Power, dominance, and desire are motivating factors for those who engage in gender
violence and sexual violence. In the case of Jerry Sandusky, while I do not believe that his initial
sexual offense could have been predicted, I do believe that his subsequent sexual offenses could
have been predicted and prevented. Jerry Sandusky held how to power given his role at Penn
State University in his position of assistant head coach, and such power allowed him access to
people, places, and things (Fyke et al, 2018). For the nonprofit organization, Second Mile that he
founded he had dominance in the presence of the disadvantage youth that were part of his
program, likely coming from broken homes, absent parents, and food insecure communities
(Eury et al, 2018). With his child sexual abuse engagements lasting from at least 1998 until 2001
and 52 charges connected to child sexual misconduct, Sandusky clearly had no lack of desire.
Had the mothers reported in 1998 regarding Sandusky showering with her son been taken
seriously, further sexual acts against children, at least at the institution and the nonprofit
organization would have ceased (Eury et al, 2018).
While there is no “typical” sex offender as sex offenders come from all backgrounds,
ethnic groups, ages, and socioeconomic status’, research suggests that sex offenders are likely to
have been sexually abused themselves and that they are sexual deviant see usually begins in mid
to late adolescence (Hanson, 1999). Some common characteristics that have been found in child
molesters are poor social skills, substance abuse, dysfunctional intimate relationships, disruptive
behaviors. As a result of his actions Mr. Sandusky did receive a 30 to 60 year sentence, therefore
I believe he should receive treatment given he will be in a facility temporarily and did not
receive a life sentence or execution. I believe the most effective treatment for Mr. Sandusky
would be cognitive behavioral therapy given it is an evidence-based program for those who have
diminished cognition (Lampalzer et al, 2021). The program has yielded some results as it
conducts a risk and appropriateness assessments, therapeutic treatments, and also group therapy.
Once released I believe that given the frequency of his crimes, and with his complete
disregard for being approached by parents and staff members that indicated that they suspected
him of his wrongdoings, he would need a civil confinement or commitment as he would reoffend again if placed back into society. Unfortunately, the vast majority of sex offenses are
never reported, and the data that has been collected on sex offenders only accounts for those who
were released in the community and were caught and convicted. Some of the risk factors that
would indicate or predict whether Mr. Sandusky would re-offend if he were ever to be released
are who he selected and his marital status. Statistics show the highest rate of recidivism was for
those who select the extra familial boy victims and who were never married, both categories in
which Mr. Sandusky falls in (Lampalzer et al, 2021). Additionally, Mr. Sandusky‘s
disposition/hostility play as a factor, as well as his emotional identification with children, any
sexual preoccupations/deviant sexual interests, and antisocial orientation are indicators
(Lampalzer et al, 2021).
References
Eury, J. L., Kreiner, G. E., Treviño, L. K., & Gioia, D. A. (2018). The past is not dead: Legacy
identification and alumni ambivalence in the wake of the Sandusky scandal at Penn State.
Academy of Management Journal, 61(3), 826-856.
Fyke, J., Trisler, B., & Lucas, K. (2018). A failure of courageous leadership: sex,
embarrassment, and (not) speaking up in the Penn State sexual abuse scandal. In Leadership and
Sexuality (pp. 73-90). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Hanson, R. K., Scott, H., & Steffy, R. A. (1995). A Comparison of Child Molesters and NonSexual Criminals: Risk Predictors and Long-term Recidivism. Journal of Research in Crime and
Delinquency, 32(3), 325-337.
Lampalzer, U., Tozdan, S., von Franqué, F., & Briken, P. (2021). Referral for group or
individual treatment? Factors for consideration in the case of self-referred individuals with a
sexual interest in minors. International Journal of Impotence Research, 33(3), 348-363.