This article is entitled "Assessing Risk for Sexual Recidivism: Some Proposals on the Nature of Psychologically Meaningful Risk Factors," and it appeared in the journal Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment in 2010. Its authors, Ruth Mann, Karl Hanson, and David Thornton, argue that in assessing and reducing the risk of recidivism (committing the crime again) among sex offenders, it is important to identify what factors in the individual post the highest risk for recidivism. They recommend the use of what they call "third generation" intervention tools and procedures. These measure factors that are the most relevant to an individual offender. They are especially interested in identifying "psychologically meaningful risk factors," like individual predilections and behavioral patterns, to inform intervention. For example, someone who is likely to gravitate toward environments where drugs are used might be more likely to become a recidivist—there is a causal link between drug abuse and sexual offenses among convicted sex offenders. The demonstration of sexual preoccupation in a sexual offender would be another such factor. If these factors can be reliably determined, interventions can be planned and tailored to the needs of individuals.
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