https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063220940303
Sexual Abuse
1–23
© The Author(s) 2020
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/1079063220940303
journals.sagepub.com/home/sax
Original Research Article
The Static-99R Is Not Valid
For Women: Predictive
Validity in 739 Females Who
Have Sexually Offended
Ethan Marshall
1
, Holly A. Miller
1
, Franca Cortoni
2
,
and L. Maaike Helmus
3
Abstract
Although many instruments have been validated to assess risk of sexual recidivism
among men, no similar tool exists for women who have sexually offended. As a result,
some jurisdictions use male-based instruments to assess women despite the lack
of validation research examining the predictive utility for this subgroup. This study
examined the utility of the Static-99R in predicting sexual recidivism among women.
Based on a sample of 739 women convicted of sexual offenses in Texas, findings
show that the total score was not significantly associated with sexual recidivism.
When looking at individual items, other than a history of prior sexual offenses and
noncontact sexual offenses, no item of the Static-99R was significantly associated
with sexual recidivism among women. Furthermore, only three items (female victims/
solo offender, 4+ sentencing dates, and having not lived with a romantic other for
2+ years) were significantly associated with nonsexual recidivism. These findings
indicate that the Static-99R is not suitable to assess risk of recidivism among women
convicted of sexual offenses.
Keywords
female sexual offenders, sexual recidivism, risk assessment, Static-99R, prediction
1
Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA
2
Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada
3
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Corresponding Author:
Ethan Marshall, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center,
Sam Houston State University, Box 2296, Huntsville, TX 77341, USA.
Email: eam034@shsu.edu
940303SAX XX X 10.1177/1079063220940303Sexual AbuseMarshall et al.
research-article 2020