Overview

Research on recidivism tools for women lags significantly behind that on men. Additionally, what little research there is on the risk assessment of women is often limited and does not specifically address mental health issues.

Summary

This study specifically looked at 525 German women who were admitted to a German Psychiatric Hospital at the request of the courts.

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Are you looking for more assistance with your sentence mitigation reports? Contact Dr. Jennifer Weeks, a recognized expert witness and forensic psychologist.

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Continue exploring Mitigation Aide for the information on mental health necessary to ensure your clients are treated fairly in the criminal justice system.

The post Forensic Recidivism Tools for Women first appeared on Mitigation Aide.

Overview

What sort of traumatic events are most likely to be in the history of female sexual offenders? Besides the offending behavior, what other effects might adverse childhood experiences have on female sexual offenders?

Summary

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) have been studied in many populations, from the general public to offenders of all types. ACES have been correlated to everything from medical issues to addiction and suicide risk.

What is the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale?

The ACE scale is a 10-point scale that assesses for the presence or absence of 10 different adverse events that a person may have experienced before their 18^th birthday.

These include items such as parental divorce or incarceration, abuse of any kind, parental addiction or mental health issues, the presence of domestic violence or neglect.  In the general public, women endorse more ACEs than men and 25% of women endorse a history of sexual abuse as a child.

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Are you looking for more assistance with your sentence mitigation reports? Contact Dr. Jennifer Weeks, a recognized expert witness and forensic psychologist.

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Continue exploring Mitigation Aide for the information on mental health necessary to ensure your clients are treated fairly in the criminal justice system.

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Are you a Licensed Professional Counselor looking for Continuing Education Hours? Dr. Weeks provides courses related to Female Sexual Offending and many other topics on Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.

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Did you arrive here looking for information about childhood trauma, or adverse childhood experiences? Dr. Weeks offers a free, scientifically-validated, anonymous assessment on her personal blog. Take the Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire.

The post Adverse Childhood Experiences in Female Sexual Offenders first appeared on Mitigation Aide.

Overview

What are the three most common pathways to female sexual offending? Which of these pathways is most likely result in factors that could aggravate sentencing?

Summary

In 2008, a descriptive model of female sexual offending was developed based on 22 cases of female sexual offenders in the United Kingdom.  It was called the Descriptive Model of Female Sexual Offending (DMFSO) and its focus is from one year to just prior to the offending behavior.  The authors, in the original and subsequent studies, detailed three pathways to female sexual offending.  These pathways are

The post Offense Style of Female Sexual Offenders first appeared on Mitigation Aide.

Overview

What data is available to assess and determine the likelihood of a female sexual offender being arrested, charged, convicted, or incarcerated after her initial conviction?

Summary

Key to the assessment of any offender, particularly sexual offenders, are recidivism rates.  One main issue when it comes to assessing the recidivism of female sexual offenders is that there are currently no reliable and validated actuarial risk assessment measures that can be used on women who commit sex crimes.

The post Recidivism of Female Sexual Offenders first appeared on Mitigation Aide.

Overview

How do developmental forces, mental health issues, and the presence of a co-defendant affect sentence mitigation and aggravation? Which category of female sexual offender is more likely to act impulsively?

Summary

Though there is not a great deal of research on female sexual offenders, researchers and clinicians have been trying to categorize them based on commonalities and differences since the 1980s.  One of the frequently cited categories of female sexual offender is that of the Male Coerced.  This category has been further broken down into subcategories of compliant victim, rejected/revengeful, or willing ally.  

The post Differences Between Solo Female Sex Offenders and Those with a Co-Offender first appeared on Mitigation Aide.

Overview

An analysis of the recidivism rates of female sexual offenders and likely factors that would increase risk of reoffense.

Summary

This study by Sandler and Freeman is older by scientific standards. However, given the lack of scientific data and reports regarding female sexual offenders specifically, it is still frequently cited in these cases.  

The post Female Sexual Offender Recidivism first appeared on Mitigation Aide.

Overview

Exploring the nature of childhood trauma, mental illness, and substance abuse and its impacts on female sexual offenders.

Summary

This is a qualitative study published in 2015 by DeCou et al.  Previous research had suggested that women offenders have several domains of vulnerability that contribute to their offending behaviors. 

The post The Role of Victimization and Life Stress in Female Offending first appeared on Mitigation Aide.

Overview

Does the male dominated Static-99R apply satisfactorily to female sexual offenders?

Summary

I was recently asked in court if I had conducted any actuarial risk assessment measures on a female defendant. 

My answer was no. 

The prosecutor asked me why I did not, to which I answered

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Are you looking for more assistance with your sentence mitigation reports? Contact Dr. Jennifer Weeks, a recognized expert witness and forensic psychologist.

---

Continue exploring Mitigation Aide for the information on mental health necessary to ensure your clients are treated fairly in the criminal justice system.

---

Are you a Licensed Professional Counselor looking for Continuing Education Hours? Dr. Weeks provides courses related to Female Sexual Offending and many other topics on Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.

The post Can you use the Static-99R with Female Sexual Offenders? first appeared on Mitigation Aide.