Abstract
Purpose: The study examines violent sexual offenses against elderly victims that resulted in either serious injuries or death and explore whether certain components of the crime-commission process explain the different outcomes. The study investigates the question of whether a lethal outcome in elderly sexual assaults is the result of an escalation in violence or a different intent. Methods: Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were conducted on a sample of 199 offenders convicted of a violent sexual offense against an elderly woman that resulted in either severe physical injury (n = 145) or death (n = 54) of the victim. Results: Results showed that violent sexual offenses ending with the death of the victim were more likely to be characterized by the use of a weapon, foreign object insertion, and the taking of items belonging to the victim. Violent sexual offenses ending with serious physical injuries were characterized by the presence of penetration (anally and vaginally) as well as ejaculation in or on the victim. Conclusions: Differences observed between the two groups suggest that offenders who killed the victims had the intent do so compared to those offenders who inflicted several physical injuries. Practical implications of the findings are discussed
Original language | English |
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Article number | 101704 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Criminal Justice |
Volume | 71 |
Early online date | Jun 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors would like to acknowledge Mr. the Police Chief of the French Central Office for the Repression of Violences against Persons (Office Central de Répression des Violences aux Personnes) and Mrs. the Central Director of the French Judicial Police (Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire). Grant. Authors want to acknowledge the Swiss National Science Foundation who kindly supported this research (Fund no. P400PS_190994).
Funding Information:
Authors want to acknowledge the Swiss National Science Foundation who kindly supported this research (Fund no. P400PS_190994 ).
Copyright:
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