Epidemiology of French Sexual Offenders. A Cross-sectional Study

Epidemiology of Sexual Offenders. A Cross-sectional Study of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Referral Platforms

The epidemiology of sexual offenders has been poorly studied in the literature. A retrospective and prospective study will allow for the examination of the clinical profile of sexual offense perpetrators, risk and recurrence factors, as well as psychiatric or medical treatment. Since 2015, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has 8 reference platforms for sexual offense perpetrators, offering personalized assessment according to criteria defined by the Regional Health Agency (ARS). After this assessment, a multidisciplinary meeting is organized to define a tailored care plan. This study, called ARAVS (Auvergne Rhone-Alpes Sexual Offenders), aims to conduct an epidemiological, clinical, and socio-demographic study of patients in these platforms.

The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, prompted by the Regional Health Agency (ARS), established a unique system of reference platforms starting in 2015, covering a large part of the region's territory. These platforms aim to provide comprehensive care for sexual offense perpetrators in addition to the support provided by the CRIAVS (Resource Centers for Professionals Working with Sexual Offenders). There are currently 8 active reference platforms in the region: in Bourg-en Bresse (Ain), Roanne (Loire), Saint-Etienne (Loire), Lyon (Rhône), Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme), Grenoble (Isère), Annecy (Savoie), and Valence (Drôme).

Given this context, it seems pertinent to implement a retrospective-prospective study of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients treated in these reference platforms to better understand this population. These results will contribute to a better understanding of sexual offense perpetrators in France, as there is limited large-scale clinical data available, and will help tailor care tools to the population being treated in the region. Standardizing the use of common tools, which are currently being used heterogeneously, will also enrich the resources available to clinicians across all platforms by generalizing their use.

The coordinated organization of the reference platform network in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region constitutes a unique care network in France, conducive to a clinical analysis of patients and their care pathways. The project will thus allow for the study of care pathways, the clinical and social profile of sexual offenders, and the identification of risk factors for recurrence among patients based on the data collected.

All sexual offenders who are part of the PFR and meet the inclusion criteria will be invited to participate in this study.

Inclusion criteria:

• Adults (age ≥ 18 years).
• Under injunction of care for a sexual offense.
• Or Awaiting sentencing for a sexual offense.
• Or Currently under legal proceedings for a sexual offense.
• Or Under a legal obligation for care related to a sexual offense.
• Or Falling within the scope of an alternative to incarceration for a sexual offense.

Exclusion criteria:

• Patient refusal to participate in the study.
• Patients with physical or mental incapacity to complete the questionnaires.