Profile Of The Young Sex Offender

By Tammy Ruggles, BSW, MA

. Seven-year-old Carrie told her mother that her sixteen-year-old cousin, Brent, gave her “a bad touch”. When Carrie’s mother questioned her for more details, Carrie revealed that Brent forced her to have “adult sex” in the family bathroom. Carrie’s mother reported the incident to Social Services and the police. When she took Carrie to a doctor who specializes in sexual abuse examinations, the results showed that penetration had occurred, and Carrie stated it happened on more than one occasion.

. Seventeen-year-old Scotty is in juvenile court today for performing oral sex with his three younger brothers. A Child Protective Services investigation revealed that the abuse had been going on for years, and all the children stated that their father had sexually abused them from the age of two or three. The father was arrested and jailed, the three younger brothers placed in a therapeutic foster home, and Scotty was ordered into a sex offender treatment program for adolescents.

. Ten-year-old Judy begins crying in class. When her teacher asks her what is wrong, Judy says she is afraid to go home with her babysitter, Barbara. After more questioning, Judy relates that Barbara holds her down on the bed, forcibly kisses her, and fondles her without her consent. Judy’s teacher reports this to the school counselor, who in turn reports the incident to Judy’s mother and Social Services. During the Social Services investigation, Judy’s mother minimizes the incident: “It’s just kid stuff. Experimenting. Don’t kids do that when they’re learning about sex?”

Question: Why should we be concerned about young sex offenders?

Answer: Most adult sexual offenders begin offending in adolescence. 

It’s a facet of sexual abuse that is often denied, overlooked, misunderstood, or in some cases, dismissed.

Stastistics:

. Adolescent males commit approximately 20% of the sexual assaults against other adolescents and adults.

. Fifty percent of the sexual assaults against children are committed by sexually aggressive teenagers.

. Behavior thought to be "exploration" or "boys will be boys" is actually criminal behavior that causes devastating fallout for its victims.

. A sexually aggressive teenager who goes without treatment can commit almost 400 sexual crimes during his life. 

. Five percent of youthful sex offenders are female.

. A small number of offenders are under 12.

Profile:

There is a difference between normal, healthy sexual curiosity, and sexual abuse. Normal sexual curiosity--playing “doctor”, “show me yours, I’ll show you mine”, usually takes place between children of the same age group and involves no cajoling, manipulation, bribery, coercion, or force. Normal “sex play” between children isn’t sexual abuse, and by itself shouldn‘t raise suspicion.

Although there is no fixed profile for the youthful sex offender, there are some characteristics common to young perpetrators. One or two characteristics alone in one child or teenager doesn’t constitute a youthful sex offender, but multiple characteristics should raise a red flag:

--The average age of a juvenile sex offender is 14.

--The average age of a juvenile offender’s victim is 6.

--The average number of victims per perpetrator is 7.

--Most offenders come from two-parent homes.

--Has himself been a victim of child sexual abuse.

--Has an alcohol or drug problem.

--May have a history of non-sexual criminal behavior.

--May or may not have a known  or secret history of “sexually acting out” or inappropriately touching others at home, school, or social situations.

--Has depression.

--Performs poorly in academics.

--Lacks a strong bond to family and same-age peer group.

--Uses cajoling, manipulation, bribery, coercion, or force when perpetrating against another child.

--Witnesses domestic violence in the home.

--Often plays with, identifies, or socializes with younger children.

--Possesses poor impulse control and anger management skills.

--Lacks positive and accurate sex education.

--Uses sexual language beyond his or her age level.

--Is preoccupied with the nudity of others and their own, and attempts to undress children and adults.

--Often has a fascination with fire.

--Often has a history of animal cruelty.

--Exhibits abusive behavior at an early age.

--Acts of sexual abuse by a young offender range from fondling to violent rape.

--Can easily persuade, trick, or force a younger child into a sexual act.

--The perpetrator’s victim can be family, friends, neighbors, classmates, casual acquaintances, or total strangers, but are usually a younger relative or friend.

--The victims can be male or female, but are usually female.

--Almost half of adult sex offenders admit that they had deviant sexual fantasies before the age of 18.

--Most juvenile sex offenders perpetrate before the age of 15, and about 25% exhibit behavior that is sexually abusive before the age of 12.

--May or may not have a history of psychiatric and behavior difficulties.

--Sexual abuse carried out by a young person isn’t the same as pedophilia. Pedophilia involves sexual abuse by persons at least 16 against prepubescent children.  

--40% of pedophiles begin perpetrating before the age of 12.

--About half of youthful offenders have had consensual sexual relations before they began to sexually abuse.

Solutions:

Victims of sexual abuse should get all the help that is available to them, and so should sexual offenders, because abuse will not stop unless the treatment of offenders becomes as important as the treatment of their victims.

With proper treatment, the youthful sex offender can understand the abuse cycle, control his impulses, redirect his offending thought processes, and stop his behavior.

It’s a cliché that bears repeating: The victims of today become tomorrow’s perpetrator--without intervention and treatment.

Sex offender treatment programs focus on:

. Acknowledging the offensive behavior.

. Increasing empathy with their victims.

. Impulse control.

. Establishing same-age, positive, appropriate social relationships.

. Family therapy.

. The prevention of recidivism.

The Good News:

Young offenders are easier to treat than adult offenders once they are confronted and admit that they have committed offences, and there are hundreds of facilities equipped to provide adolescent offenders with appropriate treatment.

Info:

For more information on young sex offenders, please contact:

. Center For Sex Offender Management: www.csom.org

. 1-888-PREVENT (1-888-773-8368

. The Safer Society Foundation: 802-247-3132

Association For The Treatment Of Sexual Abusers 503-643-1023