Treatment Of Juvenile Sex Offenders Research Articles

Juveniles with Sexual Behavior Problems: A Treatment Program Evaluation

AbstractJuveniles commit a significant portion of the sexual abuse perpetrated on other children. Treatment for juveniles with sexual behavior problems has moved from modified adult treatments to more developmentally appropriate approaches. Although cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most commonly used approach, research indicates that inclusion of significant others in the juvenile’s life is important when working with these youth. The inclusion of the juvenile’s family is seen as especially vital in treatment success. The current article reviews treatment outcomes, as measured by recidivism (re-offense) rates, for juvenile males completing a county juvenile sex offender treatment program. The program emphasizes family involvement and collaboration with juvenile probation officers, correctional officer, attorneys, and judges in the ongoing treatment as well as support of the juvenile and his/her family. Results indicate a sexual recidivism rate of 7.2% which is consistent with meta-analyses of research on sexual recidivism in treatment programs. The recidivism rate for non-sexual crimes was 33.7%, which is lower than typically reported in meta-analyses of treatment outcomes. The treatment program was equally effective for all juveniles, regardless of race.

Parental Involvement in Juvenile Sex Offender Treatment: Requiring a Role as Informed Supervisor

Sex offenses, particularly those against children, have always been viewed negatively in society. A large portion of these offenses are committed by children against children. Most state legislatures focus on punitive measures when dealing with juvenile sex offenses, yet few place treatment on equal ground. Treatment has been shown to be effective in reducing the rate of recidivism of juvenile sex offenders. Juvenile sex offenders that participate in treatment have shown lower recidivism rates than adult offenders or untreated juvenile sex offenders. This Note advocates that states adopt legislation based on a successful statute in Colorado that creates a sex offender management board consisting of a multidisciplinary treatment team for juvenile sex offenders' treatment while requiring parental involvement in treatment as “informed supervisors” when the team deems it appropriate. Key Points for the Family Court Community: Sex offender treatment on juveniles has been successful in reducing recidivism, as juveniles are more receptive to treatment than adults. Supervision and treatment of juvenile sex offenders would be more effective if parents or guardians are involved in the juvenile's sex offender treatment. States should adopt legislation based on the Colorado model that creates a sex offender management board and multidisciplinary team to supervise the treatment of juvenile sex offenders and requires appropriate parental involvement in the treatment as “informed supervisors”.

Disgust Sensitivity Predicts Punitive Treatment of Juvenile Sex Offenders: The Role of Empathy, Dehumanization, and Fear

We explore the possibility that disgust sensitivity predicts attitudes toward a stigmatized, yet vulnerable population: juvenile sex offenders. Participants were 125 undergraduates (66% women, M age = 19) who read a case depicting a 17‐year‐old boy convicted of aggravated child molestation for receiving oral sex from an intoxicated 15‐year‐old girl. Participants subsequently indicated the degree to which they supported registering the juvenile offender as a sex offender and completed a series of case judgments (i.e., belief the defendant is a threat, the dehumanizing belief the defendant is a superpredator, and defendant empathy). Finally, participants provided demographic information and completed the Disgust Sensitivity Scale. In line with our hypotheses, as disgust sensitivity increased, support for juvenile sex offender registration also increased. Yet, this relationship was explained by various mediating factors. Specifically, a series of models tested via path analysis showed that as disgust sensitivity increased, participants’ were more likely to dehumanize the offender as a “superpredator” and experience diminished empathy. In turn, dehumanization and diminished empathy predicted the belief the defendant is a threat to society, which predicted greater registration support.

Culturally Competent Practice with African American Juvenile Sex Offenders

African American juveniles adjudicated for sexual offenses may struggle with the mistrust of both the judicial and treatment systems. Unlike general mental health services, juvenile sex offender treatment is often mandated by the court or child welfare services, thus these youths and their families must engage in the treatment process. Without clinicians and services that can acknowledge and respond to a minority youth’s experience in a sensitive, culturally competent manner, there could be significant resistance to treatment. Traditional treatment approaches fail to prioritize issues involving cultural competence. This article addresses the unique challenges of African American juvenile sex offenders and makes recommendations for creating culturally competent practice for these youth and their families.

