Exploring the Impact of Victimization and Mental Health on Sexual Recidivism Among Women Who Have Sexually Offended

Research exploring evidence-based programming for justice-involved women points to gender-responsive factors centered around victimization, trauma, mental health, and substance abuse that uniquely contribute to criminality among women. Though this perspective has a wealth of support, less research exists for this perspective among women who have sexually offended (WWSO). The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between victimization, mental health, and recidivism in a sample of WWSO. Results indicate that victimization has direct effects on recidivism, as well as indirect associations through mental health concerns. These findings provide implications for the supervision and treatment needs of WWSO.