NCJ Number
207919
Journal
Family Violence & Sexual Assault Bulletin Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: Fall 2004 Pages: 5-18
Date Published
2004
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Guidelines address decisionmaking on the type, intensity, and location of interventions for adolescent sex offenders (ASO's) and children with sexual behavior problems (CSBP's).
Abstract
Placement decisions for both ASO's and CSBP's should be case-by-case, and the youth's cultural identity should be considered in deciding on placement. Further, in deciding on placement, the youth's behavior, strengths, and problems are more important than an administrative classification. Also, the youth should be placed in the least restrictive level of care, consistent with community safety and victim welfare. Other principles for placement decisions are as follows: placement decisions should be reassessed over time; both sexual and comorbid or nonsexual issues should be considered; decisionmakers should have knowledge and experience in child and adolescent development; a team of professionals should be involved in placement decisionmaking; decisions should be made with objectivity and fairness based on current scientific knowledge; and treatment services should meet standards of care. Given that less restrictive levels of care are appropriate for larger numbers of youth, a continuum of care can be viewed as a pyramid that involves least restrictive options at the bottom to the most restrictive options at the top. Beginning at the bottom of the pyramid and moving toward the top, examples of continuum levels of care are prevention programs; outpatient programs; intensive community-based ecological models; foster homes, mentor homes, or independent living; day programs; group homes; unlocked staff-secure level; secure residential programs; and a locked secure facility. A checklist of five questions to be answered in a placement decision is provided. Other issues discussed are placement when family victims and potential victims are to be considered, as well as the management of special-needs offenders, such as female or developmentally disabled ASO's. 3 figures and 9 references