Characterization and Prediction of Sexual and Nonsexual Recidivism Among Adjudicated Juvenile Sex Offenders

Estimating the risk of sexual recidivism for a juvenile sex offender is essential in order to protect public safety by identifying and evaluating high risk adolescents and to ensure the rights and welfare of juvenile offenders who will not likely reoffend. Empirically validated risk assessment methods are needed to aid in the classification and treatment of juvenile sex offenders. The present study utilized a dataset collected by Maricopa County, AZ, and aggregated by the National Juvenile Court Data Archive. The purpose of the study was to evaluate and characterize risk factors for juveniles who have been charged with a sexual offense in order to determine the predictive utility of these factors for subsequent offending, as well as offense trajectory, and to evaluate risk factors for nonsexual offenders who have committed crimes of various severities. The results of the present study show the strongest individual predictors of sexual recidivism to be prior nonsexual offending, prior sexual offending, hands-off offending, offending against a child, younger school grade/age at time of initial offense, Asian or Hispanic ethnicity, and not attending school. A preliminary screening measure was developed from the seven positive risk factors, and ROC analysis produced an AUC indicating moderate predictive utility in discriminating between juvenile sex offenders who would sexually reoffend and those who would not.

Frank C. DiCataldo: The Perversion of Youth: Controversies in the Assessment and Treatment of Juvenile Sex Offenders

Frank C. DiCataldo: The Perversion of Youth: Controversies in the Assessment and Treatment of Juvenile Sex Offenders

Bullying and (re)offending: Results from three samples in the Netherlands

To investigate the relationship between bullying and (re)offending. Carrying out bivariate analyses and multivariate analyses (controlling for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), parental abuse and neglect and impulsivity) on three large high-risk groups (male and female juveniles with serious behaviour problems and a group of juvenile sex offenders). Only the relationship between bullying victimisation and re-offending in juvenile sex offenders is significant. Addressing bullying as a risk factor for re-offending seems important in treatment of juvenile sex offenders.

The Perversion of Youth: Controversies in the Assessment and Treatment of Juvenile Sex Offenders

The Perversion of Youth: Controversies in the Assessment and Treatment of Juvenile Sex Offenders

The Perversion of Youth: Controversies in the Assessment and Treatment of Juvenile Sex Offenders

The Perversion of Youth: Controversies in the Assessment and Treatment of Juvenile Sex Offenders

Treatment for Juveniles Who Sexually Offend in a Southwestern State

A 25-item questionnaire was mailed to sex offender treatment providers from counties with 60 or more reported juvenile sex offenders in a Southwestern state to determine the most effective treatment for juvenile sex offenders. Results indicated that cognitive behavioral therapy was the most successful reported approach to treatment with an average success rate of 87%. The most commonly used approach was cognitive behavioral therapy with relapse prevention. The most common sexual offense was indecency with a child involving sexual contact, contrary to studies that found that in the Probation Commission data, aggravated sexual offense was the most common. These results have ramifications for state policies on treatment for juvenile sex offenders.

The perversion of youth: controversies in the assessment and treatment of juvenile sex offenders

The perversion of youth: controversies in the assessment and treatment of juvenile sex offenders

New Hope and Help for Forgotten Youth

Juvenile sex offender treatment programs have been at the forefront of discussion among some policy-makers and certainly those who provide treatment for these youth. While the research in this area supports the use of community-based treatment strategies, clinicians with strong training background are rare. There is a need for a certificate training program to develop clinicians who are specifically trained to treat juvenile sex offenders. Through a unique academic/community initiative providing a multimodal approach to treatment, a collaborative 2-day national conference related to treatment of juvenile sex offenders was established. The program core was a 9-month clinical treatment certificate training program. This article describes the community program, and outlines in detail its purpose, goals, trainee requirements, conceptual areas for competency development, and the content areas. The Mental Health Policy Institute for Leadership and Training of Baltimore and the School of Nursing of the University Maryland jointly recognized a need to address the quality and efficacy of community-based treatment and expand the number of trained clinicians to work with sex offending youth. As a result of positive program evaluations, this community program will be provided annually.

Understanding the Factors That Affect the Severity of Juvenile Stranger Sex Offenses

Understanding factors that affect the severity of a juvenile-stranger sexual assault has implications for crime prevention, and potentially, the assessment and treatment of juvenile sex offenders. This study investigated how victim characteristics and the number of suspects affected the use of physical violence and weapons and the occurrence of penetration in 495 allegations of sexual assault committed by juveniles against strangers. Statistically significant interactions between victim age and gender were found for occurrence of penetration and use of violence. Differences in offense characteristics were also found between offenses with varying victim-suspect age differences. When comparing the rate of penetration in the presence and absence of violence, little change was observed for lone suspects. However, the rate of penetration increased significantly for groups in the presence of physical violence, suggesting that violence in this context may be more expressive than instrumental. Theoretical explanations and practical implications are considered.

