Juvenile Sex Offenders

1. Juvenile Sex Offenders Presented By Chris Miley M.S.S.A., LSW

2. I can tell who is a child molester just by looking at him. Children are typically molested by a stranger. The typical child molester looks much like your average American male or female. Actually, most children are molested by someone they know. Research shows that 91.8% of child molesters target children they know. Only 8.2% of child molesters targeted strangers. Common Myths About Child Molesters

3. 3. Most child molesters were sexually abused as children. 3. It is estimated that only 30 to 35% of sex offenders were sexually abused (Hanson &Slater, 1989). However, child molesters: Tend to come from unstable families (Saunders & Levene, 1984), report that they were neglected by their parents (Davidson, 1983), report that they were physically abused by their parents (Finkelhor, 1979, 1984). Common Myths About Child Molesters

4. 4. Child molesters who molest boys are gay. 5. Treating Child molesters is a waste of time. 4. This is not true, as the research shows that 80% of molesters with male victims are heterosexual & married. 5. Treatment cuts the recidivism rate by 10 to 30%. While these rates may seem low, treatment helps significantly reduce the number of future victims. Common Myths About Child Molesters

5. 6. Nearly all child molestations are committed by adult offenders. 6. Actually, a significant percentage of sex offenses are committed by adolescents. Based on research findings cited in “The Sex Offender”, 1995: 20 to 30% of rapes 30 to 50% of child molestations were committed by adolescents 47 to 58% of adult sex offenders committed their first offense during adolescence. The number of sex offenses increases 50 times as adolescent sex offenders move into adulthood. Common Myths About Child Molesters

6. Indecent Exposure: When a person shows their private parts (penis, vagina, breasts, or bottom) to another person without consent. It is a more serious crime when a person exposes their private parts to a person under the age of 14. Different Types of Sexual Offenses

7. Obscene Phone Calls/Peeping: In most places it is against the law to call someone on the phone to say sexual things to them without their consent. Peeping or Voyeurism is when a person sneaks a look at another person without their permission, this can occur anywhere, at home, at an office, or a park. Different Types of Sexual Offenses

8. Child Molestation: Child molestation refers to any sexual contact with a child. In most areas, if you are a teenager, it is illegal to have sex with a person if he/she is 2 or more years younger than you are. “Sexual Contact” includes sexual intercourse, touching a child in their private areas, masturbation with them or on them, or asks them to perform these acts on the adult. Even if the child agrees. Different Types of Sexual Offenses

9. Incest: Most states consider it a serious crime to have sexual contact with someone who is closely related to you by blood. This includes both bilogical and half siblings along with step siblings or foster children. Different Types of Sexual Offenses

10. Rape: A sexual act is rape whenever a person has sexual intercourse with someone against that person’s will. It is rape anytime there is force or weapons are used or threatened. THE VICTIM DOES NOT HAVE TO FIGHT BACK FOR IT TO BE RAPE, they only have to say NO. Rape is considered any penetration of any body part (mouth, anis, or vagina) by an object, not just a penis. Sodomy is anal rape. Oral sex is putting your mouth on another person’s private areas. Different Types of Sexual Offenses

11. Communicating with a Minor for Immoral Purposes: The crime may be called different things in different states. You can be charged with this type of crime any time you talk with or show pictures to anyone under the age of 18 if the form of communication is sexual in nature. This includes internet porn as well. Different Types of Sexual Offenses

12. Coercion: This is when a person uses tricks, power, status, threats, bribes, drugs, alcohol, or force to get someone to go along with what you want to do. Coercion is a negative type of manipulation. Different Types of Sexual Offenses

13. When does sexual behavior with a young child become deviant? Generally speaking, whenever there is a 3 year age difference or power difference (such as a significant difference in physical size, social power, or intellectual level) 30% of rapes and over 50% of child molestations…are committed by offenders under the age of 18 (Rehrenback, smith, Monstersky, & Dreiser, 1986) Approximately 5000,000 juveniles commit a “hands-on” sex crime each year (Wermott, M.R., 1996) the average age for Juveniles committing a “hands on” offense for the first time was 10 years (Wieckowski et. Al, 1998). Adolescent Sex Offenders

