The Self-Reported Behaviors of Juvenile Sexual Offenders

Abstract

Information was gathered from 485 males younger than 18 being evaluated as possible juvenile sex offenders. More than 60% reported involvement in child molestation, more than 30% in pornography, and 10 to 30% in exhibitionism, fetishism, frottage, voyeurism, obscene phone calls and phone sex. Compared with adult males, juveniles had greater frequencies of fetishism, obscene phone calls, child molestation, and phone sex. Juveniles reported engaging in between 9 and 46 acts of sexual offenses. The average age of onset for the sexual offenses was between 10 and 12 years. Juveniles unwilling to admit violations of common social mores reported fewer sexual offenses than juveniles willing to admit such violations. Of the boys who reported never being accused of child molestation, 41.5% reported they had molested a younger child. Findings are discussed as they pertain to the assessment and treatment of juvenile sexual offenders.