NCJ Number
156132
Date Published
1994
Length
141 pages
Annotation
Using data on cases involving young and adult sexual offenders processed through the Canadian criminal justice system, this report provides a detailed statistical profile of the victims of young sexual offenders, and profiles of the offenders themselves.
Abstract
The total sample included 4,562 young and 1,908 adult accused sexual offenders. The findings corroborate the literature that incidents involving significant age difference between the victim and offender, the use of force or power by the offender, a negative impact on the victim, and intrusive or age-inappropriate behavior should not be considered normal and may constitute criminal activity. Most of the victims of child sexual abuse were female, regardless of whether the accused was an adult or a juvenile. Most of the young and adult accused were male, but there were more young female alleged offenders than adult female alleged offenders. A substantial proportion of incidents involved more than one victim. Young offenders were more likely to use physical force, while older offenders tended to use verbal force and enticement against their victims. Cases involving older offenders were more likely to be cleared by the police laying charges. However, conviction rates for those cases that went to trial were higher for young accused than for adult defendants. 6 tables, 7 figures, 2 appendixes, and 76 references