An Examination of the Relationship Between Offender Childhood Maltreatment and the Level of Physical Violence in Adult Sexual Offenses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between childhood neglect, physical, and sexual abuse and the level of physical violence utilized in the commission of adult sexual offenses. Understanding this complex relationship may make it possible for early intervention for individuals at risk to offend sexually; and help decrease the occurrence of violent sexual offenses; and ultimately reduce sexual recidivism.;This study predicted that offenders with a history of childhood physical abuse would demonstrate higher levels of physical violence in the commission of the sexual offense than those offenders with a history of sexual abuse and/or neglect. In addition, it was expected that the level of physical violence in the offense would increase when more than one form of childhood abuse was present. Finally, it was predicted that rapists would demonstrate a higher level of physical violence than child molesters.;Study results generally failed to find any real difference in the level of physical violence utilized in the commission of the sexual offense between childhood abuse groups or between the number of types of abuse reported and the level of physical violence utilized in the offense. However, study results revealed a trend of rapists utilizing higher rates of victim incapacitation then child molesters. Further, there was a statistically significant difference between rapists and child molesters with rapists demonstrating higher rates of holding/restraining their victim as well as using a weapon and/or lethal force during the offense. Implications for professionals working with this population are discussed.