Frank Urbaniok

The consumption of Internet child pornography and violent and sex offending

BackgroundThere is an ongoing debate on whether consumers of child pornography pose a risk for hands-on sex offenses. Up until now, there have been very few studies which have analyzed the association between the consumption of child pornography and the subsequent perpetration of hands-on sex offenses. The aim of this study was to examine the recidivism rates for hands-on and hands-off sex offenses in a sample of child pornography users using a 6 year follow-up design.MethodsThe current study population consisted of 231 men, who were subsequently charged with consumption of illegal pornographic material after being detected by a special operation against Internet child pornography, conducted by the Swiss police in 2002. Criminal history, as well as recidivism, was assessed using the criminal records from 2008.Results4.8% (n = 11) of the study sample had a prior conviction for a sexual and/or violent offense, 1% (n = 2) for a hands-on sex offense, involving child sexual abuse, 3.3% (n = 8) for a hands-off sex offense and one for a nonsexual violent offense. When applying a broad definition of recidivism, which included ongoing investigations, charges and convictions, 3% (n = 7) of the study sample recidivated with a violent and/or sex offense, 3.9% (n = 9) with a hands-off sex offense and 0.8% (n = 2) with a hands-on sex offense.ConclusionConsuming child pornography alone is not a risk factor for committing hands-on sex offenses – at least not for those subjects who had never committed a hands-on sex offense. The majority of the investigated consumers had no previous convictions for hands-on sex offenses. For those offenders, the prognosis for hands-on sex offenses, as well as for recidivism with child pornography, is favorable.

Women convicted for violent offenses: Adverse childhood experiences, low level of education and poor mental health

BackgroundIn past years, the female offender population has grown, leading to an increased interest in the characteristics of female offenders. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of female violent offending in a Swiss offender population and to compare possible socio-demographic and offense-related gender differences.MethodsDescriptive and bivariate logistic regression analyses were performed for a representative sample of N = 203 violent offenders convicted in Zurich, Switzerland.Results7.9% (N = 16) of the sample were female. Significant gender differences were found: Female offenders were more likely to be married, less educated, to have suffered from adverse childhood experiences and to be in poor mental health. Female violent offending was less heterogeneous than male violent offending, in fact there were only three types of violent offenses females were convicted for in our sample: One third were convicted of murder, one third for arson and only one woman was convicted of a sex offense.ConclusionsThe results of our study point toward a gender-specific theory of female offending, as well as toward the importance of developing models for explaining female criminal behavior, which need to be implemented in treatment plans and intervention strategies regarding female offenders.

Accuracy of the Static-99 in Predicting Recidivism in Switzerland

The Static-99 is a widely used actuarial risk assessment instrument. Various international validation studies have found satisfactory to good predictive validity for the Static-99, with the area under the curve (AUC) between 59% and 95%. This study is the first evaluation of the predictive accuracy of the Static-99 among sex offenders in Switzerland. The Static-99 scores of 69 violent/sex offenders in Switzerland were assessed using data from their psychiatric assessments. Recidivism was operationalized as reconviction assessed from penal records. The Static-99 risk levels were predictive for recidivism (AUC = .758) among our population. The results are discussed on the basis of the literature.

Prediction of violent and sexual offences: A replication study of the VRAG in Switzerland

Abstract The Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) is a widely used actuarial risk assessment instrument and has been validated in different countries. However, there is no investigation supporting the predictive accuracy of the VRAG in the German language area. The VRAG scores of 79 violent and sexual offenders in Switzerland were assessed based on data from their psychiatric expert opinions. The VRAG scores were compared to subsequent recidivism as shown in the official criminal records. Consistent with past research in the English language area, the VRAG yielded a satisfying predictive accuracy (ROC area = .73), demonstrating its usefulness for risk assessment of violent delinquency in the Swiss cultural and German language area.

Predicting violent infractions in a Swiss state penitentiary: A replication study of the PCL-R in a population of sex and violent offenders

BackgroundResearch conducted with forensic psychiatric patients found moderate correlations between violence in institutions and psychopathy. It is unclear though, whether the PCL-R is an accurate instrument for predicting aggressive behavior in prisons. Results seem to indicate that the instrument is better suited for predicting verbal rather than physical aggression of prison inmates.MethodsPCL-R scores were assessed for a sample of 113 imprisoned sex and violent offenders in Switzerland. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate physical and verbal aggression as a function of the PCL-R sum score. Additionally, stratified analyses were conducted for Factor 1 and 2. Infractions were analyzed as to their motives and consequences.ResultsThe mean score of the PCL-R was 12 points. Neither the relationship between physical aggression and the sum score of the PCL-R, nor the relationship between physical aggression and either of the two factors of the PCL-R were significant. Both the sum score and Factor 1 predicted the occurrence of verbal aggression (AUC = 0.70 and 0.69), while Factor 2 did not.ConclusionPossible explanations are discussed for the weak relationship between PCL-R scores and physically aggressive behavior during imprisonment. Some authors have discussed whether the low base rate of violent infractions can be considered an explanation for the non-significant relation between PCL-R-score and violence. The base rate in this study, however, with 27%, was not low. It is proposed that the distinction between reactive and instrumental motives of institutional violence must be considered when examining the usefulness of the PCL-R in predicting in-prison physical aggressive behavior.

