ERIC Number: EJ1257765
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Jul
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-2322
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Perceptions of Sex Offenders with Intellectual Disability: A Comparison of Forensic Staff and the General Public
Steans, Jennifer; Duff, Simon
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, v33 n4 p711-719 Jul 2020
Background: Existing literature suggests that individuals with intellectual disability are not always held accountable for their actions and forensic staff are unlikely to report their sexually harmful behaviour. Method: This research explores how categorization of an offender as having intellectual disability and the framing of an offence as planned or opportunistic, impacts upon ratings of risk, blame and intent by forensic staff and the general public. The impact of pre-existing attitudes towards sex offenders upon these ratings was also considered. Results: Differences are identified between participants' ratings when the offender is categorized as having an intellectual disability. More positive attitudes are associated with lower ratings of several factors. Conclusions: Individuals with overly positive attitudes towards sex offenders could underestimate the risk posed by sex offenders with intellectual disability. These results are important to consider alongside the NHS Transforming Care Agenda.
Descriptors: Sexual Abuse, Criminals, Intellectual Disability, Public Opinion, Positive Attitudes, Risk
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

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