Two Subgroups of Juvenile Sex Offenders

The following table originally appeared in Understanding Juvenile Sexual Offending Behavior: Emerging Research, Treatment Approaches and Management Practices, by the Center for Sex Offender Management. For additional information on juvenile sex offenders, we suggest you visit this source at <http://www.csom.org/pubs/juvbrf10.html>.

Two Subgroups of Juvenile Sex Offenders

Traits	Offend Against Peers or Adults	Offend Against Children
Victims	Predominantly assault females. Assault mostly strangers or acquaintances.	Females victimized at slightly higher rates. Nearly half assault at least one male. Up to 40% of victims are either siblings or relatives.
Offense Patterns	More likely to commit offenses in conjunction with other criminal activity. More likely to commit offenses in public areas.	Reliance on opportunity and guile, particularly when victim is a relative. Trick child by using bribes or threatening loss of relationship.
Social and Criminal History	More likely to have histories of nonsexual criminal offenses. Generally delinquent and conduct-disordered.	Deficits in self-esteem and social competency are common. Often lack skills and attributes necessary for forming and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships.
Behavior Patterns	Display higher levels of aggression and violence. More likely to use weapons and cause injuries to their victims.	Often display signs of depression. Youths with severe personality and/or psychosexual disturbance may display high levels of aggression or violence.

 

Center for Sex Offender Management. (1999). Understanding juvenile sexual offending behavior. Silver Spring, MD: Author. Online at <http://www.csom.org/>. Reprinted with permission.