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Research on Adolescent Sex Offenders (From Child Trauma I Issues and Research, P 383-404, 1992, Ann Wolbert Burgess, ed. -- See NCJ-137060)

NCJ Number
137074
Author(s)
J V Becker; M S Kaplan
Date Published
1992
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This report on the authors' clinical research with male adolescent sex offenders addresses the characteristics of adolescent sex offenders, assessment, prior victimization, family variables, treatment, and ethical issues.
Abstract
The sample consisted of 67 adolescent males between the ages of 13 and 19 who had been identified as sexual offenders and permitted to remain in the community under supervision. The information presented encompasses prior arrests for nonsexual crimes, prior arrests for sexual crimes, types of self-reported sexual crimes committed, and nondeviant sexual histories. An analysis of the characteristics of adolescent incest perpetrators addresses psychiatric disorders, nondeviant sexual experiences, incest diagnoses, total deviant sexual attempts and completions, and nonincest sexual offenses. An outline of assessment procedures is followed by a discussion of abuse-reactive adolescent perpetrators that is, adolescent sex offenders who had been sexually abused themselves earlier in their lives. The characteristics of such juvenile sex offenders and a profile of their victimization are reviewed. Other topics considered are comfort with gender, depressive symptomatology, family variables, treatment, and ethical issues in the assessment and treatment of adolescent sex offenders. Overall, the study concludes that adolescent sex offenses should not be viewed as age-related sexual experimentation. Such behavior is symptomatic of a serious disorder that should be addressed with appropriate treatment. 39 references