Myths and Facts
“Most sexual assaults are committed by strangers.”
FACT:
Most sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim or the victim’s family, regardless of whether the victim is a child or an adult.
MYTH:
“The majority of sexual offenders are caught, convicted, and in prison.”
FACT:
Only a fraction of those who commit sexual assault are apprehended and convicted for their crimes. Most convicted sex offenders eventually are released to the community under probation or parole supervision.
MYTH:
“Youths do not commit sex offenses.”
FACT:
Adolescents are responsible for a significant number of rape and child molestation cases each year.
MYTH:
“Juvenile sex offenders typically are victims of child sexual abuse and grow up to be adult sex offenders.”
FACT:
Multiple factors, not just sexual victimization as a child, are associated with the development of sexually offending behavior in youth.
MYTH:
“Treatment for sex offenders is ineffective.”
FACT:
Treatment programs can contribute to community safety because those who attend and cooperate with program conditions are less likely to re-offend than those who reject intervention.
MYTH:
“Most sex offenders re-offend.”
FACT:
Recidivism rates are lower for sex offenders than for the general offender population. Re-offense rates vary among different types
of sex offenders and are related to specific characteristics of the offender and the offense.
*“Myths and Facts about Sex Offenders,”Center for Sex Offender Management, www.csom.org