NCJ Number
120789
Date Published
1986
Length
41 pages
Annotation
This conceptual framework and specialized approach of the treatment of adolescent sex offenders emphasizes a comprehensive service delivery system organized along a continuum of care that ranges from physically secure residential sites to outpatient groups for clients who continue to live in the community.
Abstract
Adolescent sex offenders, predominantly male, do not generally grow out of their offending patterns without professional intervention. Virtually all treatment programs in operation report encouraging results with adolescent offender populations. Specialized treatment is necessary because traditional diagnostic assessments do not provide sufficient data to allow for appropriate placement and intervention decisions, and traditional treatment fails to impact successfully on the noncomplaint client who does not voluntarily seek treatment. Adolescent sex offender treatment must be directed at preventing further victimization of innocent community members. Treatment in peer groups designed specifically for adolescent offenders is the treatment of choice, and client evaluation materials must include a diagnostic assessment by a person specialized and trained to work with adolescent sex offenders. Treatment interventions must be guided by victim protection, legal accountability, specialized sex offender diagnosis, and group treatment. A comprehensive service delivery should include the following components: locked residential treatment facilities; unlocked staff-secure residential units; alternative community-based living environments such as foster care, mentor programs, and supervised apartments; outpatient groups and day programs; and diagnostic centers. Specialized diagnostic assessments and treatment for adolescent sex offenders require a high degree of cooperation between many State agencies. Recommendations for implementing a comprehensive service delivery system are offered. An appendix contains a sex offender risk scale, and an annotated bibliography on adolescent sexual molestation of children is provided. 28 references.