14. Characteristics of Adolescent Sex Offenders • Most adolescent sex offenders achieve at least average grades • Less than 5% have a major mental illness or psychosis • They span the social spectrum (from gifted athlete to social outcast). • 65% showed no observable personality or behavior problems that set them apart from their peer group. • 30% engaged in other delinquent acts not related to sexual behavior • Median age of young offenders is 14 to 15 • Median age of victims was 7 years old • Over 90% of sex offenses involved a victim the offender knew • Females were 3 times more likely to be the victim • Schwartz & Cellini (1995). The Sex offender: Corrections, Treatment and Legal Practice, Kingston, NJ” Civic Research Institute, Inc.

15. Characteristics of Juvenile Male Offenders • Male offenders who were abuse (compared to offenders who were not): • Started offending at an earlier age • Had more victims • Were more likely to offend against both sexes • Had more interpersonal problems. (Cooper, C.L., Murphy, W.D., & Haynes, M.R. 1996)

16. Characteristics of Juvenile Female Offenders • In one study of female offenders, 78% had themselves been sexually abused. • 60% had been physically abused (Matthews et. Al., 1997) • While adult female offenders often offend with a male co-offender, adolescent female offender usually offend on their own, usually against young female children whom they are babysitting (Fehrenbach & Monstersky 1986)

17. Family History • Adolescent sex offenders reported a more significant history of physical and sexual abuse than non-sex offending adolescents (Hastings, T., Anderson, S.J., & Hemphill, P., 1997) • In a study of 2000 juvenile offenders (Ryan, 1988): • 28% were living with both parents at the time of their offense • 57% had experienced a parental loss • 27% of mothers and 43% of fathers had a substance abuse problem • In a study of 153 juvenile offenders, 64% of all family members studied had been physically or sexually abused as children (Lankester & Meyer, 1988)

18. Do these Adolescents Need Treatment? • YES. • Teens who have committed a sex offense need to receive specialized sex offender treatment. • These teens need to get help now so their sexual deviancy problem will not worsen over time. • We know that most adult sex offenders began to develop their sexual deviancy during childhood or adolescence. • There is also research that suggests that adolescent sex offenders show a fifty-fold increase in their number of sex offenses as they enter adulthood (Abel et al, 1985).

19. What are the Effects of Treatment? • In a study of 58 adolescent offenders, a specialized treatment program that lasted approximately 2 years reduced re-offending behavior by 72% (Worling, J.R., 1999) • In a study of 204 adolescent offenders, only about half remained in a treatment program after a few months. • Reasons for leaving included parental moves, re-offending, and failing to comply with treatment rules (Hunter, J.A., & Figueredo, A.J., 1999) • Juveniles who fail to complete specialized treatment programs are at a high risk to re-offend (Marques, J.K., Day, D.M., Nelson, C., & West, M.A. 1994)

20. Is there treatment for sexual deviancy? Yes, there is specialized counseling to treat sexual deviancy. Specialized treatment has been found to be much more effective than general psychotherapy. When looking for a therapist, it is important to find someone who specializes in treating sexual deviancy. Most counselors have not been trained in this specialty. Treatment

21. What is specialized treatment? Treatment that is based on a cognitive-behavioral, relapse-prevention model. Treatment

22. Treatment • This model focuses on: • Helping the client change his thoughts in order to change his behavioral. People who have a sexual deviancy problem often have distorted thinking that helps them rationalize their deviant sexual behavior. These distorted thoughts also help them deny that they have a problem. Here are some examples of distorted thoughts: • “I’ll just do it this one time.” • “It won’t hurt anybody.” • “She wants me to expose to her.” • “They left the blinds up so they must want people to see them. “

