RISK-FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH RECIDIVISM AMONG EXTRAFAMILIAL CHILD MOLESTERS

This study examined the predictive efficacy of 10 rationally derived, archivally coded variables for assessing reoffense risk among extrafam ilial child molesters. Follow-up data on 111 child molesters who were discharged from the Massachusetts Treatment Center between 1960 and 19 84 were used. Degree oi sexual preoccupation with children, paraphilia s, and number of prior sexual offenses predicted sexual recidivism. Ju venile and adult antisocial behavior, paraphilias, and low amount of c ontact with children predicted nonsexual victim-involved and violent r ecidivism. Area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves in all three analyses indicated discrimination that was substantially bet ter than chance, ranging from .73 to .79.