Random samples from two populations were interviewed. One, a sample of 112 male felons, was interviewed in 1978 concerning their activities after release in 1974 from Oregon penal institutions. Criminal histories were obtained from Oregon police agencies. The second sample was 376 noninstitutionalized Oregon male adults, sampled by area probability methods. Personal interviewing methods were employed for both samples. The presence of abuse was based on the reporting of a variety of violent forms of childhood punishment. Chi-square analysis was used for response data. A significant relationship between self-reported abusive punishment and the sexual offender was found. The relationship between other forms of adult criminality and self-reported child abuse was not statistically significant. Findings underscore the need for more systematic developmental knowledge about the sexual offender. Two tables, two footnotes, and five references are included. (Author abstract modified)