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Victim age polymorphism (also referred to as victim age crossover) describes sexual offenders who offend against multiple age groups. The present study examined whether polymorphic offenders could be differentiated from age-specific offenders based on the role of opportunity in the commission of their offenses.

The current study examined age polymorphism in 72 sexual offenders who committed 361 stranger offenses. Incarcerated offenders were interviewed about their sexual offending history and provided information on their crime scene behaviors (i.e., pre-crime activities, victim selection, and behaviors during the commission of the offense, such as sexual behaviors), which was cross-checked with file information. A PCA and logistic regression were conducted using crime scene behaviors to determine latent constructs that differentiated age-specific and age polymorphic offenders. Individual …