This study, which used a prospective as well as a retrospective methodology, examined the criminal records of 30 child molesters prior to, and up to 10 years after an index event of sexual abuse for which they were convicted: 73% had convictions for other offences, 60% had convictions for offences other than sex offences, 50% had convictions for property offences, 27% had convictions for offences involving violence, and 23% had convictions for drug offences. Offending levels for nonsex offences were significantly higher than the general adult male population. Any theory concerning the dynamics of sex offending against children needs to account for the level of nonsex offences committed by child molesters.
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