title: A matched cohort comparison of a criminal justice system's response to child sexual abuse: a profile of perpetrators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to examine whether alleged child sexual abuse perpetrators are handled differently by the courts than other alleged felony perpetrators. Comparisons were made from the time of prosecutorial case acceptance through prosecution to sentencing, with emphasis on judicial and prosecutorial decision-making and plea-bargaining.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were retrospectively abstracted on the entire defendant population of cases of sexual abuse of children and adolescents (ages 2-17) over a 5-year period. Using a case-flow analysis, comparisons were made between a child sexual abuse cohort and a cohort of matched felony cases from a single jurisdiction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three important findings emerged. First, compared to other felons, abuse perpetrators were employed, had been married, were mostly European American, and were older than 30 years of age. Second, in the abuse cohort, as many as 14% had a previous sexual or violent record compared to 2% in the comparison group. Third, similar percentages of perpetrators in both groups were released on their own recognizance, had the charges against them dropped, and were found guilty. As well, no differences between groups were found in the proportion of individuals sentenced to jail, probation, counseling, or work release.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the treatment of perpetrators of child sexual abuse was similar to the treatment of perpetrators of other felonies, the profile of the child abuse perpetrator was quite different. Knowledge about this profile may impact prosecution or treatment and recidivism rates, to the extent that recidivism is related to characteristics of the abuse perpetrator.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Haaf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003417:Criminal Psychology; D003657:Decision Making; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged