Incestuous victimization by juvenile sex offenders

Most research and clinical data dealing with child sexual abuse have focused on adult offenders (usually a parent or relative) and their child victims. More recently, however, the data are beginning to show that a sizeable number of these sexual encounters are being committed by juvenile offenders. Thus, parents and members of the helping professions are beginning to see that what had previously been labeled sexual experimentation may be more serious. Using 37 cases drawn from the files of a local Children and Family Service agency that met the study definition of a juvenile sexual offense, data are reported on the following variables: the age difference between the victim and the offender, the relationship between victim and offender, the act involved, the context in which the act occurred, the pattern of the sexual contact, problems the offender exhibited that may have resulted from the sexual encounter, and general demographic data about the offender's family. VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research conducted by Pierce and Pierce was to examine incestuous juvenile sexual offenders. METHODOLOGY: The authors used a quasi-experimental design to do an exploratory study of a purposive sample of 37 juvenile offenders. Juvenile sexual offenders were defined for this study as a child under 18, who engaged in sexual activities, including, fondling, attempted intercourse, vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, oral intercourse, and exposure with a relative or a person who was providing child care, or a person for whom child care was being provided. Protective service workers were provided with this definition and were asked to identify any case record that fit the definition. Data were gathered from reviewing open protective service records. The variables that this study looked at were age difference between victim and offender, how they were socially related, acts involved, context acts occurred in, pattern of sexual contacts, problems offenders were currently exhibiting, and information on offender's family of origin. The authors used descriptive statistics to explore the data. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: Ages of juveniles at the time of the last reported offense ranged from 4-16. While victims ranged in age from 3 years to adult. In 46 percent of the case at least one victim was at least 5 years younger than the offender. Victims that were at least 10 years younger occurred in 13 percent of the cases. 44 percent of the victims were male. Two thirds of the subjects had committed more than one sexual offense. 51 percent of the incidents were fondling which made it the most typical type of abuse. Oral intercourse was the second most common form making up 30 percent of the total incidents. Offenses took place in foster homes 46 percent of the time and in offenders own home 30 percent of the time. 50 percent of offenders engaged in some other form of delinquent behavior and 40 percent had academic problems. Only 3 juveniles had no records of being victims of abuse themselves. Subjects were physically abused in 62 percent of the cases. 43 percent were victims of sexual abuse. 70 percent had been neglected. 45 percent of mothers for whom information was available were described as emotionally ill and 19 percent were substance abusers. AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS: The authors recommend that since most offenders were victims themselves counseling and therapy should be used after the original victimization. This will help children deal with their emotions surrounding their victimization and may prevent them from becoming offenders. The family of the juvenile offender needs to be focused on also. The family needs help in becoming more functional. If the abuse of the offenders by their family could be prevented they will be less likely to offend. Case workers should draw up a summary sheet to record the description of patterns of sexual offenses, date of occurrences, and the disposition. This will enable an easier assessment of data and a more complete understanding of the situation. The authors recommend a balance of punishment and treatment, citing that many offenders are prosecuted without any treatment. (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 - Child Abuse Offender KW - Child Sexual Abuse Offender KW - Incest Offender KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Sexual Assault Offender KW - Sibling Violence Offender KW - Sibling Incest KW - Domestic Violence Offender KW - Child Sexual Abuse Offender KW - Offender Characteristics KW - Offense Characteristics KW - Victim Offender Relations