Juvenile Sex Offenders (From Handbook of Psychiatric Practice in the Juvenile Court, P 105-109, 1992, Jane Edgerton, ed. -- See NCJ-133533)

• NCJ Number: 133544
• Author(s): K M Quinn
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: American Psychiatric Assoc
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The individual assessment of an alleged juvenile sex offender should include a full evaluation of the sexual behavior and fantasy life and a detailed psychiatric evaluation, usually based on several interviews and an understanding of current research about juvenile sex offenders.

Abstract

Among recent findings regarding these youths are their frequent denial of any offense and their involvement in approximately 20 percent of all rapes and 30 percent of all child sexual abuse cases. The full psychiatric evaluation should include a psychometric assessment of the youth's intelligence and cognitive abilities, the personality structure, and pre-existing conditions such as learning disabilities. Issues requiring consideration also include the socialization pattern, role reversals and other family patterns, and situations that trigger the sexual assaults. The court should be informed of low-risk and high-risk factors for reoffending. However, the youth must not prematurely be labeled a perpetrator, because some actions are not primarily sexual. 8 references