Adolescent et agresseur sexuel : bilan d’une recherche

The purpose of this research project was to gain a better knowledge of juvenile sex offenders in the Montreal area. Do they present differences or similarities with other subjects from studies made in the United States? Can we improve our assessment techniques to better differentiate those who should be treated in a closed setting from those who could benefit from a follow-up in the community? And how does our juvenile justice system deal with this type of offender? In order to find answers to these issues, ten (10) in-depth interviews with personality measures were conducted with juveniles who admitted (or were convicted of) sexual abuse. Moreover, a study of fifty (50) files from the Social Services relating to the same kind of behavior was done in the Montreal area. Our results are similar to other studies made elsewhere : those who where convicted of rape or child molesting committed their first (official) offense at a mean age of 14.5 years and 60 % of their victims were females of an average age of 9. For 38 % of our sample, the sexual offense is part of an heterogenous criminal career. Our personnality measures failed to differentiate between child molesters and rapists. However, on the Jesness Inventory, our ten subjects had high scores on the SM (Social Maladjustment) scale, and on AI (Asocial Index). One other significant finding was that the personnel involved with assessment and treatment of juvenile sex offenders had to get a better knowledge of the dynamics involved with such offenses to record basic information (victim's age, the exact nature of the behavior and the type of violence involved) and recommend appropriate treatment.

Sexual Fantasies of Adolescent Male Sex Offenders in Residential Treatment: A Descriptive Study

An attenuating sample of 87 male adolescent sexual offenders logged sexual fantasies during their entire time in therapy. These patients were attending residential treatment and kept a log recording all normal and deviant sexual fantasies which they experienced. Patients recorded which fantasies were interrupted and which fantasies were accompanied by masturbation. Typically, at the beginning of treatment, the reported rate of normal fantasies was maximal, the occurrence of deviant fantasies was minimal, and there was little effort to interrupt the deviant fantasies. The reported frequency of deviant fantasies increased substantially (about 380%) during the first 5 months of treatment and then steadily declined (approximately 47%) over the remaining months in therapy. Following an initial decline in the early months of treatment, an increase in the rates of normal fantasies was reported. Additionally, over the course of treatment, the frequency of deviant fantasies decreased relative to all fantasies. While deviant fantasies remained predominant to normal sexual fantasies and were more frequently paired with masturbation, patients reported substantial changes in the proportion of deviant fantasies that were interrupted (from about 20% to 70%). Implications of the results for juvenile sex offender treatment are discussed.

Contemporary Gestalt Therapy Theory: Organizing Perspective For Juvenile Sex Offender Treatment

AbstractThe following synthesis was worked out while the author was a Senior Psychologist in the community mental health system in North Carolina, working as Director of a tri-county juvenile sex offender treatment program. It came about in the effort to provide a Gestalt therapy rationale with which to organize the practical work necessary at the time. The article briefly describes adolescent sex offenders and summarizes effective practices that have been used in their treatment. It demonstrates how the coherent theory behind contemporary Gestalt therapy harmonizes with those treatment interventions. It shows how Gestalt therapy theory brings potential order to these otherwise disparate interventions, and how it provides guidance to clinicians in juvenile sex offender treatment.

Working with Parents to Reduce Juvenile Sex Offender Recidivism

SUMMARY Although there is very little research in the area of including parents in juvenile sex offender treatment, one of the factors that might be worth exploring is how the parental relationship may aid in successful relapse prevention. Since the family environment is a potential risk factor for adolescent sex offenders, integration of relapse prevention into daily family life may be a significant part of these youths' success or failure in the community. This article focuses on the concept of including parents in juvenile sex offender treatment. Issues addressed include what treatment providers can do to involve parents in relapse prevention, treatment providers' misconceptions about the inclusion of parents in treatment, a rationale for including parents in treatment, and research regarding different parenting styles.

Treatment of Juveniles Who Sexually Offend: An Overview

SUMMARY Juvenile sexual offending is increasingly being recognized as a serious crime among youth. The prevalence of sexual offending and sexual reoffending suggests that many juvenile sex offenders (JSOs) may repeat their offending behaviors if not treated. However, clinical trials evaluating specific interventions are virtually nonexistent. Instead, the literature on the treatment of JSOs is marked by discussions of strategies that are hypothesized to be beneficial, as well as descriptions of treatment programs that exist across the country. Further, while existing literature suggests that treatment for JSOs may deter future sexual offending behaviors, it is unclear which, if any, aspects of these treatments promote the development of positive behaviors. A discussion of existing treatment approaches, effectiveness, and treatment considerations follows.

