NCJ Number
124873
Journal
Child and Adolescent Social Work Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1988) Pages: 135-148
Date Published
1988
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A broad overview of the treatment issues for adolescent sexual offenders is provided, along with strategies for addressing these problems.
Abstract
A population of 350 adolescent sexual offenders serving time at the Echo Glen State juvenile corrections facility in Washington State from 1981 to 1986 were studied. Over 80 percent of the offenders chose to victimize children two or more years younger, 10 percent abused peers, about 2 percent victimized adults and 6 percent victimized varied age groups. Treatment of the adolescent sexual offender is a multifaceted process, and one which attempts to influence change in an offender's emotions, cognitions, and behavior. The five major treatment tasks are: (1) breaking through the offender's denial; (2) addressing offenders' own history of victimization and its impact on their present lifestyle; (3) confronting dysfunctional attitudes and values that support sexual victimization; (4) teaching social skills; and, (5) changing deviant arousal patterns. As of February 1986, it is known that approximately 9 percent of sex offenders released from Echo Glen have re-offended sexually while another 8 percent have committed nonsexual offenses. 1 table, 14 references. (Author abstract modified)