ADOLESCENT SEX OFFENDERS.   Term Paper ID:21664 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Statistics, theories on causes, role of family & social factors, pornography, punishment & treatment.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Statistics, theories on causes, role of family & social factors, pornography, punishment & treatment. Paper Introduction: Interest in the area of sexual abuse and assault has significantly increased over the past two decades. Issues of victimology are now serious clinical and research topics, and one of the results has been the expanding focus on the sex offender. Most of the research on sex offenses has focused on the adult offender, and consequently, juvenile sex offenses have largely remained unexamined. Historically, the public has been caught up in the thinking that sexual delinquency is "Just experimentation," or, "Boys will be boys." As a result, recognition of the need for service and research in juvenile sexual offenses has been much slower to gain the recognition and attention the field requires. However, because youths at risk for sexually assaultive behavior frequently continue such antisocial behavior into adulthood, the necessity for early, Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. Perhaps nonviolent first-time offenders will continue to beeffectively reached in such "half-way houses." A survey of the literature regarding ASOs has shown that much moreresearch is needed into the causes of juvenile sex offenses. The role of deviant sexualarousal in juvenile sexual offending: Etiology, evaluation, andtreatment. Therapy, not punishment, will better rehabilitatethe sexual offender. 3-4). However, opportunitiesto discuss sexuality do not prevail in American culture. 3). Hewarns against putting victims of abuse with perpetrators of abuse. Public outcries against crime in general maythreaten more lenient dispositions. Empirical support has been found for the associationbetween such exposure and "both the likelihood of becoming a perpetratorand the level of severity of psychosexual disturbance" (Hunter & Becker,1994, p. One of the most interesting facts to come out of the discussion ofASOs as presented in the NCPCR report (1985) has to do with Americanculture's schizophrenic attitude with regard to sexual matters. Aswill be seen later, the nature of the crime will determine the type oftreatment facility assigned to the adolescent. Thisappears self-evident, and yet runaways and ungovernables (who most likelyhave suffered abuse) have been housed with ASOs. As for the 74 percent and 23 percent who were affected byerotica and substance use, respectively, perhaps these alternate forms ofarousal may serve as substitutes for more violent outlets. For example, only25 percent of the adolescents reported that they had engaged in physicalcoercion during the commission of the sexual offense, even though referralsources indicated that 61 percent had engaged in physical force.Consequently, as Hunter & Becker (1994) point out, "it is imperative thatattempts be made to obtain victims' statements or referral sourcestatements prior to conducting an assessment with a juvenile" (p. Intheir manual, Treating Adolescent Sex Offenders in the Community, Steen &Monnette (1989) note, "close to 6 percent of convicted adult offendersreport the onset of their deviant sexual arousal prior to the age of 18.Almost none received treatment until they were adults. 138). Manypeople believe that such easy access to such sexually explicit material mayaccount for the increase in sexually related crime, given that juvenilesmay be exposed to this material. The answer is probably "yes,"as long as judges can more leniently impose sentencing on nonviolentadolescent sexual offenders. Most clinicians, including Otey & Ryan in the NCPCR report(1985), do agree that sexual deviancy is a learned behavior (p. Adolescent Sex Offenders:Issues in Research and Treatment: A Research Monograph from NCPCR,National Center for the Prevention and Control of Rape. Thefamilial factors already discussed are part of the learned behavior, butthe question arises of how these and other factors interrelate andculminate in sexual aggression. Investigators should be mindful ofthe significance of the research on adult offenders; however, the sameinvestigators must concurrently avoid the tendency to adopt adult models ofsexual offense in assessing and treating adolescents. Studies of juvenile sexual offending behavior are virtually unanimousin identifying the family as a crucial influence in the development orelicitation of the offending behavior. 167). On the onehand, the popular culture is replete with images of graphic sex andviolence, and sexual materials are readily available, yet sexual mattersare not openly discussed. (1989). 