Examining Ethno-Racial Related Differences in Child Molester Typology: An MTC:CM3 Approach

• NCJ Number: 254027
• Author(s): Sarah Schaaf; Elizabeth L. Jeglic; Cynthia Calkins; Linsey Raymaekers; Alejandro Leguizamo
• Date Published: 2019
• Length: 20 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2007-IJ-CX-0037
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Award: Sex Offender Management, Treatment, and Civil Commitment: An Evidence Based Analysis Aimed at Reducing Sexual Violence

Annotation

This study replicated the Massachusetts Treatment Center's Child Molester Typology-Version 3 (MTC:CM3) in an ethno-racially diverse sample of incarcerated White, Black, and Latino child molesters (N = 499), since this typology was initially developed and validated using primarily White sex offenders.

Abstract

Overall, the study found that the MTC:CM3 was applicable to non-White child molesters but that there were differences in the proportion of offenders of different ethno-racial groups in Axis I type classifications. No differences were found in Axis II type classifications. Specifically, Black offenders were more often classified as socially incompetent and sexually attracted to adults compared with White and Latino offenders. Whereas White offenders were more often classified as socially incompetent and sexually fixated on children when compared with Black offenders. Latino offenders were more often classified as high in social competence and sexually attracted to adults compared to Black offenders. On Axis II, the majority of all three subsamples were classified as not having sexual contact with children beyond the offense, unlikely to inflict physical harm on victims, and as not having sadistic interests. Addressing these typological characteristics in the development and implementation of prevention and treatment efforts might increase the responsiveness of specific sex offender populations. (publisher abstract modified)