An Exploration of Racial Differences in Deviant Sexual Interests Among Male Adolescent Sexual Offenders

Abstract

In many research studies and findings from federal statistics, oneof the few areas wherein African Americans are less overre-presented in incarcerated settings is for male juvenile sexualassault. In this study, using a large sample the authors hypothe-sized that perhaps this was due to less deviant sexual interestamong these youth (as reported in prior studies) after controllingfor relevant variables that might explain differences in deviantarousal between Caucasian and African American youth. Theresult supported this hypothesis. The authors offered discussion,implications, and suggested individually and culturally basedtreatment for male adolescent sexual offenders.

Effects of Racial Discrimination, Childhood Trauma, and Trauma Symptoms on Juvenile Delinquency in African American Incarcerated Youth

“…For example, although the high proportion of racial minorities in a neighborhood is correlated with juvenile delinquency, the significance of this correlation diminishes once socioeconomic status is taken into account (Martin et al, 2011). There is, however, a concern that racial discrimination in the criminal justice system might impact the number of arrests and the severity of sentencing (Burton & Ginsberg, 2012;Gabbidon & Greene, 2013;KempfLeonard, 2007;Wu, Cernkovich, & Dunn, 1997). For example, police tend to patrol poor neighborhoods, where many minority youth reside, more often (Gabbidon & Greene, 2013).…”

“…There have been many political and social events, including the election of Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States, between the time when the data were collected and the time of this research. However, the racial disproportionality in incarceration persists (Burton & Ginsberg, 2012), and there is no specific evidence that racial discrimination has decreased. Another limitation in terms of the sample is the geographical specificity.…”

“…Moreover, this disproportionality in the juvenile justice system has not decreased (Burton & Ginsberg, 2012) despite efforts to decrease disproportionate minority contact such as the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974(Kempf-Leonard, 2007.…”

“…African American youth account for 57.4% of arrests for manslaughter and 67.8% of arrests for robbery (Burton & Ginsberg, 2012) although they make up only 15% of the total U.S. adolescent population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). They are also overrepresented in nonviolent crimes such as property offenses (40.8%) and drug offenses (31.8%; Puzzanchera, Adams, & Kang, 2012).…”

Biopsychosocial characteristics of sex offenders: An analysis of legal proceedings

“…The study by Schaaf et al (2016) argues that given the ethno-racial diversity of the sexually aggressive population and the scarcity of available research on ethnicity and sexual aggression, it is imperative to assess whether this characteristic is present among sex offenders. However, few studies, such as those by Burton and Ginsberg (2012) and Wiederman, Manyard, and Fretz (1996), have examined ethnic and racial characteristics among sex offenders. An example was the study by Kirk (1975) who found that white sex offenders against children/adolescents tend to engage in more deviant behaviors than black sex offenders against children/adolescents.…”