Juveniles Who Have Sexually Offended: A Review of the Professional Literature

March 2001 NCJ 184739

Executive Summary
Introduction
Sexual abuse is widely recognized as a significant problem in society, and the scope of the problem may be underestimated because juvenile sex offenders who are known to the system may represent only a small proportion of juveniles who have committed such offenses. Studies of adult sex offenders suggest another dimension of the problem: many of these offenders began their sexually abusive behavior in their youth.

The costs of sex offending are substantial for victims and society and for the young offenders and their families. To minimize these costs, timely and appropriate interventions are needed. A review of the professional literature suggests, however, that programs designed to meet the perceived needs of these young offenders frequently apply knowledge and interventions designed for adult offenders without considering developmental issues and needs unique to juveniles.

Characteristics of Juveniles Who Have Committed Sex Offenses

Juveniles who have committed sex offenses are a heterogeneous mix (Bourke and Donohue, 1996; Knight and Prentky, 1993). They differ according to victim and offense characteristics and a wide range of other variables, including types of offending behaviors, histories of child maltreatment, sexual knowledge and experiences, academic and cognitive functioning, and mental health issues (Knight and Prentky, 1993; Weinrott, 1996).

Offending Behaviors

Sexually abusive behaviors and sex offense characteristics. Sexually abusive behaviors range from noncontact offenses to penetrative acts. Offense characteristics include factors such as the age and sex of the victim, the relationship between victim and offender, and the degree of coercion and violence used.

Nonsexual criminal behavior. Juvenile sex offenders frequently engage in nonsexual criminal and antisocial behavior (Fehrenbach et al., 1986; Ryan et al., 1996). A national survey found that most of the 80 juveniles who disclosed sexually assaultive behavior had previously committed a nonsexual aggravated assault (Elliot, as cited in Weinrott, 1996). ..more.. by Sue Righthand -and- Carlann Welch