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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for juvenile sex offenders
25 results foundAuthor: Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research Title: Research and Practice in Risk Asessment and Management of Children and Young People Engaging in Offending Behaviours: A Literature Review Summary: This study provides an evaluation of the literature on research and practice in relation to the risk assessment and risk management of children and young people engaging in offending behaviors, to be used to inform the Risk Management Authority's future work in these fields. The study incorporates two aspects: a review of national and international literature on the topic, with particular reference to violent offending and sexually harmful behavior, and a review of current practice in reference to the assessment and management of these young people at risk of harm and re-offending in Scotland. Details: Glasgow: Risk Mamangement Authority, 2007. 107p. Source: Year: 2007 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 113632 Keywords: Juvenile OffendersJuvenile Sex OffendersRisk AssessmentRisk ManagementViolent OffendersYoung Offenders |
Author: O'Brien, Wendy Title: Australia's Response to Sexualised or Sexually Abusive Behaviours in Children and Young People Summary: Responding to children and young people with sexualised or sexual offending behaviours presents significant challenges across the allied health, child protection, education and juvenile justice sectors. This report maps the specialised therapeutic services designed to effect positive behavioural change and thus divert young people with sexualised behaviours from the juvenile justice system. Accurate numbers on children with sexualised or sexual offending behaviours are difficult to determine. Recent Australian research cites international data to estimate that sexual abuse by children or young people constitutes between 40 and 90 per cent of sexual offending against children. Even the lower estimate belies the generally held assumption that perpetrators of child sexual assault are adult males. Young people are responsible for a significant proportion of sex offences against children, a fact that continues to go largely unknown. There are several factors contributing to this gap in understanding. These include entrenched ideals about children as inherently innocent, widespread ignorance about developmental sexuality, and the tendency of both young people and parents to deny or minimise incidents when they do occur. In Australia, data on children with sexualised behaviours are not collected uniformly and non-disclosure contributes to what might be large numbers of offences going undetected. Mandatory reporting requirements apply where children display sexualised behaviours and are thought to be at risk of harm. Yet a general lack of knowledge as to what constitutes appropriate behaviour means that many may respond inappropriately to incidents of sexualised behaviours. This context of confusion, denial and non-disclosure creates a hidden population of children that continues to be at risk. Attention to redressing the contexts for non-disclosure is urgently required to ensure that children in need are provided with specialised therapeutic care. Scholars and clinicians agree that the ‘earliest possible intervention’ leads to the best rehabilitative outcomes for the young people involved. Clinical studies indicate that recidivism rates are low where a full program of specialised counselling is completed. Despite these positive findings, there are a number of key challenges to the comprehensive provision of tertiary services to young people who have sexualised behaviours. This report presents qualitative data from interviews with specialised clinicians as well as submissions from service providers in both community and youth justice settings. In mapping the availability of therapeutic services, this report highlights a number of geographic and demographic gaps in service provision, including difficulties with eligibility criteria, referral pathways, funding arrangements and specialised workforce development. The intention of this research is to ascertain what therapeutic services were being delivered to all Australian children, including programs designed to reduce the numbers of Indigenous children before the courts on charges of sexual assault. Details: Canberra: Australian Crime Commission, 2010. 116p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 119458 Keywords: Juvenile Sex OffendersSex Offender TreatmentSexual AbuseSexual Assault |
Author: New South Wales. Parliament. Legislative Council. Standing Committee on Law and Justice Title: Spent Convictions for Juvenile Offenders Summary: This inquiry examined whether convictions for juvenile sex offenses should continue to be excluded from the spent convictions scheme. The inquiry concluded that the evidence does not warrant continuing to treat juvenile sexual offences differently from other juvenile offences for the purposes of the spent convictions scheme. It therefore recomended that juvenile sexual offences be included in the spent convictions scheme provided that they meet certain eligibility criteria. Details: Sydney: The Committee, 2010. 158p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 119550 Keywords: Criminal Records, ExpungementJuvenile Sex OffendersSex Crimes |
Author: Finkelhor, David Title: Juveniles Who Commit Sex Offenses Against Minors Summary: This bulletin presents population-based epidemiological information about the characteristics of juvenile offenders who commit sex offenses against minors. The authors analyze data from the FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System to describe the characteristics of the juvenile sex offender population who have come to the attention of law enforcement. Key findings include: •Juveniles account for more than one-third (36 percent) of those known to police to have committed sex offenses against minors. •Juveniles who commit sex offenses against other children are more likely than adult sex offenders to offend in groups, at schools, and to have more male and younger victims. Findings may support the development of research-based interventions and policies to reduce sexual assault and child molestation as perpetrated by juvenile offenders. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2009. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Juvenile Justice Bulletin, December 2009: Accessed October 29, 2010 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/227763.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/227763.pdf Shelf Number: 120130 Keywords: Juvenile OffendersJuvenile Sex OffendersSex OffensesSexual Assault |
Author: Coen, Anita Saranga Title: Inside the Black Box: A Study of the Residential Treatment Center Program in Colorado Summary: This study increased our understanding of how Colorado’s Residential Treatment Center (RTC) Program functions in several key areas. We analyzed data provided by the Colorado Department of Human Services to analyze the financial aspects of the program and develop a profile of child welfare youth in RTCs. With the help of responding RTCs and counties, we were able to document the types and amount of services offered by RTCs and explore placement decision-making and alternatives to RTCs. We met with caretakers and family members to capture their perspectives on many aspects of the system. This study of Colorado’s RTC Program focused on six main areas of investigation: • What is the political and economic context in which the RTC Program exists? The RTC Program is immersed in a complex system involving numerous stakeholders and intricate funding streams. Political and economic trends at the national, state, and local level are discussed in relation to their impact on the RTC Program. • What are the costs of RTC placements, what are the likely effects of the current reimbursement system, and what other options are available? The state has been working to improve its rate-setting methodology. The current system does not account for population growth and changes in service needs. We anticipate that if rates do not keep up with costs, the response may be a loss of beds available for child welfare youth. We found that there are no apparent cost economies derived from using larger facilities. We suggest the state look initially into developing an incentive system that can be linked to rates and, in the future, linked to outcomes. • Who are RTC clients and how do they differ from clients in other treatment environments? RTC youth have the highest number of emotional/behavioral problems of youth in child welfare placements. They are placed in RTCs primarily because of the caretaker’s inability to cope or their own behavioral problems. Child welfare youth admitted to RTCs have very high levels of mental health problems when compared to youth in other child-serving systems. On average, their level of risk and clinical severity is higher than that of youth admitted to community mental health and, for many characteristics, is close to that of youth admitted to inpatient mental health settings. Our findings highlight important policy issues for youth with serious emotional/behavioral problems who are likely served across multiple human services programs. • What are the characteristics of and services offered by RTCs to children/youth in their care and what constitutes an RTC day? RTCs are extremely diverse and offer a wide variety of services. Within an RTC, however, service delivery does not appear to differ substantively based on the predominant type of presenting problem. RTCs do provide a substantial amount of intensive supervision. Almost a third (31%) of a typical day is spent in school, 13 percent is spent in various types of therapy, and 10 percent is self-structured. This analysis can serve as a foundation for the state’s exploration into developing a standard for the RTC day. • What are the most important factors in RTC placement and what alternatives are most likely to have an affect on RTC utilization? The three most important factors used in determining the need for an RTC placement are (1) the severity of the youth’s mental health needs, (2) the severity of the youth’s acting out behavior, and (3) the likelihood that the youth will improve in an RTC placement. Almost all caseworkers who responded to our survey believed it was important that the selected RTC have specialized care that meets the child’s needs and good transition services. The placement type that most caseworkers said they could have used instead of an RTC was therapeutic foster care. • How should RTC outcomes be measured and what is needed to develop a useful RTC outcomes measurement system? The Division of Child Welfare Services (DCWS) has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to measuring outcomes. The CCAR, the instrument being used by DCWS for youth in RTCs, demonstrated acceptable reliability as well as face and construct validity. Efforts to develop an outcomes measurement system have been seriously hampered by a lack of staff and infrastructure. We also identified other instruments and outcomes systems, some of which are RTC based, rather than state based. Finally, we made recommendations for the steps needed to continue work in this area. Details: Denver, CO: Policy Studies, Inc., 2003. 