Facts About Sex Offenders

FACTS ABOUT SEX OFFENDERS

Let us see how much we know—and see how much of what we think

has been based on the myths we have all heard about sexual

assault and sex offenders. Take 5 minutes to complete the True

or False Quiz:

Most men who commit sexual offenses do not know their victim.

False. 90% of child victims know their offender, with almost

half of the offenders being a family member. Of sexual assaults

against people age 12 and up, approximately 80% of the victims

know the offender.

Most sexual assaults are committed by someone of the same race

as the victim.

True. Most sexual assaults are committed by someone of the same

race as the victim. An exception to this is that people who

commit sexual assault against Native Americans are usually not

Native American (American Indians and Crime, 1999).

Most child sexual abusers use physical force or threat to gain compliance from their victims.

False. In the majority of cases, abusers gain access to their

victims through deception and enticement, seldom using force.

Abuse typically occurs within a long-term, ongoing relationship

between the offender and victim and escalates over time.

Most child sexual abusers find their victims by frequenting such

places as schoolyards and playgrounds.

False. Most child sexual abusers offend against children whom

they know and with whom they have established a relationship.

Many sexual assaults of adult women are considered “confidence

rapes,” in that the offender knows the victim and has used that

familiarity to gain access to her.

Only men commit sexual assault.

False. While most sex offenders are male, sometimes sex

offenses are committed by female offenders.

Child sexual abusers are only attracted to children and are not

capable of appropriate sexual relationships.

False. While there is a small subset of child sexual abusers

who are exclusively attracted to children, the majority of the

individuals who sexually abuse children are (or have previously

been) attracted to adults.

Victims of sexual assault are harmed only when offenders use

force.

False. More than any physical injuries the victim sustains, the

violation of trust that accompanies most sexual assaults has

been shown to dramatically increase the level of trauma the

victim suffers. Emotional and psychological injuries cause harm

that can last much longer than physical wounds.

If a child does not tell anyone about the abuse, it is because

he or she must have consented to it.

False. Children often do not tell for a variety of reasons

including the offender’s threats to hurt or kill someone the

victim loves, as well as shame, embarrassment, wanting to

protect the offender, feelings for the offender, fear of being

help responsible or being punished, fear of being disbelieved,

and fear of losing the offender who may be very important to the

child or the child’s family..

It is common for both child and adult victims of sexual assault

to wait some time before telling someone about the abuse.

True. It is common for victims of sexual assault to wait some

time before telling someone. When the person was assaulted as a

child, hr or she may wait years or decades. The reasons for

this are numerous; victims may want to deny the fact that

someone they trusted could do this to them; they may want to

just put it behind them; they may believe the myth that they

caused the assault by their behavior; or they may fear how other

people will react to the truth.

If someone sexually assaults an adult, he will not target

children as victims, and if someone sexually assaults a child,

he will not target adults.

False. Research and anecdotal evidence indicate that while some

sex offenders choose only one type of victim (e.g. pre-pubescent

girls, post-pubescent boys, adult women, etc.); others prey on

different types of victims. Therefore, no assumptions should be

made about an offender’s victim preference and precautions

should be taken regardless of his crime of conviction.

It helps the victim to talk about the abuse.

True. The victim’s recovery will be enhanced if she or he feels

believed, supported, protected, and receives counseling

following the disclosure that he or she was assaulted. However,

sexual assault victims should always have the choice about when,

with whom, and under what conditions they wish to discuss their

experiences.

Sexual Gratification is often not a primary motivation for a

rape offender.

True. While some offenders do seek sexual gratification from

the act, sexual gratification is often not a primary motivation

for a rape offender. Power, control, and anger are more likely

to be the primary motivators.

Offenders could stop their sexually violent behavior on their

own if they wanted to.

False. Wanting to change is usually not enough to be able to

change the patterns that lead to sexual offenses. To create the

motivation to change, some offenders need a variety of treatment

and corrective interventions, and for others, learning how to

make the change in their own behavioral cycle of abuse is more

effective.

Men who rape do so because they cannot find a consenting sexual

partner.

False. Studies suggest that most rape offenders are married or

in consenting relationships.

Drugs and alcohol cause sexual offenses to occur.

False. While drugs and alcohol are often involved in sexual

assaults, drugs and alcohol do not cause sexual offenses to

occur. Rather, drug and alcohol use may be a disinhibitor for

the offender, while being under the influence may increase a

potential victim’s vulnerability.

Victims of sexual assault often share some blame for the assault.

False. Adult and child victims of sexual abuse are never to

blame for the assault, regardless of their behavior. Because of

the age difference, children are unable to legally consent to

sexual acts. They are often made to feel like willing

participants, which further contributes to their shame and guilt.

If a victim does not say “no” or does not “fight back”, it is

not sexual assault.

False. Sexual assault victims may not say “no” or not “fight

back” for a variety of reasons including fear and confusion.

Rape victims often report being “frozen” by fear during the

assault, making them unable to fight back; other victims may not

actively resist for fear of angering the assailant and causing

him to use more force in the assault. Pressure to be liked and

not be talked about negatively by a peer will sometimes cause

adolescents or children to avoid fighting back or actively

resisting.

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