ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we look at different “types” of offenders. The word “type” is used with some hesitation because the word conveys the idea of clearly defined categories with little or no overlap. However, many offenders do not neatly fit into any one category. In fact, very few offenders specialize in only one type of crime. Sex offenders commit nonsexual crimes, and male batterers assault others who are unrelated to them. The versatility of criminal offenders is illustrated in a survey of more than 2,000 male inmates from Australian prisons. Makkai and Payne (2005) found only 26 percent of the offenders reporting having committed just one offense type. Nevertheless, many criminals do show a preference for certain antisocial acts that allow us to make rough categorizations.
