Title: Myths About Sex Offenders - ABC News
Headings: Myths About Sex Offenders
Myths About Sex Offenders
Content: The vast majority of sex offenders are male. However, females also commit sexual crimes. In 1994, fewer than 1 percent of all incarcerated rape and sexual assault offenders were female (fewer than 800 women). By 1997, however, 6,292 females had been arrested for forcible rape or other sex offenses, constituting approximately 8 percent of all rape and sexual assault arrests for that year, according to FBI statistics. Additionally, studies indicate that females commit approximately 20 percent of sex offenses against children. Myth 6 — Children who are sexually assaulted will sexually assault others when they grow up. Most sex offenders were not sexually assaulted as children and most children who are sexually assaulted do not sexually assault others. Early childhood sexual victimization does not automatically lead to sexually aggressive behavior. While sex offenders have higher rates of sexual abuse in their histories than expected in the general population, the majority were not abused. Among adult sex offenders, approximately 30 percent have been sexually abused.