NCJ Number
248075
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 38 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2014 Pages: 1249-1258
Date Published
July 2014
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study explored the differences between the sex-plus and the sex-only categorization method for distinguishing between different types of adolescent sex offenders.
Abstract
This study on the differences between the sex-plus and the sex-only categorization method for distinguishing between different types of adolescent sex offenders (ASOs) found that sex-plus offenders were determined to be more antisocial, exhibit more psychiatric issues, and have greater deficits in general social skills when compared to sex-only offenders. In addition, the study found that sex-only offenders had more atypical sexual interests and were more likely to have greater deficits in romantic relationships compared to sex-plus offenders. The study also found little support for the use of classification scheme in distinguishing between early-onset ASOs and late-onset ASOs. The aim of this study was twofold: to assess the validity of the categorization method used for distinguishing between sex-plus ASOs and sex-only ASOs, and to compare early-onset and late-onset sex-plus offenders. Data for the study were obtained from archival analysis of clinical files from a sample of 158 male ASOs seen for clinical assessment at a Metropolitan Family Court Clinic between 1988 and 2010. Analysis of the study's findings suggest that sex-plus offenders and sex-only offenders may actually have different etiological pathways, with sex-plus offenders being driven more by general antisocial factors and sex-plus offenders being driven more by special factors, such as atypical sexual interests and difficulty with romantic relationships. Study limitations and directions for future research are discussed. Tables and references