NCJ Number
170119
Date Published
1997
Length
40 pages
Annotation
The assessment of adolescents who are accused or convicted sexual abuse or sex offenses in Great Britain is discussed with respect to its purpose, methods, and implications for treatment.
Abstract
The North American approach to the issue of the rights of minors to withhold information is generally more coercive than the European approach, so a tentative approach often has to be used in Great Britain. The most supportable hypothesis about sexually abusive behavior in adolescents is that it is learned. Assessment aims to determine the abnormal, antisocial, and deviant patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior; learning experiences and processes that led to the behavior; the situations involved; the likelihood of repeat behaviors; the youth's motivation to accept help; and information necessary to develop a treatment strategy. Assessment takes time, and treatment often cannot be withheld while assessment is continuing. Parents should usually be present at the initial interview. The assessment should use multiple sources of information and use a multi-agency, eclectic approach. Areas to assess include social competency, anger, low self-esteem, intelligence, locus of control, personality, assertiveness, coping skills, mental health problems, drug use. Areas requiring specialized assessment procedures may include deviant sexual arousal, sexual fantasy, cognitive distortion, victim empathy, and others. The translation of the assessment to treatment requires careful negotiation with the adolescent, family or caregivers, and the referring agency. Figures, checklists, and appended clinical interview protocol