Sexual Offense Adjudication and Sexual Recidivism among Juvenile Offenders

This study compares the recidivism patterns of a cohort of 249 juvenile sexual offenders and 1,780 non-sexual offending delinquents who were released from secured custody over a two and one half year period. The prevalence of sex offenders with new sexual offense charges during the 5 year follow-up period was 6.8%, compared to 5.7% for the non-sexual offenders, a non-significant difference. Juvenile sex offenders were nearly ten times more likely to have been charged with a nonsexual offense than a sexual offense. Eighty-five percent of the new sexual offenses in the follow-up period were accounted for by the non-sex offending delinquents. None of the 54 homicides (including three sexual homicides) was committed by a juvenile sex offender. The implications of the results for recent public policy trends that impose restrictions that are triggered by a sexual offense adjudication are discussed.     

Individual beliefs, attitudes, and victimization histories of male juvenile sexual offenders

This study examined the individual beliefs and attitudes (e.g., sexuality, aggression, criminality) and victimization histories of 100 male youths who were divided equally into four demographically similar groups: (a) sexual offenders in residential placement, (b) sexual offenders in outpatient treatment, (c) nonsexual offenders in residential placement, and (d) nonsexual offenders in outpatient treatment. Based on youths' reports on the Multidimensional Assessment of Sex and Aggression and the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory, results showed that juvenile sexual offenders in residential placement had the most negative sexual and aggressive attitudes. There were also other noted differences between the two groups of sexual offenders as well as between youths with histories of sexual offenses and juvenile offenders with no such histories. The implications of these findings for research, theory, treatment, and risk assessment are discussed.     

Juvenile female sexual offenders: Clinical characteristics and treatment issues

The phenomenon of juvenile female sexual offending was explored through the study of 67 youths who had been referred for either community-based or residential treatment following a documented history of sexual perpetration. These youths were compared to a group of 70 juvenile male sexual offenders across three parameters: developmental and psychiatric characteristics, history of maltreatment, and sexual perpetration characteristics. Relative to the juvenile males, the histories of the studied females reflected even more extensive and pervasive childhood maltreatment, with many of the youths exposed to the modeling of interpersonal aggression by females as well as males. The majority of these juvenile female sexual offenders demonstrated repetitive patterns of sexual offending with multiple victims, suggesting psychosexual disturbances equivalent in severity to the comparison group of males. The authors discuss typological impressions of this clinical population and their special treatment needs.     

Reliability and discriminative utility of the Adolescent Cognitions Scale for juvenile sexual offenders

Studies were conducted on the reliability and discriminative utility of the Adolescent Cognitions Scale for juvenile sexual offenders. Results indicate that the scale had only marginal reliability from test to retest conditions, and did not discriminate between groups of juvenile sexual offenders and youth without a history of sexual perpetration. The authors offer hypotheses for the obtained results, and suggest avenues for further research concerning the development of this instrument.     

Offense History and Recidivism in Three Victim-age-based Groups of Juvenile Sex Offenders

This study compared subgroups of juvenile sex offenders (JSOs) who victimized children (child offenders), peers (peer offenders), or both children and peers (mixed offenders) on sexual and nonsexual offense history, treatment outcomes, and recidivism to determine if these are distinct and valid subgroups. Though the group of mixed offenders was small, results showed that they exhibited a more diverse and more physically intrusive sexual offense history than the other JSOs and were less likely to successfully complete treatment. Sexual and nonsexual recidivism rates of mixed offenders did not differ from the other subgroups despite subgroup differences in juvenile sexual and nonsexual criminal records. However, differences in sexual recidivism rates of child versus peer offenders were found when the mixed offenders were either excluded from the sample or combined with child offenders. The results highlight the need to include mixed offenders in future research examining the etiology of sexual offending, treatment, and recidivism of JSOs.     

