forensic chapter 14

Sexual offender (SO)

An individual who commits a crime involving non-consensual sexual behaviour

Denial (SO treatment)

Refusal by offenders to admit their crime or accept responsibility

Cognitive distortions

False beliefs used by offenders to justify their behaviour

Victim empathy

Ability to understand and feel the harm experienced by victims

Lack of victim empathy

Common trait where offenders minimize or ignore victim suffering

Social skills deficits

Poor interpersonal skills often seen in sexual offenders

Relapse prevention

A strategy that identifies triggers and teaches coping skills to avoid reoffending

Triggers (sexual offending)

Situations or thoughts that increase risk of reoffending

Aversion therapy

Treatment pairing deviant sexual thoughts with unpleasant stimuli

SSRIs (treatment)

Medications used to reduce deviant sexual urges

Deviant sexual interests

Atypical sexual preferences that may involve harm or non-consent

Frotteurism

A disorder involving touching or rubbing against non-consenting individuals

Voyeurism

A disorder involving observing others without their knowledge for sexual pleasure

Exhibitionism

A disorder involving exposing one’s genitals to others

Pedophilia

Sexual interest in prepubescent children

Chemical castration

Use of medication to reduce libido and sexual drive

Cyproterone acetate

A drug used to reduce testosterone and sexual urges

Medroxyprogesterone acetate

A drug used to lower sexual drive in offenders

Physical castration

Surgical removal of testicles to eliminate sexual drive

Androgen deprivation therapy

Treatment that reduces testosterone levels

Testosterone

Hormone linked to sexual drive and aggression

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)

Treatment focusing on changing thoughts and behaviours

Substance abuse treatment

Treatment addressing drug or alcohol problems linked to offending

Treatment completion

Successfully finishing a treatment program, linked to lower reoffending

Treatment dropout

Failing to complete treatment, linked to higher recidivism

Recidivism (sexual offenders)

The likelihood of committing another sexual offence

Sexual offender registry

A database containing information about convicted offenders

Ontario registry

First provincial sexual offender registry established in 2001

National registry (Canada)

A country-wide registry established in 2004

RCMP registry management

The national registry is maintained by the RCMP

Registry purpose

Helps police track and monitor sexual offenders

Registry limitations

Does not necessarily increase public safety

Female sexual offender

A woman who commits a sexual offence

Teacher/Lover type

Female offender who forms inappropriate relationships with victims

Male-coerced type

Female offender influenced or controlled by a male partner

Exploration/Exploitation type

Female offender acting out of curiosity or opportunity

Psychologically disturbed type

Female offender with severe mental health issues

Co-offending

Committing a crime with another offender

Indigenous sexual offenders

Group with higher representation and unique risk factors

Intoxication during offence

High rates of substance use at time of sexual offence

Effectiveness of treatment

Treated offenders have slightly lower reoffending rates than untreated offenders