131). Within the pastdecade, there has been a tremendous increase in the availability of highlyexplicit material, especially with the introduction of adult videos. M., & Ryan, G. As Freeman-Longo states, "If an adolescent has adocumented history or even a strongly suspected one of sexually abusingothers, we must begin to push for separate and specialized housing andtreatment" (NCPCR, 1985, p. However, the overriding causes of juvenilesexual delinquency are found within the family--most antisocial behaviorshave their roots in dysfunctional family settings. However, as Steen & Monnette (1989)point out, their community-based manual is geared toward earlyintervention. The research monograph from the NCPCR(1985) points out that juvenile sexual offending behavior often reflectsthe early stages of an ongoing pattern of sexual offense into adulthood (p.164). Most people, particularly males, are reticent todiscuss intimate feelings (outside of a monogamous relationship), and forthe sexual deviate, the same especially holds true. Becker & Stein (1991) investigated the number of sexual offenders whouse sexual erotica, the types of sexually explicit materials most oftenused, and the relationship between the use of erotica, use of alcoholand/or drugs, history of victimization, and the number of victims peroffender (cited in Hunter & Becker, 1994, p. Treating Adolescent Sex Offenders inthe Community. Historically, the public has been caught upin the thinking that sexual delinquency is "Just experimentation," or,"Boys will be boys." As a result, recognition of the need for service andresearch in juvenile sexual offenses has been much slower to gain therecognition and attention the field requires. 137). & Monnette, B. (1985). In their study of deviant sexual arousalin juvenile sexual offending, Hunter & Becker (1994) report that a surveyof the literature turned up only one study evaluating the frequency ofjuveniles' use of sexual erotica (or the effect that sexual erotica mayhave on juveniles) (p. 7). If, as Freeman-Longo maintains, the treatment population in aresidential facility is mixed, the result can be more sexual abuse. It is clearthat the earlier the adolescent can be reached therapeutically, the betterhis chances for reform. In fact, afterprolonged use, the marijuana smoker and the heavy cocaine user frequentlyexperience diminished sexual drive. In theirmonograph for the NCPCR, Otey & Ryan (1985) assert, "Although researchersfind more and more links between pornography, violence, and the media(i.e., T.V.), there is no universal agreement that these are causativefactors in sexually deviant behavior" (p. That should tell ussomething" (p. (1994). Hunter & Becker's (1994) survey of the literature on ASOs does notyield a clear theoretical model with which to explain adolescent sexualdelinquency. Without a clear understanding of what American society deems asacceptable, and within a frame of reference which could be regarded as"warped" by their own family experiences, many offenders are blindlypursuing urges unfettered by societal restraints. Therefore,community-based residential facilities should be available to theadolescent sex offender if our aim as a society is to reform, rather thanto punish. It is interesting to note that pornography and substance use hadeither no effect, or a diminishing effect, on a percentage of theoffenders. 142). D., ed. Criminal Justice and Behavior: An International Journal, 21,132-149.Otey, E. Thomas.----------------------- 11 A host of studies outlined in the NCPCR report (1985) point to anetiology of home and family factors. Research from generaljuvenile delinquency may well be considered in building a model for thejuvenile sexual offender. Statistics cited in the NCPCR report (1985) demonstrate theimportance of services for, and further research on, juvenile sexoffenders. . 14 ). It has not been the role of the public educationalsystem to approach sex education, largely because the public doesn't wantit. 138). Adolescent sexual offenders "underestimate" the percentage of theirown violent acts, either consciously or unconsciously. An accurate number of adolescent sex offenses is not available,although various sources show that adolescent males account for a range of21 to 3 percent of rape, according to a 1979 National Crime Survey and theUniform Crime Report of 198 (National Center for the Prevention andControl of Rape, 1985, p. As America's "War on Crime" continues into the 199 s, it is likelythat more and more ASOs will be tried as adults. 164). Smith (1988) found that more serious sexual offenses werecommitted by juvenile sex offenders who had another sex offender in theextended family and who had experienced physical and sexual abuse and theabuse of another family member (cited in Hunter & Becker, 1994, p. If they go to prison,rather than residential treatment facilities, these offenders will havelessened chances of therapy, and their outlook is bleak. Rockville: U.S.Dept. Community factors, such as bad neighborhoods, bad company, and gangscontribute to delinquent, or antisocial behavior. 13 ). Bythe 198 s, several states had developed adolescent sex offender programs inboth inpatient and outpatient settings. As the NCPCR (1985)study confirms, "a five-year study of children who exhibited antisocialbehavior (i.e., lying, truancy, and stealing) showed that an increase inthe number of antisocial behaviors correlated with parental rejection ofthe child" (p. 146). Clearly, studies aimed at identifying and treatingjuvenile sex offenders are indicated. Likewise, although 23 percent of the offendersreported that substance use increased their arousal, "no statisticallysignificant relationship was found between drug usage and number, age, orsex of victim" (Becker & Stein, 1991, cited in Hunter & Becker, 1994, p.138). As Freeman-Longo also maintains, "We findan increasing number of ASOs going through a judicial revolving door, onlyto be tried as adults for a violent sexual offense or returning to thejustice system as adults for committing numerous sex offenses" (NCPCR,1985, p. Steen & Monnette (1989) have written a manual on treatment foradolescent sex offenders in the community. Steen & Monnette (1989) report thatmost adolescent sex offenders come from dysfunctional family settings andhave themselves been sexually, physically, or emotionally abused."Therefore, their sexual acting-out