NCJ Number
131799
Journal
Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1991) Pages: 51-58
Date Published
1991
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Data from two point-in-time surveys of 123 adjudicated male juvenile offenders committed to a residential group treatment facility was used to investigate the early childhood sexual victimization of juvenile offenders and to clarify the intervention strategies regarded as most therapeutic in facilitating the self-disclosure of their victimization.
Abstract
The early childhood victimization rates reported by this sample varied significantly from the 31 percent expected victimization rate among "normal" adolescent populations. These findings indicate that molestation (54.4 percent) will be the most frequently encountered form of sexual victimization reported among incarcerated male adolescents. Those interventions related to Yalom's (1985) concepts of group cohesiveness, universality, interpersonal learning, catharsis, and altruism were the most critical influences in facilitating open and personally sensitive peer discussions among this sample of juvenile offenders. The findings are discussed in relation to the need for developing humanistic peer group intervention strategies within juvenile correctional facilities. 3 tables and 18 references (Author abstract modified)