Adolescent Sexual Offenders: A Total Survey of Referrals to Social Services in Sweden and Subgroup Characteristics

• NCJ Number: 217127
• Journal: Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 18 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2006 Pages: 357-372
• Author(s): Cecilia Kjellgren; Annika Wassberg; Margareta Carlberg; Niklas Langstrom; Carl Goran Svedin
• Date Published: October 2006
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the characteristics of all adolescent sexual offenders (ASO) referred to Social Services in Sweden during 2000.

Abstract

Results indicated that 197 boys and 2 girls between the ages of 12 and 17 years were referred to Social Services during 2000 for sexually abusive behavior. Among the males referred for sexually abusive behavior, 46 percent had abused at least one child younger than age 12 while 54 percent abused peers or adult victims. Forty-two percent of the male sexual offenders had committed sexual offenses with at least one other offender during their lifetime. The findings revealed that ASOs who offended against children were different than ASOs who offended against peers or adults. Major differences were that offenders against children were more likely to be of Swedish ethnicity, to choose sibling and male victims, to have more than one victim, and were less likely to offend together with peers. Comparisons of the ASOs who offended alone versus those who offended together with peers indicated that those who offended together with peers were more likely to have abused an acquaintance and to have only one victim. ASOs who offended together with peers were less likely than their lone offender counterparts to have been victimized themselves and to have had previous contact with Social Services. The findings suggest there is validity in differentiating between ASOs against children versus peer/adult victims. The differences between group versus single offenders was deemed less valuable. The research involved a national survey of all local Social Service agencies in Sweden (N=289) regarding all new ASO cases reported during 2000 involving offenders between 12 and 17 years of age. Variables under analysis included ASO demographic characteristics, offense characteristics, and victim characteristics. Differences between subgroups of ASOs were examined using chi-square analysis and t-tests. Limitations of the study are discussed and include limits on the offender, victim, and offense variables under analysis. Tables, references