Female Sexual Offenders (eBook)

Theresa A. Gannon is Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology at the University of Kent, UK, and a Chartered Consultant Forensic Psychologist specialising in sexual offenders at the Trevor Gibbens Unit, Forensic Psychiatry Services, Kent, UK. Theresa has published widely in the areas of both male- and female-perpetrated sexual offending. Franca Cortoni is a Clinical Forensic Psychologist with extensive specialized research and clinical experience with male and female sexual offenders. In addition to publishing in this area, she has provided consultation and training services in numerous national and international forums. Formerly with the Correctional Service of Canada, she is now at the School of Criminology at the Universite de Montreal, Canada.

About the Editors ix

List of Contributors xi

Preface xv

Acknowledgements xvii

1 Female Sexual Offenders: Theory, Assessment and Treatment - An Introduction 1
Theresa A. Gannon and Franca Cortoni

2 Understanding the Prevalence of Female-Perpetrated Sexual Abuse and the Impact of That Abuse on Victims 9
Jacqui Saradjian

3 Theories of Female Sexual Offending 31
Danielle A. Harris

4 The Juvenile Female Sexual Offender: Characteristics, Treatment and Research 53
Lisa L. Frey

5 The Mental Health Needs of Female Sexual Offenders 73
Myriam-M´elanie Rousseau and Franca Cortoni

6 The Assessment of Female Sexual Offenders 87
Franca Cortoni

7 The Treatment Needs of Female Sexual Offenders 101
Hannah Ford

8 A Review of Treatment Initiatives for Female Sexual Offenders 119
Kelley Blanchette and Kelly N. Taylor

9 Using the Polygraph with Female Sexual Offenders 143
Peggy Heil, Dominique Simons, and David Burton

10 Working with Female Sexual Offenders: Therapeutic Process Issues 161
Sherry Ashfield, Sheila Brotherston, Hilary Eldridge, and Ian Elliott

11 Developments in Female Sexual Offending and Considerations for Future Research and Treatment 181
Theresa A. Gannon, Mariamne R. Rose, and Franca Cortoni

Index 199

"The overall book is valuable for those working in this
field and provides a good introduction to what we know at this
time." (The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice,
1 July 2012)

"This is a landmark book on the explanation, assessment and
treatment of female sex offenders, edited by two of the sexual
offending fields emerging stars. Drs Theresa Gannon and Franca
Cortoni have gathered together many of the best researchers into
female sexual offending and the various chapters analyse in depth
the key issues confronting practitioners and researchers alike. In
my view this is a landmark volume that will set the research and
practice agenda for years to come. It is a first class piece of
work." (Quote.com, 15 November 2010).

"... the overall book is valuable for those working in this
field and provides a good introduction to what we know at this
time." (The Howard Journal, July 2012)

'This is a landmark book on the explanation, assessment
and treatment of female sex offenders, edited by two of the sexual
offending field's emerging stars. Drs Theresa Gannon and
Franca Cortoni have gathered together many of the best researchers
into female sexual offending and the various chapters analyse in
depth the key issues confronting practitioners and researchers
alike. In my view this is a landmark volume that will set the
research and practice agenda for years to come. It is a first class
piece of work.'

--Professor Tony Ward, Victoria University of Wellington,
New Zealand

'The research and treatment literature regarding sexual
offending has long focused on the misdeeds of men. However, as the
scientific and popular focus on sexual offending has increased, so
too has the realization that we have underestimated the extent of
(and, accordingly, failed to appreciate the effects of) sexually
inappropriate behaviour in women. In Female Sexual Offenders:
Theory, Assessment and Treatment, Drs Theresa Gannon and Franca
Cortoni present a collection of chapters by clinicians and
researchers knowledgeable about sexual violence in women. This
unique and timely volume quite nicely combines theoretical
perspectives with suggestions for effective interventions, as well
as some thoughts regarding future directions--all geared
specifically to women. A long time coming...this book was well
worth the wait.'

--Dr Robin J. Wilson, Clinical Director, Florida Civil
Commitment Center, US