Despite the fact that society believes sex offenders have a high recidivism rate, the facts prove to the contrary. In fact, sex offenders have one of the lowest recidivism rates of all offenders.

New research suggests that the majority of sex offenders are less likely to re-offend than most other criminals. "According to new research from California, ‘[j]ust 3.2 percent of more than 4000 sex offenders released on parole in 2002 were re-imprisoned for another sex offence in the subsequent 5 years.’ The figures in California are consistent with a 2007 comprehensive study from Minnesota, which found, between 1990 and 2002, a similar 3.2 percent recidivism rate among sex offenders three years after their release from prison (See, e.g., Sex Offenders Unlikely to Commit Second Crime, New Scientist, July 6, 2008).

US Department of Justice, "Recidivism of Sex Offenders Released into the Community in 1994." Three-year follow-up period:

• 9,641 sex offenders released in 15 states;
• 262,420 non-sex offenders released in same 15 states in 1994;
• 517 sex offenders (5.3% of all sex offenders) were arrested for a sex crime within 3 years;
• 3,228 non-sex offenders (1.3% of all no-sex offenders) were arrested for a sex crime within the same three year period3.5% of sex offenders re-convicted.

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, "Ten Year Recidivism Follow-up of 1989 Sex Offender Releases."

• 8% of sex offenders were recommitted in the 10-year period3% of sex offenders committed a sexually-related violation of probation/parole;
• Half of recidivists re-offended within two years of release;
• 2/3 of recidivists re-offended within 3 years of release in the 10-year period;
• Treatment found to reduce recidivism (16.7% w/o treatment, 7% w/ treatment).

Michigan DOC Parole Board Stats for Parolees 1990-2000 (3-year follow-up).

• 4762 SO paroled, 993 total failures, 702 technical violations, 291 returned to prison, 117 committed sex crimes (2.46%), 6.11% total recidivism (apparently based on return to prison);
• Lowest total (general) recidivism: Homicide (6.03%), Sex Offenders (6.11%), Embezzlement (8.44%), Arson (8.64%), Motor Vehicle Offenses (10.75%);
• Lowest same crime (specific) recidivism: Embezzlement (0.44%), Murder (0.99%), Arson (1.49%), Sex Offenses (2.46%), Assault (2.83%).

Center for Sex Offender Management - Fact Sheet dated December 2008.

• About 12 to 24% of sex offenders will reoffend. When sex offenders do commit another crime, it is more often not sexual or violent.

California study: Recidivism of Paroled Sex Offenders, 10 year study 1997 to 2007.

• Recidivism after 1 year of release: 2.21%;
• Recidivism after 2 years of release: 2.94%;
• Recidivism after 5 years of release: 3.3%;
• Recidivism after 10 years of release: 3.38%.

NOTEWORTHY FINDINGS:
The total of sexual recidivists is lower than some might have believed. Most re-offenses and parole violations occur in the initial period of reentry after release. Sex offenders are more likely to commit some other type of offense than to commit a new sex offense.

Risk Factors for Recidivism Among Adolescent Sexual Offenders - Gregory A. Parks, Abstract (January 2006).

• Based upon both juvenile and adult recidivism data, 6.4% of the sample reoffended sexually and 30.1% reoffended nonsexually.

Sex Offender Sentencing In Washington State: Recidivism Rates (5-year +1 year for adjudication, based on conviction rates).

• General SO Recidivism 13%; Sex Offense Recidivism 2.7%; among child victim offenders, 2.3%; among rapists, 3.9%.

Arizona Dept. of Corrections Follow-Up of SO Released from 1984-1998 (up to 12 year follow-up period).

• 3,205 released SO; 25.2% general recidivism;
• 5.5% sex crime;
• 9.3% indecency SO recidivists;
• 5.9% rapists;
• 5% sex abuse;
• 3.5% sex conduct with minor.

Alaska three year recidivism study (2007).

• SO specific recidivism rate, 3%;
• SO arrested for any crime (gen. recid.) 39%;
• All criminals general recidivism, 60%.

Factors correlated with higher recidivism: Youth, substance abuse, mental illness, poor.

New York State Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives - Sex Offender Populations, Recidivism and Actuarial Assessment (May 2007).

• Research on a sample of 917 sex offenders on probation across the U.S. in 17 states from 1986 to 1989 indicates that while under probation supervision, 11.7% were arrested for a non-sex offense during a three year follow-up period, and 4.5% were arrested for a new sex crime within three years (Meloy, 2005). Another study involving sex offender probationers revealed that after five years, 5.6% were arrested for a new sex offense (Krutschnitt, Uggen and Shelton, 2000).

State of New York Department of Correctional Services.

• 6% of sex offenders were returned to prison for a new sex crime (1986);
• 2.1% of sex offenders were returned to prison for a new sex crime (1985 - 2003);
• 8% of sex offenders were returned to prison as a result of a conviction for a new crime. Most were returned for parole violations.

Harris and Hanson, "Summary of Canadian Recidivism Studies" (averaged percentages of recidivists after 5, 10, and 15 years respectively) - 2004.

• All sex offenders - 14%, 20%, 24%;
• Rapists- 14%, 21%, 24%;
• Incest molesters - 6%, 9%, 13%;
• Girl victim molesters - 9%, 13%, 16%;
• Boy victim molesters - 23%, 28%, 35%;
• First time sex offenders - 10%, 15%, 19%;
  Repeat sex offenders - 25%, 32%, 37%.