

Culture Conflict Theory

Norm clashes lead to sexual violence.

Subcultural Theories

Some subcultures promote violence, including sexual.

Differential Association

Crime learned through interaction with criminals.

Frustration-aggression

High frustration leads to increased aggression.

Social Control

Mechanisms that regulate individual behavior.

Victimization Cycle

Victims may become offenders later in life.

Emotional Detachment

Lack of emotional connection to victims.

Sexual Deviance

Behavior that violates societal sexual norms.

Stalking

Repeatedly following or harassing a victim.

Souvenir

Keepsake from a crime, often for stimulation.