NCJ Number
95717
Date Published
1985
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This summary highlights the findings of an analysis of New York's official and unofficial data on male sex offenders under age 18 for the year 1981, with attention to offender profiles, treatment programs, and recommendations to improve State services in this area.
Abstract
Although therapists, counselors, and programs serving child and adult sexual victims have found that many sexual offenders in New York are adolescents, no large-scale studies of adolescent sexual offenders had been conducted before this survey. Following a review of data sources, the summary profiles the adolescent sex offender as a male who lives in a chaotic family situation and often has been the victim of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse. His relationship with his father is negative or nonexistent, his offending began early, and he exhibits certain common personality characteristics, such as low self-esteem and lack of skills to manage anger and aggression. The summary describes three out-of-State treatment programs for such offenders, noting that most use specialized peer groups augmented by individual and family therapy rather than traditional mental health methods. Four programs operated by New York State's Department of Youth Services (DYS) in their secure facilities are reviewed. Adult prisons in the State have no treatment programs for 16-and 17-year old sexual offenders. DYS staff believe that more treatment programs for adolescent sexual offenders are greatly needed, as are community-based programs for offenders placed on probation. Recommendations address treatment for incarcerated and nonincarcerated adolescent sex offenders, staff training, prevention programs, research, and State planning. A chart profiling offenders, four references, and five additional sources of information are supplied. For the full report, see NCJ.