The Adolescent Sexual Offender and His Prey

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper by Groth was to present an investigation of the juvenile sexual offender and his victim. METHODOLOGY: The author employed a quasi-experimental study design with a non-probability sample of referrals to a forensic mental health facility in Massachusetts during the years 1970 through 1975. During this time, 26 offenders, convicted of rape or child assault, between the ages of 15 and 17 were referred to the Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexually Dangerous Persons for evaluation. Also evaluated at the Center were 37 adults with a history of rape or child assault. The overall sample of 63 was divided into three groups based upon the age of the victim relative to the offender - those whose victims were the same age, those whose victims were significantly older and those whose were significantly younger. Older was defined as an adult victim at least ten years older than the offender, whilst younger was considered as a pre-adolescent victim who was at least five years younger than the subject. Offenders who assaulted same age or older people were considered rapists; those whose victims were younger were labelled as child molesters. Clinical interviews and examination of case material led to the collection of descriptive data about each offender and his victim. Analysis involved examination of frequencies. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: The typical adolescent sexual offender was found to be a white boy of almost 16 years of age, with average intelligence. The attack was generally performed alone, with the victim primarily being a white girl who was a year younger. The author found that the likelihood of the two parties knowing each other was the same as if they were strangers, although the attack was twice as likely to occur indoors than out, and usually in the victim's home. A weapon was present in one-third of the offenses, with drugs or alcohol not playing a major role in the incident. The offender was not a first-time assailant in three-quarters of the cases - 47 of the subjects had a known history of sexual assault. Rapists were older and scored higher on IQ tests than child molesters, with more interracial assaults of strangers and more frequent use of weapons. Child molesters were younger and had more male victims, usually with whom they were acquainted, with less frequent attempts at sexual penetration and little use of alcohol or drugs in relation to the offense. Assaults on older victims were more often interracial, and were more likely to have been committed by black offenders in the victim's home, with more violence and greater use of weapons and alcohol or drugs. Peer-age incidents were more likely to involve gang rape of males who were known to the offender, and were more likely to occur outside. Victim choice and method of assault remained consistent for the subjects over time, with many incidents being unknown to authorities. Adolescent offenders were similar to adult offenders in the sexual expression of anger and power that was involved in the offenses. Adolescent rapists and aggressive child molesters were also similar to adults in psychosocial characteristics, being loners without interpersonal or social skills, who were underachievers and who felt empty and frustrated. The non-aggressive child molester, however, was generally more passive and used psychological and social pressure to induce a child into sexual activity. The author saw sexual assault as a developmental defect in a boy who could not otherwise achieve his image of the masculine male, and who turned to sexual assault as a means of gaining self-identity. AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS: The author suggested that sexual offenses be seen as symptoms of emotional problems, with offenders requiring psychological assessment and security treatment facilities. EVALUATION: The author presents an informative examination of the profile of sexual assault offenders. However, the small sample and the lack of discussion about the measures used to assess such variables as psychological state preclude much generalizability. A more thorough discussion about the implications of the findings would have been helpful, as would have a more detailed examination of the similarities and differences between adolescent and adult offenders - issues concerning what makes juvenile offenders a special problem. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Massachusetts KW - Child Sexual Abuse Offender KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Juvenile Male KW - Male Offender KW - Male Violence KW - Late Adolescence KW - Offender Characteristics KW - Rape Offender KW - Sexual Assault Offender KW - Child Molester KW - Child Abuse Offender KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Offender Typology KW - Violence Against Women Language: en