NCJ Number
244794
Date Published
March 2009
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This issue brief addresses the problem of managing juvenile sex offenders.
Abstract
This issue brief from the International Association of Chiefs of Police addresses the problem of managing juvenile sex offenders and preventing future offenses. As noted in the brief, juvenile sex offenders commit up to one-fifth of rapes and one-half of all cases of child molestation every year. These offenders pose unique challenges not only to the juvenile justice system but to law enforcement as well. This article briefly discusses the challenges posed by juvenile sex offenders and highlights two programs that have proven to be effective at addressing juvenile sex offending. These two programs are the Juvenile Sex Offender Program in Prince William County, VA, and the Sex Offender Accountability Program in Lafourche Parish, LA. The programs use information sharing and collaboration with other agencies to manage juvenile sex offenders and promote public safety. This multi-agency approach aims to promote offender accountability, reduce crime, and prevent future victims; encourage agencies to pool resources and delegate responsibilities to the agency most capable; enhance supervision and case management services; improve formal and informal intelligence gathering, information sharing, and expertise on the juvenile sex offender population; and increase capacity for developing solutions to relevant problems. The brief also examines the impact that State and Federal laws governing the management of sex offenders in general and juvenile sex offenders in particular have had on the role of law enforcement in dealing with these offenders.