NCJ Number
116802
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling, Services & Rehabilitation Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (1988) Pages: 39-53
Date Published
1988
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Alternative approaches to working with juvenile sex offenders in a group modality are explored.
Abstract
Data are based primarily on work with a New York Juvenile Sex Offender Project (JSOP) which provides three ongoing groups serving clients in the cognitive developmental age ranges of 10-14, 13-16, and 15-19 years of age. The overlap in age distinctions allows the therapists to choose which ongoing group may be best suited to the individual in therapy. Consideration is given to the individual's emotional and cognitive development for placement in the appropriate group. Each group candidate is selected following a detailed assessment procedure in which psychosocial development, family processes, and past involvement with legal systems are examined. Potential group members are interviewed to assess their level of admittance to the crime, ability to portray empathy for the victim, ability to identify a problem related to the sexual abuse, and ability to develop a plan to prevent further abuse. These criteria not only allow the individual into JSOP but are also used throughout treatment to assess progress. During therapy, significant concepts such as power, anger, helplessness, and victim objectification are examined. The concepts discussion is followed by various therapy techniques. Outpatient treatment is considered to be a viable alternative to incarceration, as well as a necessary component in the specialized treatment of juvenile offenders living in residential programs that do not offer rehabilitation for this problem area. The structure of individual and group therapy provides an opportunity for adolescents to examine and understand their behavior, with the goal of preventing recidivism. 16 references. (Author abstract modified)