NCJ Number
133562
Date Published
1990
Length
45 pages
Annotation
A committee appointed by the Utah governor in 1989 reviewed current research and developed a plan and procedures for prevention, early intervention, and treatment of juvenile sex offenders.
Abstract
The number of juveniles referred to the juvenile court for sexual offenses in the State increased from 259 in 1983 to 477 in 1989. Official records also showed that 43 percent of child victims of sexual abuse were victimized by juvenile perpetrators and that 74 percent of the referrals of juvenile sex offenders to juvenile court were for felony offenses. The median age of juvenile sex offenders was 13 years. Major issues in developing strategies to address the problem are the protection of the community; limited funding; and the need for a holistic perspective and a coordinated continuum addressing the needs of victims, juvenile sex offenders, and adult sex offenders. In addition, the juvenile justice system must recognize the individual needs of each type of juvenile sex offenders. Preliminary recommendations, figures, tables, appended additional data, and 11 references