Abstract
BackgroundโThe number of sexual offences reported in Japan doubled between 1992 and 2002. This has prompted attention to assessment of risk of recidivism.
AimsโTo 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.
MethodโAll sex offenders incarcerated in Kitakyushu Medical Prison in Fukuoka at any time in a period of one year (1 July 2002โ30 June 2003) were identified. Demographic data, characteristics of offences and the Staticโ99 were rated from records.
ResultsโFollowing a slightly modified application of coding rules, all items of the Staticโ99 were rateable. Nine offenders of 45 whose Staticโ99 score was over 6 were thus identified as highโrisk offenders. The items distinguishing apparently highโrisk men were history of institutionalization as a delinquent and mental retardation.
Conclusions and implications for practiceโThe Staticโ99 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. Copyright ยฉ 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.