Treatment Outcome and Criminal Offending by Youth with Sexual Behavior Problems

• NCJ Number: 222829
• Journal: Child Maltreatment Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2008 Pages: 133-144
• Author(s): Elizabeth J. Letourneau; Jason E. Chapman; Sonja K. Schoenwald
• Date Published: May 2008
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 59138; 065414; 018107
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institute of Mental Health; Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study compared children and adolescents treated for general delinquency problem and rated by caregivers as having sexual behavior problems (SBPs) with youth having no sexual behavior problems.

Abstract

Results suggested that SBPs as indexed by the child behavioral checklist (CBCL) were effectively addressed by multi-systemic therapy (MST), a relatively short-term, empirically supported treatment that focuses considerable attention on improving caregiver skills and resources. Findings also indicated that youths identified as having SBP and treated by an effective intervention were not at increased risk for future sexual offending. There appears to be increasing concern that youth with SBP are resistant to standard treatments and at increased risk for engaging in future sexual crimes. Consequently, such children have been targeted for restrictive treatment placements, such as specialized SBP units within residential facilities. SBP can be effectively treated with empirically supported, community-based interventions, including MST and specialized CBT intervention that substantively engage caregivers. Implications for public policy are profound; the sexual behavior of minors, even between consenting peers and sometimes between young children, has been criminalized in many States. Recent laws specifically targeting sexual offenders often include minors. For example, the newly enacted Federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act 2006 requires the public registration of children as young as14 years old if convicted of certain sexual crimes. However the research strongly suggest that youth with SBP, including youth with charges for sexual offenses, are unlikely to commit future sexual crimes, particularly when they have completed empirically validated interventions. Data were collected from 696 general delinquency youth with SBP and compared with 1,185 children with no SBP. Treatment outcome through 12-months post-treatment and criminal offending through an average 48-long posttreatment were compared for both groups. Tables, figures, references