Publications by authors named "Heather Y Swanston"
Nonsex offenses committed by child molesters: findings from a longitudinal study.
Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol
February 2004
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 offenses, 60% had convictions for offenses other than sex offenses, 50% had convictions for property offenses, 27% had convictions for offenses involving violence, and 23% had convictions for drug offenses. Offending levels for nonsex offenses 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 offenses committed by child molesters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: During 1988-1990, 103 children presented to Child Protection Units (CPU) at two children's hospitals in Sydney, Australia. Nine years later, the psychological adjustment of these young people (mean age=19.1 years, SD=3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the rate of re-abuse in children previously known to have been sexually abused, including factors that might elevate their risk of further abuse.
- Nearly 30% of the sexually abused children faced additional substantiated abuse notifications six years later, with predictors including prior emotional abuse and changes in caregivers.
- The findings suggest that recurring victimization is linked to continuing family issues, highlighting the need for effective interventions in at-risk families.