154p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 29, 2011 at: https://www.policy-studies.com/Portals/0/docs/Publications/Child_Welfare/Inside-the-Black-Box-A-Study-of-the-RTC-Program-in-CO.pdf Year: 2003 Country: United States URL: https://www.policy-studies.com/Portals/0/docs/Publications/Child_Welfare/Inside-the-Black-Box-A-Study-of-the-RTC-Program-in-CO.pdf Shelf Number: 122230 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Welfare (Colorado)Juvenile OffendersJuvenile Sex OffendersResidential Treatment Centers |
Author: Winokur, Kristin Parsons Title: Child on Child Sexual Abuse Needs Assessment - White Paper. Summary: Cases involving children engaged in sexual assaults against other children are of growing concern in Florida. Research indicates that sexual assaults of children under the age of 12 are most commonly committed by adolescents who are 14 years of age (Chaffin, 2008). The sexual victimization of these youths puts them at greater risk for a multitude of anti-social behaviors including sexualized behaviors (Browne & Finkelhor, 1986; Paolucci et al., 2001). Tragic events, such as the Gabriel Myers case involving a 7-year old boy who had previously been sexually assaulted by another child and later ended his own life, underscore the importance of understanding and addressing childhood sexual behavior problems. In addition, results from the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente, involving more than 17,000 study participants, found that childhood maltreatment dramatically increased the risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and several other major illnesses later in life (Dube, Anda, Whitfield, Brown, Felitti, Dong, & Giles, 2005). In an effort to understand and effectively address sexual abuse among children, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has funded a Needs Assessment to examine the breadth and scope of these abuse cases, including an assessment of the factors relating to the context, frequency, impact, treatment, effects and recovery from such abuse. The state of Florida has defined these incidents as child-on-child sexual abuse (COCSA). Various terms are used to refer to the children involved in these incidents including, for example, alleged juvenile sex offenders, sex offenders, abusers, perpetrators, sexually reactive children, children with sexual behavior problems, victims, and alleged victims. In an effort to avoid confusion with legal definitions of sexual offending and given the complex nature of COCSA cases, youth engaging in these activities are referred to here as children with sexual behavior problems (SBP). Children victimized in these cases are referred to here as alleged victims.1 Understanding the children involved in incidents of child-on-child sexual abuse is critical to effective prevention and intervention efforts. However, the causal pathways associated with perpetration and victimization are complex. Some studies have suggested that a pattern of juvenile sexual offending at an early age may serve as a precursor to later victimization and/or offending (Abel et al., 1987; Hunter and Figueredo, 2000; Knight and Prentky, 1993). Others have found that prior peer sexual victimization does not increase the likelihood for later sexual abuse (Maker, Kemmelmeier and Peterson, 2001). For example, a recent examination of a historical official data set found no increased likelihood for adult sexual offending among a cohort of juvenile sex offenders (Zimring et al., 2009). These complex factors can inhibit child welfare and protection efforts in providing appropriate services and establishing state policies that would mitigate current or future incidents of child-on-child sexual abuse. Those efforts may be limited to treating diagnosed risk factors as opposed to the actual underlying causes. The current paper is intended to provide an overview of COCSA cases in the State of Florida. Such abuse can encompass various age-ranges (early childhood, preteen, and teenage years) and legal/official categorizations (juvenile sex offender, child sexual behavior, dependent child, etc.). While teens engaging in child-on-child sexual behaviors and juvenile sex offenders are generally discussed here, the emphasis is on sexual abuse and sexual behavior problems among children under the age of twelve. This group represents the primary child-on-child sexual abuse service population of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Details: Tallahassee, FL: Justice Research Center and Deptartment of Children and Families, 2010. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 15, 2011 at: http://www.thejrc.com/docs/Child%20on%20Child%20Sexual%20Abuse%20Needs%20Assessment%20-%20White%20Paper.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.thejrc.com/docs/Child%20on%20Child%20Sexual%20Abuse%20Needs%20Assessment%20-%20White%20Paper.pdf Shelf Number: 122388 Keywords: Child Sexual Abuse (Florida)Juvenile Sex OffendersSexual Assaults |
Author: Parren, Franny Title: Combatting Youth Sexual Aggression and Victimization in the European Union: Stakeholder Perspectives and Recommendations Summary: Youth sexual aggression and victimization (Y-SAV) is a problem all over Europe. In most countries where data on sexual violence is disaggregated by age, prevalence figures for sexual aggression and victimization in the age group 12-25 years old are higher compared to average fi gures for the overall population. Understanding and preventing youth sexual aggression and victimization is important not only to tackle the existing high prevalence, but also to invest in sexual health and equal relationships for future generations. Sexual aggression is characterised by many grey areas and there are a range of sexual pressures and unwanted sex that do not necessarily fit within the legal frame of sexual violence, but nonetheless require societal action. Particularly in the current context of over-exposure to media images and virtualised socio-sexual interaction, young people need adequate support to develop positive attitudes towards sexuality and gender roles, and to strengthen their sexual interaction competence. This report forms part of the European Y-SAV project (implemented in the period July 2010 - December 2013). Consultations have been conducted in nine EU member states (Ireland, Spain, Lithuania, Greece, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands) and a total of 73 organisations and 20 individual experts participated. The participants identified the main shortfalls and opportunities to address youth sexual aggression and victimization within a variety of areas and provided recommendations to improve responses towards youth sexual aggression and victimization at the EU level and at the level of individual member states. Details: Utrecht, The Netherlands: Rutgers WPF, 2013. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 23, 2013 at: http://ysav.rutgerswpf.org/sites/default/files/ESAP_2013_Online2.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Europe URL: http://ysav.rutgerswpf.org/sites/default/files/ESAP_2013_Online2.pdf Shelf Number: 131662 Keywords: Juvenile OffendersJuvenile Sex OffendersSex OffensesSexual Assault (Europe) Sexual ViolenceVictimization |
Author: Ritter, Amber Title: The Predictive Validity of MACI Derived Clusters for Juvenile Sex Offenders Summary: The Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory scores from 648 juvenile sex offenders aged 12 - 19 (M = 15.88, SD = 1.43) were examined using cluster analysis in order to replicate five personality-based clusters identified in a previous study (Loper 2008). However, only three of the five clusters were able to be replicated in the population. The current cluster analysis identified the following five clusters: the Anxious/Submissive/Passive cluster, the Disorganized Disturbed cluster, the Dysthymic/Shame-Based/Negative Self-Image cluster, the Narcissistic/Delinquent cluster, and the Situational Offender cluster. Significant differences were observed between the clusters regarding history of sexual abuse, history of physical abuse, history of neglect, history of trauma, mental health treatment, previous and current psychotropic medication, the gender of the victim in the index offense, the victim's age relative to the offender's age in the index offense, and the age of the first victim. Cluster membership was unrelated to the perpetrator's relationship with the victim in the index offense, physical intrusiveness involved in the index offense, use of restraints in the index offense, age of the juvenile sex offender, juvenile sex offender's age at first sexual abuse and physical abuse, and the number of victims. The recidivism data were collected from between 1 to 10.5 years (M = 4.55, SD = 2.77). However, no significant differences were found between the Kaplan-Meier survival curve estimates for non-violent, violent, or sexual re-arrest. Details: Auburn, AL: Auburn University, 2013. 131p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 28, 2014 at: http://etd.auburn.edu/bitstream/handle/10415/3820/Dissertation%20Final%202013.pdf?sequence=2 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://etd.auburn.edu/bitstream/handle/10415/3820/Dissertation%20Final%202013.pdf?sequence=2 Shelf Number: 132012 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseJuvenile Sex OffendersRecidivism |
