A preliminary typology of young sex offenders

Data concerning all young (15-20 years, n = 56) sex offenders (YSOs) subjec ted to forensic psychiatric investigation in Sweden during 1988-1995 were u sed in an attempt to construct and validate an introductory YSO typology ba sed solely on offence characteristics. A 5-cluster solution received optima l support from cluster analysis of 15 offence-related variables. A few hist orical and clinical characteristics varied across clusters. Survival analys es revealed that the clusters differed with respect to sexual but not to vi olent or general reconviction rates. (C) 2000 The Association for Professio nals in Services for Adolescents.