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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study by Saunders and Awad was to provide information on ethical issues, preventive interventions, the risk of recidivism, and the special problems presented by incestuous offenders.
METHODOLOGY:
This study was a non-experimental review of relevant literature and previous research concerning adolescent sex offenders. Some common guidelines concerning data gathering criteria were mentioned: establishing the exact nature of the sexual offense; establishing the details of a sexual offense; and establishing the motivation of a sexual offense.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
Previously reported studies by Groth and Loredo suggested that the following eight issues be explored: 1) difference in age between the offender and the victim; 2) social relationship between the offender and the victim; 3) type of sexual activity; 4) extent of persuasion, enticement, threat, or coercion to attain the sexual contact; 5) persistence of sexual activity; 6) evidence of progression in nature and frequency of sexual activity; 7) nature of fantasies that precede or accompany the behavior; 8) vulnerability of the victims due to a particular handicap or disadvantage.
The authors contended that most clinicians were neither trained nor comfortable in taking the kind of sexual history necessary for a comprehensive assessment. This task could be facilitated by observing two basic procedural steps: 1) obtaining a sexual history from the offender by first establishing a comfortable relationship with the adolescent; and 2) obtaining an outline of questions in mind prior to the interview.
A long-term treatment plan for adolescent sex offenders was based on a decision as to whether it was safe to leave the offender in the community. Groth found that outpatient treatment was appropriate when a) the sexual offense did not involve the use of force nor pose the threat of physical injury; b) the sexual activity did not involve bizarre or ritualistic actions; c) it was a first offense, with no history of chronic antisocial or violent behavior; d) there was no evidence of serious psychopathy; e) the offender acknowledged the offense; f) the offender possessed adequate social, intellectual, and psychological resources to meet the demands of daily living. Also, similar criteria should be applied to incest offenders, even though there was a tendency to treat incestuous adolescents as dangerous offenders who always have to be removed immediately from the family home.
Several studies that have described the backgrounds of male sexual offenders have found an overlap among adolescent sexual offenders, juvenile delinquents, boys from abusive or neglectful families, and socially isolated boys. Although the studies might not have been completely comparable and the studies differed in data collection and analysis, the following findings regarding characteristics of male adolescent sexual offenders were repeatedly described: a history of delinquency preceding the first sexual offense; a history of severe family problems; separations from parents; placements away from home; experience with sexual abuse; experience with neglect or physical abuse; social awkwardness or isolation; academic or behavioral problems in school. A greater than expected percentage of offenders whose IQ scores fell below 80; many experienced psychopathology; a history of psychiatric treatment preceding the first sexual offense; and a neurological impairment among the majority of incarcerated violent sexual offenders.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors contended that since many of the sexual offenses committed by adolescents were directed toward younger children who were acquaintances, relatives, or children for whom the behavior baby-sat, clinicians should be alert to situations that may prove unduly tempting to male adolescents who may be prone to sexual offenses.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - Juvenile Treatment
KW - Offender Treatment
KW - Literature Review
KW - Juvenile Male
KW - Male Violence
KW - Juvenile Violence
KW - Male Offender
KW - Juvenile Offender
KW - Sexual Assault Offender
KW - Sexual Assault Treatment
KW - Offender Assessment
KW - Psychological Assessment
Language: en |