Author: Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission Title: Improving Illinois' Response to Sexual Offenses Committed by Youth: Recommendations for Law, Policy, and Practice Summary: The Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission performed extensive scientific and legal research to understand the complex issues of the behavior, treatment, and rehabilitation of juvenile sex offenders and the extent to which current knowledge has resulted in practical applications throughout the state. The findings from this research shaped the Commission's recommendations, which aim to increase public safety, improve outcomes for young offenders, and allocate scarce public resources effectively. To do this, Illinois should implement evidence-informed policies for professionals who work with victims and youth offenders; provide individualized, community-based, family-focused treatments and services; and repeal counter-productive sex offender registration requirements and categorical restrictions for young people. Details: Chicago: Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, 2014. 150p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2014 at: http://ijjc.illinois.gov/youthsexualoffenses Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://ijjc.illinois.gov/youthsexualoffenses Shelf Number: 132518 Keywords: Juvenile OffendersJuvenile Sex OffendersRehabilitation ProgramsSex Offender TreatmentSexual Abuse |
Author: Rigby, Paul Title: Young People and MAPPA in Scotland Summary: The majority of young people in Scotland involved in offending behaviour are dealt with via the Children's Hearing system, which provides an integrated approach to addressing both welfare needs and offending or criminal deeds. While a small minority who are involved in sexual offending will be processed through the criminal courts and become subject to supervision and monitoring under Scotland's Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), international guidelines and best practice indicate that children (all persons under the age of 18 years) should not be prosecuted in adult court and processed in the same systems as adult offenders. The present research was an exploratory study to provide a baseline for future investigation of the responses across Scotland to children and young people involved in sexual offending and sexually harmful behaviour, and to examine comparative profiles and practices in MAPPA and Child Protection/Children's Hearing arrangements to establish shared principles for effective risk management. The aims were to: - Profile the needs and risks presented by young people subject to MAPPA - Establish a coherent overview of risk management practices and processes - Understand how risks and needs of children and young people under 18, and the protection of the wider community, are managed A multi-methods approach was adopted for the study, and due to the sensitive nature of the work, developed through a staged process of ethical and methodological approval. In conjunction with staff at Scottish Police Services Authority a data collection tool was developed to collate data from the secure Violent and Sex Offender Register (ViSOR) electronic record system. A second tool was also designed to collect data from local authority staff working with young people subject to MAPPA. Nine follow up interviews were also held with social work staff. Mid November 2011 was the agreed date for accessing the data. Details: Edinburgh: Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice, 2014. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 27, 2014 at: http://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Young-people-and-MAPPA-final.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Young-people-and-MAPPA-final.pdf Shelf Number: 133825 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders (Scotland)Juvenile Sex OffendersMulti-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPAYoung Adult Offenders |
Author: Vaswani, Nina Title: Exploring the Effectiveness of Multi-Agency Sexual Harmful Behaviour Risk Assessment Pilot: FIFE and Forth Valley Summary: Around one-third of sexual abuse is perpetrated by children and young people under the age of 18. The behaviour is typically aimed at young children, adolescent peers and - more unusually - adults. The behaviour can cover the full range of contact and non-contact behaviours we typically see in adult sexual offending behaviour. Defining children's sexual behaviour that harms others can be challenging as children and young people are often involved with sexual experimentation and what constitutes typical or developmentally expected behaviour is under defined. It is also often the context of the behaviour and the relationship between participants that informs whether behaviour is healthy, problematic or abusive rather than the behaviour in isolation. The majority of children and young people who display harmful sexual behaviours grow out of these behaviours over time. However, a minority will persist in this behaviour into adulthood without appropriate interventions and some who display "problematic" sexual behaviours may go on to act in more abusive ways without monitoring and support. Some children and young people who display problematic (rather than harmful or abusive) behaviour will require a limited intervention e.g. work with family around boundary setting and some input to the child about healthy sexual relationships. However for some the behaviour may be related to trauma that the child has experienced, and support to help the child make sense of their experiences as well as assistance for the child in developing new coping strategies to handle difficult feelings may be necessary. Thus accurately identifying the level of concern about a young person's behaviour at the earliest possible stage is essential for ensuring that young people receive the appropriate level of intervention, including that young people with a predominantly healthy pattern of behaviour are not drawn unnecessarily into service provision designed for high risk young people. While specialist risk assessment tools are available to develop a detailed understanding of the level of risk presented, many young people will not require this level of assessment. It became clear that Youth Justice lacked a streamlined and effective early screening tool that was accessible by a range of relevant professionals involved in decision-making about young people who have displayed concerning sexual behaviour, but who may not be experts or specialists in this field. To this effect, the Youth Justice National Development Team created a screening matrix, drawing upon the knowledge and evidence-base about sexually harmful behaviour in young people, that was designed for use with all young people aged under 18 displaying concerning sexual behaviour. Application of the screening matrix generates a category of concern about the young person's behaviour, increasing from low concern through to moderate and high concern to guide initial assessment and decision-making. The matrix is accompanied by brief guidance about how to interpret the level of concern, and is designed to be completed by professionals who have some understanding about child behaviour and development but who are not necessarily specialists in child sexual behaviour. The use of the matrix was originally intended to be piloted across the Fife and Forth Valley Community Justice Area between January and July 2013, although in effect the pilot only took place within Forth Valley. The area is coterminous with the Forth Valley Division of Police Scotland and with NHS Forth Valley and has a population in the region of 300,000. The area is geographically diverse, from large urban areas such as Falkirk to rural areas with small populations such as Clackmannanshire. Although the area comprises three Local Authority areas, in the end Stirling Council did not participate, with the result that all cases highlighted arose from either Falkirk or Clackmannanshire. Among all 32 Local Authorities, these areas were ranked 13th and 16th respectively accordingly to highest level of deprivation by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2012. The aim of the pilot was to enhance and standardise the information flow and dialogue between the Police and the SW SPOC in response to an allegation of sexually problematic or harmful behaviour against a young person. The intention was also to increase confidence in early decision-making to allow young people whose behaviour was not of major cause for concern to be diverted to appropriate interventions and processes such as Early and Effective Intervention (EEI), thereby freeing up Social Work time for the highest risk young people who may require specialist assessment and intervention. Details: Glasgow: Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice, 2013. 23p. Source: http://www.cycj.org.uk/resource/exploring-the-effectiveness-of-the-multi-agency-sexual-harmful-behavior-risk-assessment-pilot/. Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cycj.org.uk/resource/exploring-the-effectiveness-of-the-multi-agency-sexual-harmful-behavior-risk-assessment-pilot/ Shelf Number: 136580 Keywords: Juvenile Sex OffendersRisk Assessment |
