Male Mentally Handicapped Sex Offenders

Abstract

BackgroundSex offences are overrepresented in the mentally handicapped, but information about the characteristics and offence behaviour of this group is limited.MethodA retrospective case note survey was made of 47 male patients referred for antisocial sexual behaviour.ResultsOf 191 offences and/or incidents committed, 55.5% were heterosexual, 24% indecent exposure, 12.4% homosexual, 13.6% serious and 3.6% involved physical assault. Average age of the offenders was 23.9 years, with a mean IQ of 59.5, and there was a high prevalence of family psychopathology, psychiatric illness, minor physical disabilities, sexual experience, impaired relationship skills and sexual recidivism. Recidivists showed a low specificity for offence type and age and sex of victim. Categorical analysis differentiated a ‘sex offences only’ group from a ‘sex plus other offences’ group in the key areas of psychopathology, offence behaviour and outcome; this was supported by factor analysis.ConclusionThe finding of two subgroups of mentally handicapped male sex offenders has important implications for prevention, assessment and treatment.