NCJ Number
156582
Date Published
1991
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This report presents the methodology and findings of a follow-up study of 197 male juvenile sex offenders who participated in offense-specific treatment at any of 10 project sites in 1984, and who were subjects in a previous study of short-term treatment outcomes.
Abstract
Extensive case-level data were collected on each offender during the previous study. These data provided descriptive information on the characteristics of juvenile sex offenders, their offenses, their victims, their involvement in treatment, their prognosis, and their juvenile re-offending behavior during a short follow-up period. The current study used the existing database and supplemented it with new, comprehensive information on subsequent arrests and convictions during an additional 5-year follow-up period. Offense data were collected on both new juvenile and adult arrests and convictions. These data were used to document the recidivism of a sample of juvenile sex offenders and to assess relationships between offender or offense characteristics and subsequent criminal behavior. The study found that 12.2 percent of offenders were arrested for new sex offenses during the follow-up period. Twenty juveniles (10.2 percent) were convicted of new sex offenses. Offenders were far more likely to commit new non-sex offenses. Only 37.1 percent had no new arrests or convictions during the follow-up period. Offenders were most at risk of recidivism during the first year. Those with sexual reoffenses were compared with those who had no such reoffenses. Recommendations pertain to assessment tools and procedures for juvenile sex offenders, treatment evaluation, and continuum of care for juvenile sex offenders. 14 tables and 26 references