The consequences of sex crimes, sometimes referred to as “soul destroying crime”, are so traumatic and devastating that victims, their families and communities have difficulties overcoming deep wounds, which are often remain unhealed. Thus, these ...
The consequences of sex crimes, sometimes referred to as “soul destroying crime”, are so traumatic and devastating that victims, their families and communities have difficulties overcoming deep wounds, which are often remain unhealed. Thus, these types of crimes must be reduced and ultimately eradicated more than any other crime. Until recently, developed countries including the United States, as part of their efforts to tackle these severe sex crimes, have introduced electronic monitoring programs, and the success of the programs in these countries prompted our country to implement a similar GPS monitoring program for sex offenders on September 1st, 2008. As of June 2012, this GPS monitoring program has become recognized as an effective intervention with a marked effect on reducing recidivism among sex offenders by 87.5% from previous years before the program started.
Although there was a host of research on the effectiveness of electronic monitoring programs for sex offenders mainly in criminological or legal ways, little research has addressed its efficacy or consequences for this population in the aspects of social welfare. As such, the purpose of the study was to examine a set of factors influencing recidivism among sex offenders supervised by GPS electronic monitoring program, and ascertain whether such factors as social supports from their families and probation officers, a sense of shame and treatment order from the court deter sex offenders from reoffending, followed by discussion on what kind of resources should be provided and which strategies are best for probation supervision.
Using survey data from 206 convicted sex offenders on GPS monitoring order at the 56 probation & parole offices nationwide at the time of December 2011, this study conducted statistical procedures including reliability analysis, descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, chi-square test, and a series of hierarchical logistic regression. The result of the analysis are presented below.
At first, to construct a comparison group, sex offenders on GPS monitoring order were categorized into two groups: 1) recidivism group, committing new crimes of engaging in criminal behaviour such as strap tampers and other violations and 2) non-recidivism group. the 46 sex offenders of the recidivism group were compared with the 158 offenders placed in non-recidivism group, and the results indicated that recidivism group members were more likely than non-recidivism group members to earn less income and had a more negative view of their financial situation, and the recidivism group showed higher rates of sexual and non sexual convictions. Moreover, compared with the non-recidivism group, offenders from the recidivism group had lower levels of social support from their probation officers and family members, and they showed lack of recognition for inter-dependency, responsibility, fairness about punishment as well as lower level of sham.
In an attempt to determine factors predicting recidivism among sex offenders, a series of hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted in terms of four overarching variable groups: 1)demographic variables(age, monthly income, occupation), 2)criminal history-related variables(overall conviction histories, sexual conviction histories), 3)sex offender treatment variable, and 4)crime prevention-related variables(social support from probation officers, social support from family members). Four factors(monthly income, sexual conviction histories, social support from probation officers and family members) showed a significant contribution to predicting recidivism among sex offenders supervised by GPS electronic monitoring program. More specifically, sex offenders with 50 thousand won less monthly income have a 1.24 times greater chance of reoffending compare to those with 50 thousand won more monthly income, and sex offenders supervised by GPS electronic monitoring program with two prior sexual convictions have a 1.54 times greater chance of reoffending compared to those with one prior sexual conviction. Also, sex offenders with one level lower social support from probation officers show a 1.05 times greater chance of reoffending, and similarly sex offenders with one level lower social support from family members have a 1.04 times greater chance of reoffending.
In terms of practical and political implications of these findings, general considerations concerning prevention of recidivism among sex offenders are discussed as follows.
First, in practical terms, it is necessary to provide the offenders with sustainable financial support that will allow them to reintegrate into their communities successfully by raising their monthly income. To achieve this, if the offenders have no jobs or work as a part time employee, it is a good intervention strategy to assist their job seeking activities for their securing full time positions by guiding them participate in 'job application package project' run by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. It is also desirable to arrange entrepreneurial support programs for the offenders who are skilled workers but suffer from financial difficulty. Secondly, based on sex offenders' prior criminal records, serious sex offenders should be supervised intensively with high levels of surveillance such as increasing the frequency of field visit and interview. Third, it is also important to increase and strengthening overall levels of social support from probation officers and family members. In particular, intensified and multiple efforts are required to promote self-esteem of family members and expand subsidies from the government for them. In addition, efforts to work partnership with community centers should be made so that case management programs can be implemented for the purpose of strengthening relationship and restoring confidence between family members. Forth, treatment programs for sex offenders should keep the continuity between