The thought change system an empirically based cognitive behavioral therapy for male juvenile sex offenders: A pilot study.

Recent research in treatment of sexual offenders suggests that comprehensive cognitive -behavioral approaches may yield significant decreases in deviant acting-out behaviors. The current pilot study examined such a treatment called the Thought Change System, which is an empirically based cognitive -behavioral therapy, in a residential treatment center, existing in Portsmouth, Virginia. This system includes the identification of the functions of the negative thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and beliefs, and replacing them with transitional thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and beliefs, and finally alternative beliefs. The Thought Change System also implements the Case Conceptualization Method based an adaptation of the Beck (1998) suggested methodology of mode deactivation. The offenders were adolescent males, age's 11-18, who have a history of failed treatment at prior placements or outpatient treatment centers. The results of this study indicate that a cognitive -behavioral methodology that addresses the underlying personality traits may be effective for severely disturbed sexual offending adolescents; evident by reduced psychological distress, reduced sex offending risk, and reduced aggressive beliefs. KEY WORDS: cognitive/behavioral treatment; juvenile sexual offenders; cognitive distortions; case conceptualization; sexual offender treatment ********** The following description proposes the type of treatment for juvenile sex offenders as treated by the Behavioral Studies Program (BSP) at The Pines Residential Treatment Center (The Pines) in Portsmouth, Virginia. The proposed typology is based on the collected works of Richardson, Kelly, Bhante, and Graham (1997); Awad and Saunders (1991); Monto, Agourides, and Harris (1998); Becker and Kaplin (1991); Becker & Hunter (1998); and Hunter (1989). The Pines offers residential treatment for male and female sex offenders. Ninety-eight percent of residents report a prior history of victimization, including sexual, physical, emotional, and/or environmental abuse(s). In support of Hunter and Becker's (1997) review, these residents report their own victimization to have occurred during an early developmental ages (2-5 years). In addition, few residents talked about or acknowledged their abuse(s) until years after the abuse occurred. A prior history of victimization at a young age, and few disclosures appear to be consistent in the histories of those that sexually offend and victimize. Statistical support for this premise is evident in the male population at The Pines. Up to 93% of male BSP residents have been victimized in all four of the above abuse parameters. The juvenile sex offender falls primarily into two major types: those who target children and those who offend against peers or adults (Hunter, 1989). The major difference present in these two groups is based on the age difference between the victim and the offender. Child offenders have been defined as those who target children five or more years younger than themselves (Hunter & Mathews, 1997). The presence of deviant arousal is often found in juvenile male child molesters who offend against young males, and may be indicative of early onset pedophilia. Indications of non-sexual delinquency and generalized antisocial tendencies have been found most frequently in backgrounds of juveniles who have engaged in aggressive sexual offending. Specific psychological diagnoses are associated for those with a history of prior abuse. For example, a child with numerous early childhood traumas may cause a later diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Johnson, Cohen, Brown, S., and Bernstein (1999) suggest in their longitudinal study that early childhood trauma victims are considerably more likely than those who were not abused or neglected to have Personality Disorders (PD) and elevated PD symptoms, particularly those PD within the Cluster B spectrum as outlined within DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000). …

The Relationship of Trauma Exposure to Sex Offending Behavior Among Male Juvenile Offenders

ABSTRACT The most common type of adult and juvenile sex offender treatment utilizes a Relapse Prevention (RP) model. In RP clients learn about their offense cycle with an emphasis on recognizing high-risk situations and negative emotional states that can be precursors or triggers to offending behavior. This study identifies ways that traumatic experiences and trauma-associated feelings can be offense triggers for juvenile sex offenders. Researchers interviewed the treating clinicians of 40 male juvenile sex offenders who received at least six months of RP sex offender treatment. Results showed that 95% of the youths had experienced a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Criterion A traumatic event and that 65% met criteria for PTSD based on clinician judgments. Overall, clinicians identified prior trauma exposure as being related to the offense triggers in 85% of offenders. Specifically, the following trauma-related feelings were identified as offense triggers: intense fear in 37.5% of sex offenders, helplessness in 55%, and horror in 20%. Implications for sex offender treatment programs are discussed.