Citation

Francis B, Soothill K. J. Forensic Psychiatry 2000; 11(1): 49.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/095851800362355

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Focusing on the 7,442 persons convicted of an indictable sexual offence in England and Wales in 1973, this study considers subsequent homicides (murder or manslaughter) over a 21-year follow-up period (to the end of 1994). There were 19 persons who were so convicted - or about 1 person out of every 400 sex offenders. This contrasts with an estimate of about 1 person in 3,000 for males in the general population. Those convicted of child-sex offences in 1973 were not more likely than other kinds of sex offenders to go on to commit homicide. Of the child-sex offenders that did, the victim was more likely to be an adult female stranger than a child. Other kinds of sexual offender, if they kill, are also more likely to kill an adult female, but probably in a rage or a quarrel in the domestic sphere. Age and previous violence are important predictors that need to be further considered.