Exploring the possibility of risk assessment of Japanese sexual offenders using Static-99.
BACKGROUND
The number of sexual offences reported in Japan doubled between 1992 and 2002. This has prompted attention to assessment of risk of recidivism.


OBJECTIVE
To explore whether an actuarial assessment of risk widely used in the West can be meaningfully applied to Japanese men serving a prison sentence for sexual offences.


METHODS
All sex offenders incarcerated in Kitakyushu Medical Prison in Fukuoka at any time in a period of one year (1 July 2002-30 June 2003) were identified. Demographic data, characteristics of offences and the Static-99 were rated from records.


RESULTS
Following a slightly modified application of coding rules, all items of the Static-99 were rateable. Nine offenders of 45 whose Static-99 score was over 6 were thus identified as high-risk offenders. The items distinguishing apparently high-risk men were history of institutionalization as a delinquent and mental retardation.


CONCLUSIONS
The Static-99 may be a useful tool in assessing sex offenders in Japan. With apparently increasing recognition of sex crimes here, it seems timely to be developing a systematic approach to assessment. Further work is required to test its value in practice as a predictor of recidivism.
Sudo
Junya
J
Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. xiecrps@mri.tmd.ac.jp
Sato
Makoto
M
Obata
Shugo
S
Yamagami
Akira
A
D003710:Demography; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*