Sex Crimes

Sex Crimes: Research and Realities, 2nd edition, provides succinct overviews and details of the research regarding sex crimes and the persons who commit them, dispelling common myths related to sex crimes that have been contradicted in the scientific literature in recent decades. Throughout the book, survivors of sexual violence are highlighted, including those who have engaged in activism leading to positive changes for victims of sexual violence or came forward with their stories of sexual victimization despite being told "nothing can be done." The book begins with a broad overview of the number and types of sex crimes that occur annually, then outlines several theories developed to explain sex crimes specifically, along with descriptions of popular criminological theories that have been applied to persons who have committed a sex crime. The next several chapters provide details regarding different types ofsex crimes. Subsequently, the authors provide an overview of juveniles and females who commitsex crimes, and of sex crimes that occur within an institution, such as college campuses and sports or youth organizations. New to this edition is a chapter that focuses on victims of sex crimes and the victimology of sexual violence. Attention is given to the nuances of investigating sex crimes and policies (such as registration and civil commitment laws) affecting persons who have committed a sex crime. The conclusion provides an overview of the myths regarding sex crimes and the persons who commit them, again with a summary of what research has unveiled while highlighting areas of recommended future research. This book is suitable for an undergraduate or graduate-level course for a variety of social science fields. It is invaluable for treatment providers, law enforcement officers, detectives, or policy makers.

Donna Vandiver, PhD, is a Professor at Texas State University. Her research is strongly centered on sex crimes and the persons who commit them. She has co-authored nearly two dozen articles on the topic, and co-authored a book on juveniles who have committed sex crimes. Her research informed the development of a widely used typology of women who have committed sex crimes. She has also co-authored a longitudinal assessment of recidivism among a large sample of women who had committed a sex crime and engaged in collaborative efforts regarding the effects of sex offender registration laws on juveniles who had committed a sex crime. Jeremy Braithwaite, PhD, is a Tribal Research Specialist at the Tribal Law and Policy Institute and the owner/co-founder of EvaluACT, a research and evaluation consulting business in Los Angeles. His research focuses on violence against women, particularly the sexual victimization of American Indian/Alaska Native women. He is currently the Principal Investigator of multiple National Institute of Justice grant projects focused on crime and justice issues in Indian Country.

1. Introduction; 2. Theories about Sex Crimes and Persons Who Commit Sex Crimes; 3. Rape and Sexual Assault; 4. Child Sexual Abuse; 5. Child Pornography and Sex Trafficking; 6 Juveniles and Women Who Have Committed a Sex Crime; 7. Institutional Abuse; 8. The Victimology of Sexual Violence; 9. Investigations of Sex Crimes; 10. Assessment Tools and Treatment Issues Related to Sex Crimes; 11. Registration Laws and Civil Commitment of Persons Who Have Committed a Sex Crime; 12. Conclusion