Using the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) to Predict In-Prison Aggressive Behavior in a Swiss Offender Population:

The present study is a first-time evaluation of the Violence Risk Appraisal Guides (VRAG) predictive quality for institutional violence in a German-speaking country. The VRAG was assessed for 106 violent and sexual offenders based on their files. Violent infractions during imprisonment were evaluated using the files of the state penitentiary. Results show in accordance with previous studies only a moderate effect between VRAG scores and institutional misconduct. However, these findings were only significant for participants with a sex crime as index offense. In the study, the VRAG was unable to predict verbal and physical violence by violent offenders. The implications of these findings for institutional risk management and the future development of intramural detection of participants at risk in the German-speaking part of Europe are discussed.

Der Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) : ein Instrument zur Kriminalprognose bei Gewaltstraftätern

OBJECTIVE Most instruments used for assessing the recidivism risk of an offender with a violent or sex offense have been developed and validated in North America. METHODS The aim of this study is to discuss the state of validation for the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG)--an instrument for assessing the recidivism risk of violent offenders. A systematic literature research forms the basis for the processing of the literature. In a second section, a scientific translation of the instrument to German, including the scoring rules, is presented. RESULTS Normally, while examining the validity of the VRAG, there is a focus on the discriminatory power (displayed using the so-called Area Under the Curve [AUC]). These examinations showed a satisfactory to good discriminatory power (AUC: 0.70-- 0.86). A standardization of this instrument for populations in Europe respectively the German-speaking area has not yet taken place. Only few studies have verified whether North American standard values are also valid for Europe. The few studies on this subject question the generalizability of these standard values to other countries. CONCLUSIONS The VRAG can be considered a valid measure for the assessment of recidivism risk in Germany and in Switzerland, although so far, standardization has been dispensed with. The application of the VRAG can provide indications for the evaluation of recidivism risk and be integrated into an individual case-oriented assessment.

Adolescent Delinquency and Antisocial Tendencies as Precursors to Adult Violent Offending: A Prospective Study of a Representative Sample of Swiss Men

Studies on adult sex and violent offenders have found high rates of adolescent delinquency, while early delinquency has been shown to be significantly associated with adult offending. The examined subsample (n = 123) of a longitudinal prospective study (n = 6,315) includes all men who at the age of 19 had an entry in the criminal records. During the observation period of 34 years, 68.3% of the sample had been reconvicted as adults, 23.6% for violent or sex offenses. The odds of adult sex or violent offending were 2.8 times higher for those who had committed a violent offense in adolescence and 1.05 times higher for any offense committed before the age of 19. The characteristics of criminal history showed the highest discriminative values (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.61-0.65). The most important finding of this study was that characteristics of adolescent delinquency predicted adult violent or sex offending, whereas socioeconomic and psychiatric characteristics did not.

[From victim to offender: characteristics of sexually abused violent and sex offenders].

INTRODUCTION Prospective studies on victims of sexual abuse and retrospective studies on offender populations have indicated a connection between experiences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and delinquency in adulthood. METHOD Using a representative sample of violent and sex offenders from the Canton of Zurich (Switzerland; N=354), the aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of offenders who have experienced CSA. Two multivariable models for CSA were generated. RESULTS CSA was documented for 13% of the sex offenders and 5.8% of the violent offenders. Child molesters displayed the highest prevalence rate with 18.9%. Multivariable analyses identified Swiss nationality, having stayed in a foster home and violence in the nuclear family as the strongest risk factors for CSA. In a second model, only offender characteristics from adulthood were taken into account as predictors: child molesters, offenders who prostituted themselves and repeat violent and sex offenders had a significantly higher risk of belonging to the group of offenders who had experienced CSA. DISCUSSION The results suggest that the experience of CSA leads to an elevated and chronic risk for committing child abuse.ZusammenfassungEinleitungProspektive Untersuchungen von Opfern sexueller Übergriffe und retrospektive Untersuchungen an Straftäterpopulationen weisen auf einen Zusammenhang zwischen sexuellen Missbrauchserfahrungen in der Kindheit (SMK) und Delinquenz im Erwachsenenalter hin.MethodeZiel vorliegender Arbeit war es, an einer repräsentativen Stichprobe von Gewalt- und Sexualstraftätern aus dem Kanton Zürich (Schweiz; N=354) der Frage nachzugehen, was Straftäter mit SMK-Erfahrungen charakterisiert. Es wurden zwei multivariable Modelle für SMK gebildet.ErgebnisseBei 13% der Sexualstraftäter und bei 5,8% der Gewaltstraftäter war SMK dokumentiert. Mit 18,9% wiesen Kindesmissbraucher die höchste SMK-Prävalenz auf. Multivariable Analysen identifizierten die einheimische Bürgerschaft, Heimaufenthalte und Gewalt in der Primärfamilie als Prädiktoren mit dem höchsten Erklärungswert für SMK. In einem zweiten Modell wurden nur Merkmale aus dem Erwachsenenalter des Täters berücksichtigt. Folgende Prädiktoren erhöhten das Risiko, zur Gruppe der Täter mit SMK zu gehören, signifikant: Verurteilung wegen Kindesmissbrauchs, eigene Prostitution und einschlägige Vorstrafen mit Gewalt- bzw. Sexualdelikten.DiskussionDie Ergebnisse legen die Vermutung nahe, dass SMK zu einem erhöhten und chronifizierten Risiko für eigene Kindesmissbrauchstäterschaft führen.SummaryIntroductionProspective studies on victims of sexual abuse and retrospective studies on offender populations have indicated a connection between experiences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and delinquency in adulthood.MethodUsing a representative sample of violent and sex offenders from the Canton of Zurich (Switzerland; N=354), the aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of offenders who have experienced CSA. Two multivariable models for CSA were generated.ResultsCSA was documented for 13% of the sex offenders and 5.8% of the violent offenders. Child molesters displayed the highest prevalence rate with 18.9%. Multivariable analyses identified Swiss nationality, having stayed in a foster home and violence in the nuclear family as the strongest risk factors for CSA. In a second model, only offender characteristics from adulthood were taken into account as predictors: child molesters, offenders who prostituted themselves and repeat violent and sex offenders had a significantly higher risk of belonging to the group of offenders who had experienced CSA.DiscussionThe results suggest that the experience of CSA leads to an elevated and chronic risk for committing child abuse.