Author: Belzer, Richard B. Title: The costs and benefits of subjecting juveniles to sex-offender registration and notification Summary: Every state and territory in the United States has registration and notification laws that apply to adults convicted of, and juveniles adjudicated delinquent for, certain sex offenses. Most jurisdictions enacted these laws on their own, but expanded them in response to the Adam Walsh Act of 2006 (AWA). Registration laws require offenders to appear in person to provide identifying information (e.g., fingerprints, DNA samples) and, at least once a year, to provide an updated current photograph. States vary with respect to the kinds of additional information they require, but the list is extensive. An in-person update also is required for any covered change in life circumstances. These include changes in residential, school, work or email addresses, screen names and even blog avatars. The time allowed to complete each update is short. Failure to register or update an existing registration is itself a felony. Offenders may be covered by multiple states, each with its own rules and procedures. Notification laws make some of this information publicly available via the Internet. Registration is calculated to produce about $200 million in social benefits per year. Social costs are calculated to range from $200 million to $2 billion, depending on the proportion of registrants listed due to offenses committed as juveniles. Thus, net benefits are calculated to range from -$40 million to -$1 billion per year, with present-value net benefits that range from -$2 billion to -$20 billion. This result depends on a small number of parameters. First, based on the best available study in the literature, which applies to all sex offenders and not just juveniles, registration is assumed to have reduced sex-offense recidivism by about one-eighth. This translates into an annual reduction of about 800 major sex offenses committed by juveniles. Notification is estimated to produce no social benefits, with social costs per-year that range from $10 billion to $40 billion and present-value costs that range from -$100 billion to -$600 billion. About three-fourths of these costs are borne by sex offenders' neighbors. This occurs because living near a registered sex offender - whether an adult or juvenile - has a substantial "disamenity" value. Costs imposed on juvenile offenders are calculated to range from $400 million to $2 billion per year. Costs on their families are calculated to add another 50 percent to these amounts. Additional costs on third parties are calculated as: $3 billion per year on employers for registry searches; $100-$500 million on employers for adaption and mitigation of employment issues; and $200 million to $1 billion on the public for registry searches. Because notification cannot produce net benefits, the qualitative prospective benefit-cost analysis focuses on ways to reduce the social costs of notification. A number of reform alternatives warrant consideration to reduce the substantial net social costs of notification. These alternatives involve exempting certain fractions of registrants listed due to offenses committed as juveniles. High-quality risk assessment is necessary to minimize false positives Details: Washington, Dc: R. Street Institute, 2015. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: R Street Policy Study No. 41: Accessed October 1, 2015 at: http://www.rstreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/RSTREET41.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.rstreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/RSTREET41.pdf Shelf Number: 136930 Keywords: Juvenile Sex OffendersNotification LawsSex Offender Registration |
Author: U.S. Department of Justice. Office of Justice Programs. Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART) Title: Sex Offender Management Assessment and Planning Initiative Summary: Sex offenders have received considerable attention in recent years from both policymakers and the public. This is due to the profound impact that sex crimes have on victims and the larger community and also due to the increased identification and apprehension of sex offenders. Perpetrators of sex crimes have come to be viewed by policymakers, practitioners, and the public as a unique group of offenders in need of special management practices. As a result, a number of laws and policies focusing specifically on sex offenders have been implemented across the country in recent years, often with extensive public support. There also has been a growing recognition in the criminal justice community that crime control and prevention strategies-including those targeting sex offenders-are far more likely to be effective and cost-beneficial when they are based on scientific evidence about what works. Indeed, crime control policy and program development processes are increasingly being informed by scientific evidence; in addition, many practices in policing, corrections, and other areas have been and continue to be shaped by evidence generated through research. Incentives and mandates for evidence-based programming are now frequently used by funding sources, and the demand for trustworthy, research-generated evidence about what works is rapidly increasing (Przybylski, 2012). Recognizing the important role scientific evidence plays in the development and implementation of effective policies and practices, including those focused on sex offenders, the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and OJP's Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART Office) began to identify and disseminate information from state-of-the-art research on central and emerging issues in sex offender management to inform policy and practice in the field. Since 1996, OJP has worked to promote advances in the field of sex offender management. In the 1980s and 1990s, several high-profile sex crimes led to the enactment of state and federal legislation directed toward tracking and controlling sex offenders. These laws were passed without the benefit of strong research to support particular approaches to managing sex offenders. In response to this flurry of legislative activity and heightened public concern, OJP convened a national summit in 1996 that brought together nearly 200 practitioners, academic researchers, and other experts to discuss the most effective management strategies for this offender population. During the summit, OJP received recommendations about the needs of the field regarding sex offender management training and technical assistance. In response to these recommendations, OJP initiated research projects on sex offender management, developed sex offender-specific grant programs, and supported the Center for Sex Offender Management's training and technical assistance to the field. In the ensuing years, OJP sponsored more than 100 research projects, publications, and training curricula related to sexual assault and sex offender management. Grant programs provided funds to approximately 200 state, local, and tribal jurisdictions to enhance and improve the management of sex offenders in their communities. These jurisdictions have created standards for the treatment and supervision of adults and juveniles, employed sex offender-specific assessment and truth-verification tools, enhanced victim advocacy and support, developed specialized sex offender courts, and improved information sharing and collaboration within and across disciplines and jurisdictions. In 2006, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (AWA) authorized the establishment of the SMART Office-the first federal office devoted solely to sex offender management-related activities. The office is responsible for helping to implement the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (Title I of AWA) and also for providing assistance to criminal justice professionals and the public about the entire spectrum of sex offender management activities needed to ensure public safety. Building on OJP's efforts, the SMART Office began work in 2011 on the Sex Offender Management Assessment and Planning Initiative (SOMAPI), a project designed to assess the state of research and practice in sex offender management and to inform OJP's research and grant-making efforts in this area. As part of this effort, the office gathered information about research and practice in the field and enlisted practitioners to (1) provide details about sex offender management programs and practices that are promising or effective, and (2) identify the needs of the various disciplines involved. The SMART Office contracted with the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) and a team of subject-matter experts to review the scholarly literature on sexual offending and sex offender management and to develop annotated summaries of the research for dissemination to the field. To gain insight into emerging issues, promising practices, and pressing needs in the sex offender management field at the state and local levels, NCJA conducted an informal national inventory of sex offender management professionals in 2011. Finally, the SMART Office hosted the Sex Offender Management Research and Practice Discussion Forum (SOMAPI forum) in February 2012. At this event, national experts-both researchers and practitioners-gathered in the District of Columbia to discuss the research summaries and inventory results in order to further refine what is known about the current state of sex offender management, gaps in research and practice, and the needs of the different disciplines involved in this work. Recommendations from the SOMAPI forum informed this report and will help guide OJP's sex offender management research, policy, and grant-making efforts in the future and provide direction to the field on how best to protect the public from sexual violence. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2014. 189p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2015 at: http://www.smart.gov/SOMAPI/pdfs/SOMAPI_Full%20Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.smart.gov/SOMAPI/pdfs/SOMAPI_Full%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 136967 Keywords: Evidence-Based PracticesJuvenile Sex OffendersSex OffendersSexual ViolenceYouthful Sex Offenders |
