Do adults convicted of child sex offenses recidivate or sexually abuse other children when they are released?

Most adults who are convicted of sex offenses do not continue to sexually abuse children after release. Approximately 10-14% re-offend [3].

What is Recidivism for Child Sex Offenses?

Recidivism means that someone re-offended after being convicted of a crime. For child sexual abuse, that means that they were found guilty of sexually abusing a child again after already being convicted before. However, these statistics depend on whether children disclose their sexual abuse (and whether the adults then report this to the authorities), whether there is enough evidence to charge a person for sexually abusing a child, and finally whether the person is found guilty. A study done in 2015 found that when someone convicted of a sex offense was given treatment 10.1% reoffended, and when someone convicted of a sex offense was not given treatment 13.7% reoffended [3].

What are the Rates of Recidivism After Child Sex Offenses?

In comparison, data released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) suggests that 75% of individuals released from prison were arrested for a new crime within 5 years [2]. However, the rates of re-offending for other types of crimes were much higher than for sexual crimes [1]. 

It is important to know that any statistic about sex offender re-offending is very likely underestimated because of offenses that are not reported. Since the majority of children do not disclose sexual abuse [4], it is impossible to know for sure how many adults who have been convicted of sexual abuse, go on to sexually abuse again when released from prison.

 Why Do Some People Convicted of Child Sexual Abuse Re-Offend/Recidiviate?

Many factors, including a person’s experiences growing up, whether they were able to get treatment, how much support they have to re-enter the community, and their beliefs about child sexual abuse and harming children, all impact a person’s decisions to sexually abuse a child again - or to live an abuse-free life after they are released.

Having an antisocial personality or traits (like being impulsive, having substance abuse issues, being unemployed, and having a history of breaking rules) can be major predictors of re-offending. Issues like unusual sexual behavior and attitudes, problems with intimacy, a difficult or unstable childhood environment, and general mental health problems are also linked to re-offending, and are true even among youth who have sexually abused a child [5]. 

A large study looking at how often people who were convicted of child sexual abuse re-offend over the past 80 years found that these rates have dropped by more than 60% since the 1970’s [7]. This decrease could possibly be explained by more professional training, improved treatment programs, and knowledge-based criminal justice approaches [7].

Therapeutic treatments that are backed by research are most effective in reducing re-offense rates. However, it’s important to understand that there isn’t a single solution that works for everyone, and treatment programs need to be adjusted to fit the specific needs and characteristics of the individual who has sexually abused. 

Even though different treatments for people convicted of sex offenses work in different ways, there's no one-size-fits-all method that's agreed upon as the best for reducing repeat offenses [6]. However, research shows that people who get treatment after being convicted have a lower chance of reoffending (10.1%) compared to those who don't get treatment (13.7%). This suggests that sex offender treatment, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be effective [8].