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Juvenile Sex Offender in Massachusetts

NCJ Number
127586
Author(s)
A M Seeherman; L Brooks
Date Published
1987
Length
132 pages
Annotation
Information from a survey of four Massachusetts agencies regarding known juvenile perpetrators of child sexual abuse formed the basis of this analysis of the demographic characteristics, individual histories, offenses, treatment, and victims of these offenders.
Abstract
The 593 offenders were all part of the service caseloads of the Departments of Youth Services, Social Services, Mental Health, and Probation during 1985. Ninety-five percent of the offenders were males, and 78.9 percent were white. Most were ages 14 to 16 at the time of the current offense, and 68.5 percent came from single-parent families. Approximately half had experienced some form of abuse or neglect themselves. Their victims were most often relatives or acquaintances. Twenty-five percent of the offenders victimized males only, and 10.6 percent victimized both males and females. The youths received mental health services in both inpatient and outpatient settings, usually in individual treatment. Findings showed the need for changes in the assessment and treatment of juvenile sex offenders, training for treatment providers, research, and interagency cooperation. Tables, figures, 54 references, and appended instrument and list of programs contacted