Author: Sarver, Christian M. Title: Utah Cost of Crime. Sex Offender Treatment (Juveniles): Technical Report Summary: BLANK} In the United States (U.S.), more than 13,000 juvenile sex offenders participate in court-mandated treatment programs annually (McGrath, Cumming, Burchard, Zeoli, & Ellerby, 2009). Juvenile sex offenders are required to attend treatment for a range of offenses, including lewdness, exhibitionism, sexual assault, sexual abuse of a child, sodomy, and rape. Treatment for juvenile sex offenders commonly falls into four broad categories: psycho-social education; drug therapies, either for the purposes of castration or psychological treatment; cognitive-behavioral (CBT) and relapse prevention therapies; and individual and family counseling (Walker, McGovern, Poey, & Otis, 2004). The majority of programs rely on cognitive behavioral approaches grounded in social learning theories (Center for Sex Offender Management (CSOM), 2006) and last approximately 20 months (Daly, 2008). More than 90% of juvenile programs provide individual therapy; the majority of programs also provide group and family therapy. The most common treatment targets are victim empathy, accepting responsibility for the offense, social skills training, and development of family support networks (McGrath et al., 2009). Increasingly, criminal justice interventions are structured according to the principles of effective correctional services, which matches offenders to treatment based on their risk-level, criminogenic needs, and learning styles (Andrews & Bonta, 2006; Andrews et al., 2001; Bonta, 2001). Hanson's (2009) meta-analysis compared recidivism outcomes between sex offender programs that adhered to the principles of effective treatment (risk-needs-responsivity (RNR)) to those that did not and found that the former were associated with larger reductions in recidivism. This latter finding may shed light on the inconsistencies in sex offender treatment research. According to the RNR model, treatment targets should have an empirically-demonstrated relationship to recidivism; however, two of the three most common treatment targets in juvenile sex offender treatment programs (victim empathy and denial) are not associated with recidivism (CSOM, 2006). In 2009, McGrath et al. found that 13% of community-based juvenile sex offender programs and 20% of residential programs identified the RNR model as one of the "top three theories that best describes the[ir] program." This report details the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis for juvenile sex offenders. Details: Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah, 2012. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2016 at: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/SO-Juvenile-Technical-Report_updateformat.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/SO-Juvenile-Technical-Report_updateformat.pdf Shelf Number: 138956 Keywords: Costs of Criminal JusticeJuvenile Sex OffendersSex Offender Treatment |
Author: Hastings, Allison Title: Partnering with Community Sexual Assault Response Teams: A Guide for Local Community Confinement and Juvenile Detention Facilities Summary: Community-based sexual assault response teams, or SARTs, are considered a best practice for addressing the needs of victims and holding perpetrators accountable. The federal standards for implementing the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) require correctional facilities to develop a coordinated, victim-centered response to sexual assault so that victims in confinement settings - including prisons, jails, lockups, and community confinement and juvenile facilities - get the services and care they need. This guide, also available at PREAguide.org, is designed to assist administrators of local community confinement and juvenile detention facilities with the task of developing coordinated response procedures and partnering with community SARTs. It is based on the experiences and lessons learned from the Sexual Assault Response Teams in Corrections Project, a multi-year pilot program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, that Vera implemented in Johnson County, Kansas. Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2015. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 2, 2016 at: http://www.prearesourcecenter.org/sites/default/files/library/preaguide.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.prearesourcecenter.org/sites/default/files/library/preaguide.pdf Shelf Number: 139948 Keywords: Juvenile DetentionJuvenile Sex OffendersSexual Assault |
Author: Hackett, Simon Title: Exploring the relationship between neglect and harmful sexual behaviours in children and young people: Evidence Scope 3 Summary: This evidence scope explores the potential associations between a background of child neglect and children and young people who display harmful sexual behaviours (HSB). For the purpose of this scope, HSB is defined as: Sexual behaviours expressed by children and young people under the age of 18 years old that are developmentally inappropriate, may be harmful towards self or others and/ or be abusive towards another child, young person or adult. (Hackett, Holmes and Branigan, 2015) This scope is the third of three linked evidence scopes commissioned by Action for Children and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) with Research in Practice. > Scope 1 considers the potential relationship between neglect and child sexual exploitation (CSE) (Hanson, 2016). > Scope 2 explores the relationship between neglect and adult-perpetrated intra-familial child sexual abuse (IFCSA) (Allnock, 2016). So while the first two scopes deal primarily with children and young people as victims of differing types of sexual abuse, this review is specifically concerned with the challenging area of children and young people who harm or victimise others as a consequence of their sexual behaviours. A note of caution is required about this distinction, however. As will be seen in the sections that follow, children and young people who present with harmful sexual behaviours (HSB) are commonly both victimised and victimisers and in many cases their harmful sexual behaviours represent ‘one element of a range of predisposing experiences, underlying vulnerabilities and presenting problems in their lives’ (Hackett, 2014: 11). Therefore, there is considerable overlap between issues associated with HSB and the two other scopes in this series. Readers should also bear in mind that there has been an unfortunate tendency to pathologise and demonise children and young people who present with HSB. In their paper entitled Don’t shoot, we’re your children, Chaffin and Bonner (1998) warn against the punitive, aversive and absolutist tone in which ‘treatment’ beliefs have grown about children and young people with HSB. Collectively then, the three evidence scopes offer an opportunity to see beyond what at times is an arbitrary categorisation of children’s experiences of harm and harming others. They offer an opportunity to investigate the broad question of the sexual abuse of children from three distinct vantage points. Together, they seek to assess the potential associations between these three varying elements of the sexual abuse of children and the wider issue of child neglect. Aims of the evidence scope The overall aim of this scope is to explore the associations that exist between HSB and child neglect. In so doing, it seeks to answer the following questions: > How common is neglect in the backgrounds of children and young people who display HSB? > How strongly is neglect identified as a risk factor for HSB? > Is there evidence that neglect is associated with any particular subtypes of HSB? > What are the potential associations and mechanisms between exposure to neglect and the development of HSB? > To what extent is neglect included in existing explanatory and pathway models regarding the development of HSB? > How well do existing intervention responses proposed for HSB deal with the issue of neglect? In order to answer these questions, this evidence scope is structured in the following way: > Section 2 sets the context for the scope. It considers the range of terminology used in discussion of HSB and makes some important distinctions in order to clarify what we mean by HSB. Crucially, it emphasises the importance of seeing HSB as a continuum of behaviours in childhood and adolescence, encompassing problematic, abusive and violent behaviours. This section also discusses what is meant by ‘neglect’ (discussed in more detail in Scope 2). > Section 3 briefly summarises what is known about children and young people who display HSB, with specific reference to the distinction between those whose HSB is directed towards their peers and those whose behaviours target younger children. > Section 4 examines the available evidence on the maltreatment histories of children and young people with HSB, including specific evidence for the frequency of neglect. It offers some tentative conclusions about the developmental course of HSB and the role of neglect, and outlines a speculative model for understanding the possible direct and indirect ‘pathways’ to HSB. As some forms of HSB have been theorised as part of a spectrum of antisocial and offending behaviour in youth, this section also discusses evidence on the impact of neglect on antisocial behaviour. > Section 5 considers whether particular forms and impacts of neglect may be associated with particular subtypes of HSB. In order to illustrate these potential but complex associations, Section 5 hypothesises a further model depicting multiple routes from exposure to neglect, through distinct impacts, to triggers for HSB. > In Section 6 the scope concludes by considering the extent to which approaches for assessment and intervention with children and young people displaying HSB have addressed issues of neglect. Importantly, it also asks whether neglect may itself be sometimes a consequence of such approaches. Details: Totnes, Devon, UK: Research in Practice, 2016. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 7, 2016 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/neglect-harmful-sexual-behaviours-evidence-scope-3.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/neglect-harmful-sexual-behaviours-evidence-scope-3.pdf Shelf Number: 140333 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Maltreatment Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Exploitation Juvenile Sex Offenders |