Vom Opfer zum Täter: Merkmale sexuell missbrauchter Gewalt- und Sexualstraftäter

INTRODUCTION Prospective studies on victims of sexual abuse and retrospective studies on offender populations have indicated a connection between experiences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and delinquency in adulthood. METHOD Using a representative sample of violent and sex offenders from the Canton of Zurich (Switzerland; N=354), the aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of offenders who have experienced CSA. Two multivariable models for CSA were generated. RESULTS CSA was documented for 13% of the sex offenders and 5.8% of the violent offenders. Child molesters displayed the highest prevalence rate with 18.9%. Multivariable analyses identified Swiss nationality, having stayed in a foster home and violence in the nuclear family as the strongest risk factors for CSA. In a second model, only offender characteristics from adulthood were taken into account as predictors: child molesters, offenders who prostituted themselves and repeat violent and sex offenders had a significantly higher risk of belonging to the group of offenders who had experienced CSA. DISCUSSION The results suggest that the experience of CSA leads to an elevated and chronic risk for committing child abuse.ZusammenfassungEinleitungProspektive Untersuchungen von Opfern sexueller Übergriffe und retrospektive Untersuchungen an Straftäterpopulationen weisen auf einen Zusammenhang zwischen sexuellen Missbrauchserfahrungen in der Kindheit (SMK) und Delinquenz im Erwachsenenalter hin.MethodeZiel vorliegender Arbeit war es, an einer repräsentativen Stichprobe von Gewalt- und Sexualstraftätern aus dem Kanton Zürich (Schweiz; N=354) der Frage nachzugehen, was Straftäter mit SMK-Erfahrungen charakterisiert. Es wurden zwei multivariable Modelle für SMK gebildet.ErgebnisseBei 13% der Sexualstraftäter und bei 5,8% der Gewaltstraftäter war SMK dokumentiert. Mit 18,9% wiesen Kindesmissbraucher die höchste SMK-Prävalenz auf. Multivariable Analysen identifizierten die einheimische Bürgerschaft, Heimaufenthalte und Gewalt in der Primärfamilie als Prädiktoren mit dem höchsten Erklärungswert für SMK. In einem zweiten Modell wurden nur Merkmale aus dem Erwachsenenalter des Täters berücksichtigt. Folgende Prädiktoren erhöhten das Risiko, zur Gruppe der Täter mit SMK zu gehören, signifikant: Verurteilung wegen Kindesmissbrauchs, eigene Prostitution und einschlägige Vorstrafen mit Gewalt- bzw. Sexualdelikten.DiskussionDie Ergebnisse legen die Vermutung nahe, dass SMK zu einem erhöhten und chronifizierten Risiko für eigene Kindesmissbrauchstäterschaft führen.SummaryIntroductionProspective studies on victims of sexual abuse and retrospective studies on offender populations have indicated a connection between experiences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and delinquency in adulthood.MethodUsing a representative sample of violent and sex offenders from the Canton of Zurich (Switzerland; N=354), the aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of offenders who have experienced CSA. Two multivariable models for CSA were generated.ResultsCSA was documented for 13% of the sex offenders and 5.8% of the violent offenders. Child molesters displayed the highest prevalence rate with 18.9%. Multivariable analyses identified Swiss nationality, having stayed in a foster home and violence in the nuclear family as the strongest risk factors for CSA. In a second model, only offender characteristics from adulthood were taken into account as predictors: child molesters, offenders who prostituted themselves and repeat violent and sex offenders had a significantly higher risk of belonging to the group of offenders who had experienced CSA.DiscussionThe results suggest that the experience of CSA leads to an elevated and chronic risk for committing child abuse.