Brain density and symmetry in pedophilic and sexually aggressive offenders

Brain area and optical density were computed for each hemisphere and for 4 sections within the hemispheres at the level of the temporal horns for 18 pedophiles, 12 incest offenders, 34 sexually aggressive offenders of adult females and 12 nonviolent nonsex offender controls. Brain length and width was also computed, using the pineal gland as reference. From the width measures, an index of brain symmetry was computed. Results showed that the brains of sex offenders were relatively smaller in the left hemisphere compared to controls, but there were no significant group differences in optical density. There were no subgroup differences in brain area but the segments corresponding to the left frontal and temporal areas were smaller in sex offenders than controls. There were no significant differences in brain length but sex offenders had smaller widths in both hemispheres than controls. Analysis of symmetry showed that 66.7% of pedophiles and 53.1% of sexual aggressives had asymmetric brains compared to 8.3% of incest offenders and 20.0% of controls. Pedophiles showed smaller left hemispheres than right whereas sexual aggressives were equally split between left and right asymmetry. These results support earlier findings of temporal horn dilatation in pedophiles and sexual aggressives.     

Characteristics of abused and nonabused adolescent sexual offenders

The current study was designed to provide further information on characteristics of adolescent sexual offenders who have and have not experienced abuse. The subjects were approximately 300 adolescent offenders seen in a clinical treatment program. Abused and nonabused adolescent offenders were compared on a number of offense-specific variables and standardized instruments including the MMPI, Interpersonal Behavior Survey, Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scale, and Self-Reported Delinquent Behavior Checklist. Results indicated that those offenders who were sexually abused had an earlier onset of their offending, had more victims, were likely to abuse both males and females, and tended to show more psychopathology and interpersonal problems, although no differences were found in terms of self-reported delinquent behavior of family functioning. The data are discussed in terms of their possible etiological significance and clinical implications.     

What treatment do sex offenders want?

Eighty-seven sex offenders being assessed pretrial and presentence or posttrial for probation/parole were administered a questionnaire inquiring about desire for treatment, acceptable types of treatment and the nature of any problems, as perceived by the offenders. Three groups were examined: sexual aggressors against adult females, incest perpetrators, and pedophilic offenders. In spite of their legal circumstances, only 49.4% of the sex offenders wanted treatment. The preferred therapies were individual psychotherapy, social skills training and group therapy. The most frequently used therapy for sex offenders, namely, aversion conditioning, was among the least acceptable, along with castration, sex drive reducing drug therapy, and, paradoxically, group therapy. Male therapists were preferred more than twice as often as female therapists. Sex offenders saw interpersonal relations and lack of social skills as their major problems. Many were concerned about coping with the sequelae of their crimes. Less than two in five considered their anomalous sexual behavior to be a problem for them. Results suggest that there is considerable disparity between therapists' application of treatment and the offenders' perceptions of their own needs. Improving congruence between therapist and offender-patient goals may enhance treatment compliance and therapy success for sex offenders generally.     

Predictors of Recidivism in Australian Juvenile Sex Offenders: Implications for Treatment

Juvenile sex offenders charged with their first sexual offence were compared with recidivist juvenile sex offenders who had been charged with more than one sexual offence on a number of factors related to sexual offending. Participants were 70 male juvenile sex offenders, aged 13–21 years who were awaiting court disposition. Negative family history, negative family characteristics, school and learning problems, social skill deficits, deviant sexual experiences, deviant sexual fantasies, and cognitive distortions were assessed for their direct and mediating roles in recidivism. Path analysis indicated that poor social skills, learning problems, and deviant sexual experiences were causally related to recidivism of sexual offending. Poor social skills were directly related to recidivism, whereas cognitive distortions and deviant sexual fantasies mediated the role of learning problems and deviant sexual experiences. There was a significant association between deviant sexual experience and learning problems. The findings support the role of cognitive distortions and deviant sexual fantasies in recidivist sexual offending for this sample. The causal role identified for poor social skills and learning problems in recidivism for sexual offending has implications for treatment and therefore deserves further attention.     

Personality characteristics of adolescent sexual offenders: A pilot study

This study compared the personality characteristics of adolescent sexual offenders by examining the extent, if any, to which personality differences exist between adolescents who offend against their peers and adolescents who offend against young children. The sample consisted of 36 adolescent offenders (16 peer offenders and 20 child offenders) committed to Virginia's Department of Youth and Family Services. Subjects were administered the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) and compared on six of its subscales. The results suggest that adolescent child offenders are more schizoid, dependent, and avoidant than adolescent peer offenders. Such results may be helpful in designing treatment programs for these subtypes of adolescent sexual offenders.     