Author: Palmer, Donald Title: Final report: The role of organisational culture in child sexual abuse in institutional context Summary: This report analyses the role that organisational culture plays in child sexual abuse in institutional contexts. It specifically considers how organisational culture can affect the perpetration and detection of child sexual abuse and the responses to child sexual abuse in institutional contexts. The report also develops suggestions for addressing child sexual abuse in institutional contexts that are based on its analysis. These suggestions are geared towards reducing the incidence of child sexual abuse, detecting abuse earlier and improving the responses to abuse in institutional contexts. Definitions employed in the analysis The report uses definitions of child sexual abuse and institutional contexts stipulated by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that are broad in scope and largely consistent with definitions found in the literature. Child sexual abuse is defined as 'any act that exposes a child to, or involves a child in, sexual processes beyond his or her understanding or contrary to accepted standards' as well as 'actions deliberately undertaken with the aim of befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child to lower the child’s inhibitions in preparation for sexual activity'. Institutional contexts are defined as 'any public or private body, agency, association, club, institution or other entity or group of entities of any kind' that provides services to children. The report uses a conception of organisational culture specified by the Royal Commission that is based on Palmer (2012). This conception understands culture to consist of content and form. Cultural content includes assumptions (most importantly, presumptions of fact regarding people's attitudes and behaviours), values and beliefs (most importantly, understandings regarding the virtue of alternative ways to think and act) and norms (expectations regarding how people should think and behave). Forms include artefacts and practices that symbolically convey cultural content. Methodology of the analysis The report’s analysis is based on two bodies of theory and research. It builds on a systematic search of literature on the role that culture plays in child sexual abuse in institutional contexts, which included 41 articles and books. It also builds on the author's knowledge of the role that culture plays in misconduct in and by organisations more generally, which is examined in his published and forthcoming works (Greve, Palmer & Pozner, 2010; Palmer, 2012; Palmer, 2013; Palmer & Feldman, 2013; Palmer, Smith-Crow & Greenwood, 2016; Palmer & Moore, 2016; Palmer forthcoming). Details: Sydney: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, 2016. 111p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 8, 2016 at: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/c9d090b0-cc5a-4013-b78e-3591ad50db3d/The-role-of-organisational-culture-in-child-sexual Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/c9d090b0-cc5a-4013-b78e-3591ad50db3d/The-role-of-organisational-culture-in-child-sexual Shelf Number: 144431 Keywords: Child GroomingChild Sexual AbuseJuvenile Sex Offenders |
Author: Sentencing Council for England and Wales Title: Sentencing Children and Young People Overarching Principles and Offence Specific Guidelines for Sexual Offences and Robbery Definitive Guideline Summary: The Sentencing Council issues this definitive guideline in accordance with section 120 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. It applies to all children or young people, who are sentenced on or after 1 June 2017, regardless of the date of the offence. Section 125(1) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 provides that when sentencing offences committed after 6 April 2010: "Every court - (a) must, in sentencing an offender, follow any sentencing guidelines which are relevant to the offender's case, and (b) must, in exercising any other function relating to the sentencing of offenders, follow any sentencing guidelines which are relevant to the exercise of the function, unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so." Guidance for sentencing children and young people set out in the 2006 robbery guideline and the 2007 sexual offences guideline, both produced by the Sentencing Guidelines Council, are replaced by this guideline. Details: London: The Council, 2017. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 29, 2017 at: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Sentencing-Children-and-young-people-Definitive-Guide_FINAL_WEB.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Sentencing-Children-and-young-people-Definitive-Guide_FINAL_WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 145201 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Sex OffendersRobbery Sentencing Guidelines |
Author: Belton, Emma Title: Turn the Page: Manualised Treatment Programme: Final Evaluation Report Summary: Harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) is defined as one or more children engaging in sexual discussions or acts that are inappropriate for their age or stage of development. These can range from using sexually explicit words and phrases to full penetrative sex with other children or adults. (Rich, 2011) - The NSPCC prevalence study found that two-thirds of contact sexual abuse experienced by 0-17-year-olds was committed by peers (Radford et al, 2011). As well as representing a current concern in terms of actual and potential victims, if not addressed, there is a risk that for some young people this behaviour may continue into adulthood. - Young people involved in HSB are diverse in terms of the reasons for their behaviour and the type of HSB they engage in. Many have experienced difficult family circumstances (Vizard et al, 2007) or previous abuse or trauma (Hackett et al, 2013). This in turn can lead to problems with attachment, peer relationships and deficits in self-regulation and inhibitory control (Creeden, 2013). - The treatment of young people with HSB needs to attempt to change a young person's behaviour as well as addressing the reasons they engage in HSB, their family relationships and context (Hackett, 2004). Currently, there is little research evidence on what treatment approaches are effective, and the level, content and quality of service provision varies (Home Office and DH, 2006; Hackett, 2004; NICE, 2015). - As part of the Turn the Page service, the NSPCC has been using the Change for Good manual (McCrory, 2011) to work with young males aged 12-18 years with HSB. The manual has been in use across 12 sites since 2011. It is a strengths-based intervention that addresses the young person's HSB in the context of the social and emotional challenges they are facing. - The programme is delivered over 30 sessions: 26 structured one-to-one sessions and four additional non-manualised flexible sessions used to address individual need. Details: London: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 2017. 52p., technical report. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 29, 2017 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/turn-the-page-manualised-treatment-programme-final-evaluation-report-regular-text-version.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/turn-the-page-manualised-treatment-programme-final-evaluation-report-regular-text-version.pdf Shelf Number: 145202 Keywords: Juvenile Sex OffendersJuvenile Treatment ProgramsSex Offender Treatment |
Author: Belton, Emma Title: Turn the Page: Learning from a Manualised Approach to Treating Harmful Sexual Behaviour Summary: Background - The NSPCC prevalence survey found that two-thirds of contact sexual abuse experienced by 0-17-year-olds was committed by peers (Radford et al, 2011). If not addressed, there is a risk that for some young people the problematic behaviour will continue into adulthood. - There has been little research on what treatment approaches are effective for HSB, and provision is variable in terms of volume, content and quality (DH and Home Office and DH, 2006). - The NSPCC delivers a manualised treatment programme for young males aged 12-18 with HSB. The programme uses the Change for Good manual (McCrory, 2011), a strengths-based intervention that addresses the young person's HSB in the context of the social and emotional challenges they face. - The manual is delivered over 30 sessions: 26 structured one-to-one and four additional flexible sessions, used to address individual needs. The programme has been delivered by NSPCC practitioners at 11 sites across the UK since 2011. Method - A range of standardised measures, matched to the main treatment components of the manual are administered with young people and parents/carers pre and post programme to measure change. Longer-term change will be assessed through three and five-year post-programme reconviction studies. Both these components will be reported on at a later date. - The qualitative evaluation presented in this report focused on the use of the manual in a social care context. A case study approach was used, so where possible, in-depth interviews were held with the young person, their parent or carer, the referrer and the NSPCC practitioners delivering the programme. - It was not always possible to hear all four perspectives on each case but despite this, the final sample was diverse and included 13 different cases and 40 interviewees. - One limitation of the sample is