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JUVENILE PROSTITUTION (FROM SIXTH NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE, 1979)

NCJ Number
69275
Author(s)
S F HUTCHINSON
Date Published
1979
Length
0 pages
Annotation
IN THIS AUDIOTAPE CASSETTE, THE SCOPE, VICTIMS, AND EXPLOITERS OF JUVENILE PROSTITUTION ARE SURVEYED, AND CRIME-SPECIFIC COUNTERMEASURES ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
AFTER INTRODUCTORY DEFINITIONS AND STATISTICS, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ODYSSEY HOUSE (NEW YORK), WHICH IS PRESENTLY PREPARING A PILOT PROGRAM FOR TREATING SEXUALLY ABUSED JUVENILES, DESCRIBES THE VICTIMS AS FREQUENTLY COMING FORM RURAL AREAS OR A CHILD ABUSE ENVIRONMENT. DRIVEN BY BOREDOM, LONELINESS, OR ALCOHOL OR DRUG ADDICTION, THEY TURN TO PROSTITUTION FOR ATTENTION, AFFECTION, AND FINANCIAL GAIN. THE CUSTOMERS, WHO FIND THEIR PARTICULAR SEXUAL PREFERENCES THROUGH PIMPS OR EVEN A NATIONWIDE COMPUTERIZED REFERRAL SERVICE, ARE OFTEN WHITE MIDDLE-AGED MEN (NOT SELDOM IN POSITIONS OF WEALTH AND POWER). GENERAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES INCLUDE (1) TEACHING JUVENILES THE EMOTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SEXUAL RELATIONS, (2) SATISFYING THEIR NEED FOR AFFECTION AND ATTENTION, (3) PROVIDING AGE-APPROPRIATE SEXUAL EDUCATION, (4) PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT FOR JUVENILE PROSTITUTES, AND (5) COMBATING JUVENILE PROSTITUTION ON A COMMUNITY BASIS. SPECIFIC STEPS INCLUDE THE SETTING UP OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS (SUCH AS THAT OF ODYSSEY HOUSE), ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL TEAM OF TRAINED POLICE OFFICERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS TO DEAL WITH SEXUALLY EXPLOITED CHILDREN, AND PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT TO INCLUDE SEXUALLY EXPLOITED CHILDREN. THE MATERIAL IS SUITABLE FOR A GENERAL AUDIENCE, AND A PRINTED OUTLINE OF THE TAPE IS INCLUDED. FOR RELATED TAPES, SEE NCJ 69273-74 AND 69276-85.