How sex offenders lure children

Fifty-two incest and 50 pedophilic offenders, under sentence, were interviewed with respect to verbal and non-verbal strategies used to sexually seduce children. All sex offenders had received in-hospital treatment for six months to one year and were mostly non-defensive about various forms of enticement, exploitation or entrapment, including threats of harm, used to elicit eroticized responses from female children. A sizable number of incest (61%) and pedophilic offenders (58%) confided they felt powerful and in control. One third of men in each group relied on some element of gratuitous violence (e.g., pushing, grabbing, shoving or spanking) to force compliance from unwilling children. Forty-eight (94%) incestuous and thirty-seven (74%) pedophilic men either pretended, or believed, the child enjoyed sexual activity with them. Most sex offenders exhibited stereotypic thinking about sex with children. All incest offenders and nearly half of the pedophiles assaulted children in their own home. The findings point to the slow, but deliberate, grooming process used by men who erotically prefer children as sex partners over mature adults. Owing to their vulnerability, all children should be taught safety rules in the context of early sex education that promotes self-disclosure of any inappropriate sexual contact by a stranger, family member or trusted caregiver.     

Diabetes in sex offenders

Thirteen diabetic male sex offenders were compared to 13 nondiabetic sex offenders matched on age, education and offense type. A standard battery of tests administered in the assessment of sex offenders was used to compare the two groups. The tests examine sexual history and preference, substance abuse, violence, personality, and neuropsychological impairment. Results showed that diabetics more often than controls complained of impotence and were nonresponders during phallometric testing. Diabetics, as adults, tended to have less sexual experience with adults and more with pubescent females. The two groups did not differ in number of sexual or nonsexual offenses. The diabetics reported more problems controlling their emotions and more often than controls presented in assessment with inappropriate and/or aggressive behavior and poor cooperation. MMPI results showed diabetics to have more overall clinical disturbance than controls including anxiety, health concerns, family problems, authority problems, criminality, confused thinking and ruminating. Diabetics and controls did not differ in reported frequency of violent behavior but the diabetics responded more extremely, given the circumstances. Diabetics tended to show more violence to their own children. The role of diabetes in the relapse cycle model of offending is discussed.     

Alcohol and drug abuse among sexual and nonsexual offenders: relationship to intimacy deficits and coping strategy

Three groups of subjects (N = 95) consisting or rapists, child molesters, and a comparison group of violent offenders were examined with reference to history of alcohol abuse, history of drug abuse, intimacy deficits, and emotionally based coping strategies. No differences were found between the two groups of sex offenders on any of the measures examined. Sex offenders were found to be significantly older than the comparison group. When age was entered as a covariate sex offenders were found to have significantly more difficulties with alcohol use as measured by the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) and were significantly more likely to use emotionally based coping strategies as measured by the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). No differences were found between any of the groups with reference to drug abuse as measured by the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST). Results are discussed in terms of Marshall's theory of intimacy deficits in sexual offenders.     

Juvenile Sex Offenders: Toward the Development of a Typology

Adolescent males who sexually offended against prepubescent children were contrasted with those who targeted pubescent and postpubescent females. As hypothesized, path analyses revealed that the former group had greater deficits in psychosocial functioning, used less aggression in their sexual offending, and were more likely to offend against relatives. Theorized relationships between developmental risk factors, personality mediators, and sexual and nonsexual offense characteristics were assessed in both groups of juvenile sex offenders. Deficits in psychosocial functioning were found to mediate the influence of childhood exposure to violence against females on adolescent perpetration of sexual and nonsexual offenses. Additional univariate analyses were conducted to further explore some associations among early risk factors, personality mediators, and outcomes. Childhood physical abuse by a father or stepfather and exposure to violence against females were found to be associated with higher levels of comorbid anxiety and depression. Noncoercive childhood sexual victimization by a male nonrelative was found to be associated with sexual offending against a male child. Clinical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed.     