that it does not include directly the perspective of young people who did not complete the programme or found it a negative experience. Findings - Motivation to attend and engage with the programme varied and sometimes changed over time. Young people with intrinsic motivation recognised that their behaviour was problematic and wanted help to move forward with their life. These young people were often determined to stick with the programme even if it was difficult. - External pressure to attend the programme from parents, carers or referrers sometimes encouraged young people to attend and eventually engage; in other cases it resulted in a superficial level of engagement where young people did not take on the messages from the programme. - Programme length influenced motivation in some cases, with young people at times beginning to feel that the programme was taking too long. Practitioners managed this by either truncating the programme so the young person attended for a fixed number of further sessions, or by increasing the frequency or length of sessions to finish the programme more quickly. - Practitioners used a range of creative methods to help engage young people with the programme material. Having the flexibility to adapt the delivery method to each young person and respond to individual needs, was important in helping maintain young people's level of interest. - Young people's level of commitment to the home projects was highly variable. When completed, it sometimes helped reinforce the programme and get young people to think about the work between sessions. However, not all young people completed the home projects and even when completed, the quality was mixed. - Some parents and carers played an important role in reminding young people about the home project and helping them with any queries. However, not all of them felt able to fulfil this role; they were not always aware that a home project had been set or did not know enough about the work undertaken in the session. - Parents and carers helped in supporting young people to attend the programme and in reinforcing the work at home. However, not all parents or carers had come to terms with the young person's HSB or had the capacity to give the support that was needed. Practitioners often filled this gap and worked with parents or carers, but this sometimes presented a challenge in terms of how much time they could spend on this. - Referrers could pick up work with parents or carers, or additional issues young people needed support with that were outside the remit of the programme. However, not all referrers were actively involved in the case while the programme was being delivered, and some had even closed the case. - Outcomes identified for young people included more understanding of what is unacceptable sexual behaviour; the triggers for HSB, and having strategies to manage these. The programme also helped young people to think things through before acting and to become more aware of other people's perspectives. - Young people also became more confident and less withdrawn. Having the time to discuss their background, previous experiences and the role these may have played in getting involved in HSB helped young people to make sense of their lives and feel better about themselves. - The therapeutic relationship between the young person and practitioner was important in helping young people engage in the programme and have these conversations. Often young people did not have anyone else they could talk to or get advice from. The discussions helped clarify things they were unsure about or release emotions they had bottled up. - A number of young people had previous experience of abuse, neglect or changing foster placements. This sometimes made it difficult for them to focus on the sessions or meant that practitioners had to spend additional time supporting them. - Practitioners felt they had followed the manual quite closely and met the objectives for the session, but used more creative methods to deliver the material. Where practitioners had moved away from the manual, this was a result of responding to individual problems faced by young people. - Some young people found it difficult to implement the strategies learnt in the programme when the input from practitioners finished. External support had sometimes been built in through the use of mentors or follow-up appointments to provide continued support. Details: London: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 2017. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 1, 2017 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/evaluation-of-services/turn-the-page-report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/evaluation-of-services/turn-the-page-report.pdf Shelf Number: 145217 Keywords: Juvenile Sex Offenders Juvenile Treatment Programs Sex Offender Treatment |
Author: Shlonsky, Aron Title: Rapid evidence assessment: Current best evidence in the therapeutic treatment of children with problem or harmful sexual behaviours, and children who have sexually offended Summary: Sexually harmful behaviour is not limited to the sexual abuse of children by adults. It includes sexually problematic and harmful behaviour by other children. While the prevalence of sexually harmful behaviour by children is difficult to establish, emerging and ongoing research indicates that it is a significant problem that represents a substantial proportion of sexual harm to children. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse commissioned this evidence review to identify current best evidence about the effectiveness and content of programs and practices, in Australia and internationally, aimed at treating children with problem sexual behaviour (aged under 10), harmful sexual behaviour (aged 10-17), and children who have sexually offended (aged 10-17). This report details the systematic methods used to locate and synthesise the evidence, the results of this process, and their implications for practice and policy in Australia. Details: Sydney: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, 2017. 114p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2017 at: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/de93ff4d-649a-4105-8ed7-b32dd00ad04b/Therapeutic-treatment-of-children-with-problem-or Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/de93ff4d-649a-4105-8ed7-b32dd00ad04b/Therapeutic-treatment-of-children-with-problem-or Shelf Number: 145916 Keywords: Juvenile Sex OffendersSex Offender Treatment ProgramsSex Offenders |
Author: Latchford, Lia Title: Young people who sexually harm peers in groups: A Rapid Evidence Assessment of International Literature Summary: This literature review was conducted by the University of Bedfordshire to develop an evidence base on young people who sexually harm in groups, by synthesising existing literature on group harmful sexual behaviour (HSB), wider group offending and group interventions. Using a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) methodology, the review addresses the following research objectives: Provide a critical overview and synthesis of existing literature on harmful sexual behaviour, group offending and group interventions and what this means for practice Identify the gaps and limitations in existing research on young people who sexually harm peers in groups Consider how existing evidence could be applied and built upon to respond to young people who sexually harm peers in groups The literature was identified, screened, coded, and synthesised to draw out the following key findings: There is a limited evidence-base focused on young people who display harmful sexual behaviour within a group context. The majority of literature is located in the USA and the Netherlands, with fewer studies generated from other parts of Europe Young people who sexually harm in a group context have a mixed profile with a range of individual characteristics and situational contexts that differ between young people Group harmful sexual behaviour, like broader group offending, is found to peak during adolescence and decline into adulthood Peer influence, group pressure and group dynamics impact on young people who sexually harm, and engage in wider offending behaviour, within a group context. Group roles are flexible and may change from one situation to another The literature did not identify existing interventions that work to respond to group harmful sexual behaviour The literature review concludes that there is scope to explore adaptations to Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and interventions such as detached youth work, that work with young people in their own environments, to begin to address group-based harmful sexual behaviour. The review suggests that it may be useful to equip practitioners who already work with young people in a group context, with the skills to respond specifically to group-based harmful sexual behaviour and to appropriately safeguard those affected. Details: Bedfordshire, UK: University of Bedfordshire, International Centre Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking, 2016. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 30, 2018 at: https://contextualsafeguarding.org.uk/assets/documents/IC-literature-review-on-group-HSB.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: https://contextualsafeguarding.org.uk/assets/documents/IC-literature-review-on-group-HSB.pdf Shelf Number: 149619 Keywords: Group OffendingJuvenile Sex OffendersPeer CriminalitySex Offenders Sexual Abuse Sexual Violence |
