Sexual Abuse: A Journal of
Research and Treatment
1–21
© The Author(s) 2015
Reprints and permissions:
sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav
DOI: 10.1177/1079063215618377
sax.sagepub.com
Article
Utility of the Static-99 and
Static-99R With Latino Sex
Offenders
Alejandro Leguízamo
1
, Seung C. Lee
2
, Elizabeth L. Jeglic
3
,
and Cynthia Calkins
3
Abstract
The predictive validity of the Static-99 measures with ethnic minorities in the United
States has only recently been assessed with mixed results. We assessed the predictive
validity of the Static-99 and Static-99R with a sample of Latino sex offenders (N = 483)
as well as with two subsamples (U.S.-born, including Puerto Rico, and non-U.S.-born).
The overall sexual recidivism rate was very low (1.9%). Both the Static-99 measures
were able to predict sexual recidivism for offenders born in the United States and
Puerto Rico, but neither was effective in doing so for other Latino immigrants.
Calibration analyses (N = 303) of the Static-99R were consistent with the literature
and provided support for the potential use of the measure with Latinos born in the
United States and Puerto Rico. These findings and their implications are discussed as
they pertain to the assessment of Latino sex offenders.
Keywords
Static-99, Static-99R, Latino offenders, sexual recidivism, risk assessment
Actuarial measures of sex offense recidivism risk are broadly used by researchers,
evaluators, and clinicians in the United States (Babchishin, Hanson, & Blais, 2015;
Claussen-Schulz, Pearce, & Schopp, 2004; Jackson & Hess, 2007). These measures
have taken on an important role in the assessment of sex offenders and can play a
crucial role in decisions ranging from the intensity of treatment received, to the release
1
Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI, USA
2
Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
3
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, NY, USA
Corresponding Author:
Alejandro Leguízamo, Psychology Department, Roger Williams University, One Old Ferry Road, Bristol,
RI 02809, USA.
Email: aleguizamo@rwu.edu
618377SAX XX X 10.1177/1079063215618377Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and TreatmentLeguízamo et al.
research-article 2015
at ROGER WILLIAMS UNIV LIB on December 17, 2015 sax.sagepub.com Downloaded from