Factor Structure and Validation of the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol (J-SOAP)

The Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol (J-SOAP) was first developed in 1994 in response to the need for a structured method of assessing risk of recidivism among juvenile sexual offenders (R. A. Prentky, B. Harris, K. Frizzell, & S. Righthand, 2000). Over the ensuing years the scale has been subjected to a series of studies that have sought to examine its psychometric properties and its validity. The current paper reports on results from three of these studies, one of which looks at the factor structure of the items. The other two studies examine concurrent validity by looking at J-SOAP Scales 1 and 2 in relation to the Level of Service Inventory—Youth Version with: Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) (R. D. Hoge & D. A. Andrews, 1996) and other selected variables and discriminant validity by looking at the ability of J-SOAP scales to differentiate between juvenile sex offenders in the community and juvenile sex offenders in residential placement. The revision of the scale is discussed based on the research that has developed the scale and the research that has employed it.     

Developmental Antecedents of Sexual Coercion in Juvenile Sexual Offenders

Previous research has linked adult sex offending behavior to a multiplicity of variables, including juvenile delinquency and the experience of childhood abuse. The purpose of this study was to explore developmental pathways among childhood abuse, juvenile delinquency, and personality dimensions possibly conducive to adolescent sexual coercion. Using a retrospective self-report inventory, we measured the extent to which juvenile sexual offenders experienced childhood trauma, engaged in adolescent delinquency, and exhibited particular dispositions and cognitive biases. The effects of childhood and adolescent antecedents on sexual coerciveness were then analyzed through simultaneous multiple regression path analyses. Results suggest that sexual compulsivity and hypermasculinity, through misogynistic fantasy behavior, significantly discriminate verbally and physically coercive juvenile offenders from those offenders who do not report using force in their offenses. Results also suggest that alcohol abuse may play a more salient role in the expression of coercive juvenile sexual coercion than previously hypothesized.     

Sexual offenders’ perceptions of their intimate relationships

Recent theoretical and empirical research suggests that sexual offenders have intimacy skill deficits that may play a significant role in the etiology and maintenance of their dysfunctional sexual behavior. Sexual offenders have frequently been described as loners or as having few, superficial, and unsatisfying relationships. The purpose of the present study was to identify the perceptions of intimate relationships of sexual offenders and two criminal comparison groups. The participants in this study included child molesters (55), rapists (30), violent nonsexual offenders (32), and nonviolent, nonsexual offenders (30), violent nonsexual offenders (32), and nonviolent, nonsexual offenders (30). The participants were interviewed and a set of categories was developed from these data using a grounded theory analysis. In the second part of the study these categories were used to identify differences in the perceptions of adult romantic relationships between sexual offenders and the comparison groups. Relationship commitment, evaluation of the partner, self-disclosure, trust, expression of affection, sexual satisfaction, the giving and receiving of support, empathy, conflict resolution, autonomy, and sensitivity to rejection all emerged as significant aspects of sexual offenders' perceptions of their intimate relationships. Our findings also suggest that sexual offenders have a number of intimacy deficits that create difficulties in their romantic relationships. These deficits are to a large extent shared by the violent offenders and, therefore, are not specific to sexual offenders. They represent a general vulnerability factor leading to the development of a variety of offenses and life problems. The theoretical, research, and clinical implications of our findings are discussed.     

Prediction of sexual or violent recidivism among sexual offenders: A comparison of prediction instruments

This paper reviews some of the literature on the prediction of violent or sexual recidivism among released sex offenders. Several prediction tools are examined. They are:Statistical Index of General Recidivism Scale, The Level of Supervision Inventory, The Risk Checklist for Child Molesters, The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised, andThe Statistical Prediction of Violent Recidivism Instrument. It is concluded that it may be possible to obtain reasonably accurate predictions of sexual or violent re-offence among released violent sexual offenders usingThe Psychopathy Checklist-Revised andThe Statistical Prediction of Violent Recidivism Instrument. However, the applicability of these instruments to specific populations of sex offenders is yet to be demonstrated. Survival curves or expectancy tables are needed to adjust the predictions for shorter periods of time than are considered in the follow-up studies on which the tools have been based, and to resolve apparent discrepancies across studies. General observations are made about the factors which are predictive of re-offence when the offence type of the offender is controlled. Cautions are raised about the underestimation by acturial prediction of the true rate of re-offence and of the degree of harm which may be inflicted by sexual sadists or sexual murderers.