NCJ Number
82548
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Dated: (1981) Pages: 265-272
Date Published
1981
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Guidelines for the disposition, engagement, and treatment of juvenile sexual offenders are discussed.
Abstract
In general, juvenile sexual offenders have deep-seated feelings of inferiority and inadequacy. They have difficulty establishing relationships and consequently have restricted social lives. Further, they are ill-equipped to handle the problems of developing sexuality and aggression. These developmental defects are typically the product of insufficient love and inadequate discipline. Once it has been determined that a juvenile sexual offender needs clinical intervention, it must be determined whether treatment should be in an outpatient, community-based program or in an institutional-residential setting. Generally, outpatient treatment is more appropriate for nonviolent first offenders who do not indicate serious psychopathology, have competent social, intellectual, and psychological resources and skills to manage life demands adequately, and are motivated for treatment. To ensure participation by involuntary clients and to maintain continued involvement in treatment during stressful periods, treatment should be mandated by the court. To engage the client, the intervenor must offer support, concrete help, consistency, and persistent outreach. A team of intervenors should meet regularly to conduct a multidisciplinary case review and offer a variety of treatment modalities. Some treatment techniques found to be valuable are (1) having the client write an autobiography that will facilitate the recall of childhood experiences and foster self-knowledge and self-acceptance, (2) using audio and videotapes of adult sex offenders recounting their personal experiences as juvenile offenders, and (3) creating opportunities for clients to help in efforts to combat sexual assault. A diagnostic checklist from the CCI-Somers sex offender program in Connecticut is provided. Three references are provided.