Author: Hackett, Simon Title: Services for Young People Who Sexually Abuse: A report on mapping and exploring services for young people who have sexually abused others Summary: The overall aim of this study was to investigate recent developments in the UK and Republic of Ireland in services for young people who have demonstrated sexually abusive behaviour, including their organisational, theoretical and policy bases, and to explore the experiences of young people and their families who are receiving such services. Rationale It has been recognised that sexual abuse perpetrated by young people constitutes a significant proportion of all sexual abuse committed in the UK and Republic of Ireland. For example, the most recently available criminal statistics indicate that 17% of all Cautions and convictions for sexual offences in England and Wales in the year 2001 related to young people under the age of 18 (Home Office, 2002). Nevertheless, services designed to respond to such groups of young people are in their relative infancy, with previous research highlighting the problematic nature of their piecemeal development (Masson, 1997 and 1998). There has been little overall sense of the range of services being offered in the UK to different populations of young people with sexually abusive behaviour across both the child welfare and Criminal Justice System. While something of a 'treatment' orthodoxy has developed more broadly in the adult sex offender field (Hackett, 2000), there have been few previous concerted attempts to understand the development and current 'landscape' of services in the adolescent field. In addition, there has been little, if any, published research into the experiences and views of young people and their families who receive such services. There is, therefore, an urgent need for research to fill these gaps in the current knowledge base. In order to meet the overall goal set out above, the current study has gathered data on the nature of service provision, policy and practice relating to young people with sexually abusive and harmful behaviour across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In this way, the current study has sought to form the most comprehensive review of the field undertaken, to date, in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The process After an initial analysis of the available literature, the following five-stage process was used to meet the objectives of the study. First, a survey was undertaken to collect the views and opinions of key experts (n=78) working in the field on the nature of effective intervention or 'treatment' with this group of young people. Using the Delphi method, it was possible to identify levels of consensus about the orientation and principles of this work, its core goals, components and theoretical basis. Second, a further Delphi study, focusing on structural and management issues in this area of practice, was undertaken with managers of services working with young people who have sexually abused (n=65). Third, a comprehensive 'mapping' survey relating to services for young people who have demonstrated sexually abusive behaviour and their families (n=186) was undertaken, collecting data on the nature of each service, its users, practices, policies and procedures. Fourth, an analysis of available policy documents (n=43) on the subject of children and young people who have sexually abused was undertaken. Local area child protection committee (ACPC) procedures and guidance documents, children's services plans, ACPC annual reports, and youth offending team (YOT) protocols were analysed as to their usefulness and comprehensiveness in dealing effectively with this issue. Fifth, a small-scale qualitative study of service-user perspectives (n=23) from a variety of sites across the UK and Northern Ireland collected users' views and opinions about the professional systems which have been involved in their lives in the aftermath of sexually abusive behaviour. The findings from each of these five research elements are reported within separate chapters in this report, together with a fuller description of the methodology used in each case. Details: Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, 2005. 155p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 10, 2018 at: http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/7763/1/Services%20for%20Young%20People%20who%20have%20Sexually%20Abused.pdf Year: 2005 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/7763/1/Services%20for%20Young%20People%20who%20have%20Sexually%20Abused.pdf Shelf Number: 117088 Keywords: Juvenile Sex OffendersSex Offender TreatmentSex Offenders |
Author: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Title: "Is this sexual abuse?" NSPCC helplines report: peer sexual abuse Summary: It's normal for children to demonstrate a range of sexual behaviours as they grow up. But sometimes they may behave in a sexualised way that is inappropriate to their age and stage of development. We call this harmful sexual behaviour, because it's harmful to the children who display it, as well as the people it's directed towards. There are many reasons why children display harmful sexual behaviour, but research shows that exposure to trauma can be a key factor in its development (Hackett, 2016). Harmful sexual behaviour can be displayed towards peers, younger children, older children or adults. It ranges from behaviour that is socially inappropriate to behaviour that is unexpected or impulsive, and behaviour with an element of victimisation or violence. This may include unwanted or inappropriate touching; forcing or coercing someone else to watch or take part in sexualised activity; and sexual violence. Around a third of child sexual abuse is committed by other children and young people (Hackett, 2014). We hear from parents and professionals who are concerned about children displaying sexualised behaviour. In 2016/17, there were 663 contacts to our helpline about this. Many of the adults who got in touch weren't confident about deciding whether sexualised behaviour is 'normal' or harmful, and they weren't sure of the best way to respond. Puberty can be a confusing time and peer relationships naturally change as children grow up. This can mean children also find it difficult to identify which sexual behaviours are appropriate and inappropriate. Those who display harmful sexual behaviour may not recognise that they are doing so. Those who experience harmful sexual behaviour may realise it makes them feel unhappy or unsafe, but they aren't always clear about how to respond. In 2016/17, our Childline service delivered 3,004 counselling sessions to children and young people who were concerned about having been sexually abused by their peers. This might be a friend; boyfriend or girlfriend; ex-partner; or another young person who was under the age of 18, and who isn't related to them. Throughout this report we're calling this type of abuse 'peer sexual abuse'. Peer sexual abuse can take place in a range of locations including at school, at home, at social events and online. According to a BBC Freedom of Information request, the number of police-recorded sexual offences by under-18-year-olds against other under-18-year-olds in England and Wales rose by 71 per cent between 2013/14 (4,603) and 2016/17 (7,866) (BBC, 2017). However, it's likely that peer sexual abuse is underreported. Research carried out by Radford in 2009 found that 1 in 3 children sexually abused by an adult didn't tell anyone at the time, and this figure is even higher for children who have experienced peer sexual abuse (Radford et al, 2011). Some young people tell our Childline counsellors they don't want to speak out, for reasons like: - being worried about getting a friend or partner into trouble - being blackmailed or threatened into keeping things secret - being afraid of being bullied - not being sure they will be believed. They may not fully understand whether they gave consent for sexual activity to take place, feel guilty or think they are somehow to blame - especially if alcohol was involved, or if they were involved in sexting (sharing explicit texts, images or videos). We want to help adults support children who are affected by peer sexual abuse more effectively. It's vital that children and young people who have experienced any form of abuse know it wasn't their fault, and are able to get the right help at the right time. So in this report we're sharing what young people have told Childline about their experiences of peer sexual abuse. We've looked at how peer sexual abuse takes place; the impact this has on young people's lives; and the challenges they face accessing support. We're also highlighting what they say helps them get back on track after experiencing peer sexual abuse, what they're telling us about the support they need, and how we can best prevent peer sexual abuse from happening. Details: London: NSPCC, 2018. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 3, 2018 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/nspcc-helplines-report-peer-sexual-abuse.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/nspcc-helplines-report-peer-sexual-abuse.pdf Shelf Number: 150451 Keywords: Child ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseJuvenile Sex OffendersPeer RelationsPeer Sexual AbuseSextingSexual AbuseSocial Media |
Author: Letourneau, Elizabeth J. Title: Juvenile Registration and Notification Policy Effects: A Multistate Evaluation Project Summary: The goals of this project were to evaluate the impact of juvenile sex offender registration and notification policies on first-time sexual offenses (general deterrence), sexual and violent recidivism offenses (specific deterrence), and juvenile case processing including case dismissals, diversions and plea bargains. The report evaluates the general deterrent effects of six states' juvenile registration policies: Oregon, Maryland, Idaho, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia. In no case was any state's policy associated with a general deterrent effect. Findings related to the remaining goals are not yet available but the researchers continue to pursue the remaining goals of this project. Details: Final report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2018. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 6, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/251494.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/251494.pdf Shelf Number: 150493 Keywords: Juvenile Sex OffendersRecidivism Sex Offender Registration Sex Offenders Sexual Violence |