behavior is a deviant way of copingwith their environment which, if untreated, becomes a chronic cycle ofsexual aggression" (p. Even with such efforts, theseprograms have only begun to scratch the surface of the treatment problem.As Freeman-Longo notes, "As is true of [adult] programs, neither enoughprograms nor beds are available . In their section on pornography, violence, and the media, Otey & Ryan(1985) anticipate a stronger link between erotica, violence, and popularculture than that expressed by Hunter & Becker (1994), yet they aretentative about pronouncing a cause and effect relationship. Springfield: Charles C. At such a community-basedfacility, various forms of group and individual therapies provide acontinuum of care. However, because youths atrisk for sexually assaultive behavior frequently continue such antisocialbehavior into adulthood, the necessity for early, effective clinicalintervention and research cannot be overstated. Issues of victimology are now seriousclinical and research topics, and one of the results has been the expandingfocus on the sex offender. They state, "there does not yet appear to be compellingevidence to support any particular theoretical model of deviant arousal andinterest acquisition, including conditioning and social learning theory"(p. 139). 133). In addition, evidence of escalation from nonviolent sex crime duringadolescence to serious sexual offenses also exists (Longo & McFadin, 1981,cited in NCPCR, 1985, p. ReferencesHunter, J. . Interest in the area of sexual abuse and assault has significantlyincreased over the past two decades. While the sexual revolution is touted as having made America asexually permissive society, many offenders do not feel they havepermission to be completely open and honest in talking about theirsexuality, especially if there are deviant components. In the NCPCR report (1985), Freeman-Longo notes an alarming trend:"If one were to trace the case types in the juvenile justice system, itwould become apparent that juveniles are entering the system in increasingnumbers for committing sexual offenses" (p. The publiceducational system is infantile in its avoidance of all sexual matters.Even the more mechanical aspects of sex (such as condom use) are approachedtentatively, if at all. As O'Brien pointsout in the NCPCR study (1985), "with respect to deficiencies in sexeducation, which ["unmentionable" sexual topics] are prominent among ASOs?"(p. Hunter & Becker (1994) cite Ryan's 1987 research theorizing thatexposure to aggressive and violent models (i.e., older youths or adult rolemodels) during childhood increases the risk of a youth becoming sexuallyassaultive (p. They emphasize that whileintensive treatment in a residential facility is probably most effective,it is a poor choice for the lower-risk (nonviolent) offender for threereasons: (1) The cost of a residential facility can be prohibitive; (2)The adolescent's displacement may have a stigmatizing and disruptiveeffect; and (3) the adolescent may not effectively transfer learning to theoutside home and school environments (pp. 139).Fagan & Wexler (1988) found that "juvenile sex offenders were more likelythan other violent juvenile offenders (nonsex perpetrators) to come fromfamilies with spousal violence, child abuse, and child sexual molestation"(cited in Hunter & Becker, 1994, p. As for erotica, it may serve as asurrogate for a far less socially acceptable outcome. Will such community-based facilities gain more of afoothold with the increasing number of ASOs? 139). Retrospective, self-report studies of convicted adult sexoffenders (Groth et al., 1981) indicate that nearly 5 percent committedtheir first offense during adolescence (cited in NCPCR, 1985, p. This is the best argumentagainst a mixed environment, and the strongest argument for offense-specific residences. Unfortunately, America is more concerned with building moreprisons than with establishing more adolescent treatment facilities. Although 74 percent ofthe adolescent sex offenders reported that the erotica increased theirarousal, there was no correlation between use of erotica and number ofsexual abuse victims. Communities have been tempted to blame pornography and substanceabuse on the rise of adolescent sex offenses (ASOs). V. 164). of Health and Human Services.Steen, C. Most of the research on sex offenses hasfocused on the adult offender, and consequently, juvenile sex offenses havelargely remained unexamined. The judicial system doesnothing to reform such youths. 139). The following list (NCPCR, 1985)illustrates several "ranges of causes": (1) increased family trauma, tofailure of the family to provide adequate emotional support; (2) confusedfamily relations, including unwitting parental participation in the offenseor seductive maternal behavior, to abuse by parents; (3) abuse by familymembers, to scapegoating within the family (p. The majority have from 8 to 2 spaces and a long waiting list" (NCPCR, 1985, p. Workers in the field of juvenilesexual delinquency suggest a variety of mechanisms ranging from the minimal(lack of emotional support) to the maximal (sexual abuse perpetrated byparents, relatives, or siblings). 142). America's war on crime should not sacrifice the goodthat can come out of early intervention programs aimed at curbing juvenileoffenders before they become adult sex offenders. A., & Becker, J. 164). Programs that currently treatadolescent sex offenders are, in many cases, just part of a larger facilitytreating juvenile offenders of all kinds. 167). 138). If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.