Significant research exists which suggests a negative relationship between empathy and aggressive behavior. However, empathy research among juvenile sex offenders is limited with minimal comparative analysis. Using comparison groups and a multidimensional measure of empathy, as well as controlling for age and race, this study explored the hypothesis that male juvenile sex offenders, delinquent nonsexual offenders, and “normal” nondelinquent juveniles differ significantly in dispositional empathy. Study participants included 81 males, ages 13 to 18 from a southwestern State and residents in a medium-security treatment facility for delinquents (27 sex offenders, 54 delinquent nonsexual offenders). In addition, 74 nondelinquents were drawn from a university research setting. Participant scores from Davis’s Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) were analyzed. Results indicate that juvenile sex offenders and nonsex offending delinquent juveniles scored significantly higher than nondelinquents on the Personal Distress subscale and non-sex-offending delinquent juveniles scored significantly higher than the juvenile sex offenders on the Empathic Concern subscale. Based on the findings, the prominent position of empathy enhancement interventions in juvenile sex offender treatment programs is warranted. References