During September 1998, the Research Unit of the
Arizona Department of Corrections. (ADC) completed an analysis of sex offenders released
from ADC custody over the ten-year period from July 1988 through June 1998. A released
offender was included in the study if he or she was serving time for one or more sex
offenses just prior to release from incarceration. Offenders were tracked only with
reference to the first release from a given criminal sentence.
The record of each targeted sex offender was
reviewed to determine if the offender returned to the custody of the Department by June
30, 1998, and if so, under what circumstances. Returns for technical violations were
distinguished from returns with new felony convictions. In cases of new convictions,
information was recorded concerning the nature of all new conviction offenses. Preliminary
findings from the study are as follows:
- 2,444 sex offenders were released from ADC custody
over the ten-year period. The average period of follow-up (to June 30, 1998) for all sex
offenders was 54.5 months. Among the 2,444, 509 or 20.8 % returned at least once to the
custody of the Department, including 346 or 14.2% with new felony convictions. While sex
offenders returned to prison for a variety of new crimes, 78 or 3.2% returned for a new
felony sex offense, and an additional 90 or 3.7% returned for a new violent felony
offense.
- Among the 2,444 released sex offenders, 1,087
(44.5%) were released to the supervision of ADC parole officers. Among this group, eight
(8) or 0.7% were found to have committed a new sex offense during the period of parole
supervision. Among the eight (8), one (1) or 0.1% returned to custody with a new sex
offense conviction while still under supervision. The remaining seven (7) were returned to
custody after termination of the period of supervision.
- The most serious new sex offense committed by the
78 sex offense recidivists was:
Child molestation or sexual conduct with a minor 34(44%)
Rape or sexual assault 22(28%)
Sexual indecency (exposing) 14(18%)
Sexual abuse 8(10%)
- Among the 78 sex offense recidivists, the timing
of the commission of new sex offenses was as follows:
35 (45%) were committed within the first year after release;
19 (24%) were committed within the
second year after release;
8 (10%) were committed within
the third year after release;
3 (4%) were committed within
the fourth year after release;
6 (8%) were committed within
the fifth year after release;
4 (5%) were committed within
the sixth year after release;
3 (4%) were committed within
the seventh year after release.
The Department of Corrections is currently
working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to determine if data can be
accessed for the completion of the second phase of the research. Further study will be
undertaken if data is available to ascertain if any of the offenders in the study have
re-offended and have entered secure custody in other jurisdictions. It is anticipated that
the report on the first phase of the research will be published before the end of the
year. For further information, please contact the Department of Corrections.
Updated on August 05, 1999