23. Treatment • Continued… • Helping the client learn techniques to control his deviant sexual urges. • For example, helping the client decrease his sexual arousal to deviant behavior. • Helping the client avoid high-risk situations that encourage deviant sexual behavior. • Just as an alcoholic should avoid bars, someone with a sexual deviancy problem should avoid situations that encourage the deviancy. For example, a sex addict should avoid driving on the street where the prostitutes wait. • In treatment, the client learns tools to help control his sexual deviancy. Then, it is up to the client to use these tools to change his behavior. The client must want to change his behavior in order for treatment to work.

24. Treatment • What is the Format of Treatment? • Group therapy is considered to be the most effective form of treatment because: • Group therapy helps those with a sexual deviancy problem see that they are not the only ones who have this type of problem. • Group members can benefit from feedback from their peers. Other group members can help t hem see their denial and distorted thoughts. • Sexual deviancy treatment involves learning psycho-educational material which is best communicated in a group setting.

25. Treatment • We also recommend individual therapy on a weekly basis to supplement group therapy. Individual therapy is good for: • Individualizing treatment to the client's specific needs.’ • Processing issues in greater depth • Building an emotional bond with the therapist. • Addressing unresolved childhood issues. • Making sure the client understands the group material and can apply it to himself.

26. Treatment • What are the goals of treatment? • Treatment is designed to the help the client: • Gain control over his deviant sexual urges and behavior. • Accept full responsibility for his sexual deviancy and its consequences • Recognize distorted thinking and be able to correct these distortions • Identify his deviant cycle and interrupt the cycle when high-risk behaviors begin • Show empathy for those affected by the deviant behavior • Express thoughts and feelings in a healthy manner • Resolve issue from childhood, such as past victimization, trauma, and losses • Increase healthy social interactions with others his age • Control his anger in a healthy way • Develop and follow a plan to avoid high-risk factors.

27. Treatment • Does Treatment Work? • Yes. The research shows that specialized treatment helps reduce the rates of re-offending among convicted sex offenders. Treatment cuts the recidivism rate by 10 to 30%. • There is also research that shows that specialized treatment can successfully treat other sexual deviancies.

28. Treatment Steps • “I understand that my treatment for my sexual behavior problem includes completion of the following: • Admitting I have a problem with sexual aggression. I will be accountable for my sexual behavior and accept personal responsibility for it (“It was my choice and my fault, not anyone else’s.”) Furthermore, since secrecy plays such a large role in offending, I will become honest about all areas of my life with myself, my family and my group. If relevant to me, this will also include admitting other abusive behaviors toward myself, others, or property.

29. Treatment Steps • Understand how and why I offend others. • This includes identifying and dealing with life events and feelings that may have contributed to my choice to victimize others. If relevant, this will also include my own past victimization and/or feelings of powerlessness. I will demonstrate what I have learned in this step by also practicing to have healthy and appropriate relationships in all areas of my life.

30. Treatment Steps 3. Learning about the consequences (or impact) of my offending to others. • When possible, this should include gaining direct knowledge of both short-term and long-term effects of the offending on the victims and their families. As a result of this work, I will learn to feel genuine remorse for those I victimized.

31. Treatment Steps • Making amends for the harm I have caused. • In addition to a genuine and complete apology for my abusive behavior(s), I will also carry out an approved plan of action designed to help repair the harm I have caused to the victim(s) and to the community. This approved plan may include community service and/or monetary donations to specific, approved charitable groups/organizations.

32. Treatment Steps 5. Carrying the message of Recovery and Prevention. • In this step, I will work with my counselors and group to develop a plan to prevent my future offending and other abusive behaviors. Before graduating from group, I will “live” all aspects of my prevention plan for three months, while continuing to attend individual, family, and group sessions as required. By continuing in group, I will provide advice, encouragement, and guidance to others who have a problem with sexual aggression.