A Ten-Year Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Perpetrators of Sexual Assault Against Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to follow the transition of adolescent perpetrators of sexual assault against children upon their return to the community to help determine the minimal base level of risk they present for sexual and other re-offending. The results of this study found that the majority of adolescent perpetrators of sexual assault against children re-offended, but were not involved in another sexual assault. Twelve percent of the sample re-offended sexually, 66% were convicted of non-sexual offenses, and 22% were not convicted of any offenses during the follow-up period. This study also found that the risk of sexual re-offense continued throughout the ten-year follow-up, and that the majority of first sexual offenses post-release occurred between years zero and five. Additional research recommendations are made.