NCJ Number
170116
Date Published
1997
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Sexual abuse and sex offenses committed by adolescents in Great Britain are discussed, with emphasis on nature and extent of sexual abuse by adolescents, the characteristics of the perpetrators, and theories of causation.
Abstract
Sexual abuse covers a broader range of acts than those legally defined as offenses. Estimates of the incidence and prevalence of sexual abuse by adolescents are high, but also underestimate the problem. Adolescent sexual abusers tend to be 14-15 years old, although abusers as young as 8 have been reported. Adolescent abusers do not appear significantly different from their otherwise delinquent peers, although they tend to come from families that are somewhat less disorganized and less criminal than those of other juvenile delinquents. Like other juvenile delinquents, abusive adolescents are likely to have significant learning difficulties and to be poor achievers. They also have a wide range of social skill deficits, particularly in self presentation, assertiveness, sympathy, and sensitivity. Findings vary greatly regarding their incidence of clinical symptoms of mental disorders. Overall, they are probably more similar to other juvenile offenders than different from them. The three forms of abuse include non-contact abuse such as voyeurism and obscene telephone calls, sexual molestation, and sexual assault. Offenders have probably committed many abusive acts by the time they come to the attention of social agencies. Victims' ages vary widely. Victims of the majority of reported and detected acts are females. Reliable typologies of these offenders do not yet exist. Therefore, only detailed individual assessment rather than recourse to diagnostic or typological information is likely to lead to effective treatment. Tables