Fso fact sheet 2016

FSOs - McLeod 2016

Female Sexual Offending FACT SHEET • •

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Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is an Epidemic o Up to 10 times higher rates than polio at the height of that epidemic CSA causes incredible trauma and sustained problems throughout the lifespan o Affective and emotional dysregulation, cognitive impairment, attachment impairment, behavioral regulation problems, social development problems, negative self-concept.

It is a myth that females do not sexually offend on children o This is perpetuated by the media o We are all susceptible to the misinformation that FSOs are only young teachers in romantic relationships with 17-year-old boys.

FSOs account for 20% of sex crimes and 1% of sex crime related incarcerations FSOs have major mental health issues and their offending patterns are significantly different than those of males o Higher personal trauma histories § Their own histories of violence and victimization often begin in their families or origin and continue into adulthood § FSOs tend to have been victimized by more people than male offenders, for their own victimization to have begun at an earlier age, for their own victimization to have lasted for a longer duration, and to have been victimized by more closely related family members than male offenders o Distorted boundary development o Less about power, control, or entitlement and more about relationship based offending o They will return to their victims Nationwide research study (including all CPS reported child sexual abuse cases in the country for one year) o Some basics § 21% of cases had a primary perpetrator who was female § FSOs are more likely to have female victims (68%) § FSOs have younger victims than males § FSOs are more likely to offend on very young children § 14 yoa girls are at the highest risk for victimization o System entry and exit § FSOs more likely to be reported by relatives, friends, and anonymous reporters § Male offenders and victims of a higher age are more likely to be reported to Law Enforcement, and female offenders and lower age victims are more likely to be reported to CPS o Using social services data to learn about FSOs § Low SES • FSOs are more likely to be on housing assistance, other public assistance and have significant financial problems

David A. McLeod, PhD, MSW | University of Oklahoma | damcleod@ou.edu | www.damcv.com | 405-325-4647

FSOs - McLeod 2016

Receive far more family based services • These include family support, adoption, CASA, post investigation, etc • Likely due to females being more likely to be in a caregiving role(s) for children § Treatment services • FSOs are twice as likely as males to receive counseling and mental health services and 3 times more likely to receive substance abuse services § Financially based services • Far more likely than males to receive daycare, education, legal, transportation and other services indicative of low SES o Victim and Offender Risk Factors § Victim risk • FSOs are more likely to offend on children with drug and alcohol problems, metal or physical impairment, learning disabilities, medical conditions, or children who were prior victims • FSOs offend on the most vulnerable § Offender age • FSOs start offending later in life and end before men o 27-39 is the primary window § at least that we know of - they may just be better at not being caught § Relationship • FSOs are almost 5 times more likely to be a biological parent of their victim • 3 times more likely to be an adoptive parent § Offender risk • Much like in their victim selection, FSOs are more likely to have drug and alcohol problems, physical, medical, emotional, and cognitive impairments, and current experiences of domestic violence in the home at the time of offence o Substantiation § Cases involving male offenders are substantiated at slightly higher rates than those involving females §

References McLeod, D.A., (2015) Female offenders in child sexual abuse cases: A national picture. The Journal of Child Sexual Abuse.

McLeod, D.A., Natale, A.P. Johnson, Z. (2015). Comparing theoretical perspectives on female sexual offending behaviors: Applying a trauma-informed lens. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment.

McLeod, D.A., Craft, M.L. (2015). Female sexual offenders in child sexual abuse cases: National trends associated with CPS system entry, exit, service utilization, & socioeconomics. Journal of Public Child Welfare.

Others available on request, or by visiting www.damcv.com.

David A. McLeod, PhD, MSW | University of Oklahoma | damcleod@ou.edu | www.damcv.com | 405-325-4647