What Research Shows About Adolescent Sex Offenders

• NCJ Number: 213183
• Author(s): Mark Chaffin Ph.D.; Barbara L. Bonner Ph.D.; Keri Pierce MSW
• Date Published: July 2003
• Length: 3 pages
• Grant Number(s): 01-JR-BX-K002
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Corporate Author: National Ctr on Sexual Behavior of Youth (NCSBY)
• Sale Source: National Ctr on Sexual Behavior of Youth (NCSBY)
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NCSBY Fact Sheet Number 1, July 2003; downloaded February 27, 2006.

Annotation

This paper provides practitioners and professionals with a review of research on adolescent (ages 13-17) sex offenders (ASOs), with attention to community safety and supervision issues.

Abstract

Research on the characteristics of ASOs shows that they do not typically commit sex offenses against adults, although the risk of offending against adults increases slightly after age 16. Approximately one-third of the sex offenses against children are committed by ASOs. Sex offenses against children under 12 years old are usually committed by boys between 12-17 years old. ASOs are different from adult sex offenders in several ways, including being more responsive to treatment, committing fewer and less aggressive offenses, and being less likely to reoffend. Most ASOs are not sexual predators and do not seek out child victims. Characteristics of ASOs vary widely. They range from being otherwise well functioning, with limited behavioral or psychological problems and normal families, to having multiple nonsexual behavioral problems, major psychiatric disorders, and abusive family backgrounds. Most ASOs, however, have not been victims of childhood sexual abuse. Regarding community safety and supervision, there is general agreement that ASOs should be processed by the juvenile justice system, since this provides documentation for future reference and offers broader intervention options. Most ASOs can be safely supervised in the community by probation officers and receive treatment in outpatient programs. Proper assessments should identify those ASOs who pose a danger to the community and require secure residential placement. Currently, however, there is no validated procedure or test that will accurately identify which ASOs pose a high risk of reoffending. Factors suggesting high risk include previous multiple sex offenses, especially if adequate treatment has been provided, a history of nonsexual juvenile offenses, a persistent sexual interest in children; and family failure to cooperate in treatment and supervision. 16 references