Demographic and Parental Characteristics of Youthful Sexual Offenders

Abstract

This study, employing meta-analysis, investigates 20 years (1973-1993) of empirical data involving demographic and parental correlates of youthful sexual offenders. Three offender subtypes, pedophilic, sexual assault, and mixed offense youth, are identified. Pedophilic youth are described as being principally Caucasian, living in foster care, and having an education of < sixth grade. They tend to be from lower to mid socioeconomic status (SES) maladaptive families. Mothers of these youth have been physically abused as children, and fathers abuse drugs. Sexual assault youth come from low-to mid-SES, single parent, dysfunctional families with fathers abusing alcohol. These youth are most often Caucasian. Mixed offense offenders are predominately from lower SES families, are Caucasian, Protestant, and have <? high school education. Families are dysfunctional with paternal substance abuse. Fathers report being neglected as children, whereas mothers indicate physical abuse.

Adolescent Sexual Offenders: A Total Survey of Referrals To Social Services in Sweden and Subgroup Characteristics

“…However, in agreement with Hunter et al (2000) and Hendriks and Bijleveld (2004), we found that majority ethnicity was somewhat overrepresented among ASOs with child victims and underrepresented among ASOs with adolescent/adult victims. This is in contrast with Graves et al (1996) Child ASOs were more likely to have male victims than peer ASOs. This finding confirmed results previously presented by Hunter et al (2000) and Hendriks and Bijleveld (2004).…”

“…Finally, Graves, Openshaw, Ascione, and Ericksen (1996) reported on a systematic review of the published ASO literature from 1973 to 1993. They identified child offenders, peer offenders, and "mixed" offenders as the three most clearly distinguishable offender categories in clinical samples.…”

Profiles of the parents of adolescent CSA perpetrators attending a voluntary outpatient treatment programme in Ireland

“…With respect to demographic characteristics, the finding that rates of single-parent homes were the same for the families of adolescent CSA perpetrators and both normal and clinical control is not consistent with findings from other studies where higher rates of single parent homes were found among adolescent CSA perpetrators (Kaplan et al, 1990;Graves et al, 1996;O'Reilly et al, 1998;Hsu and Starzynski, 1990;Browne and Falshaw, 1998;Manocha and Mezey, 1998;Gray et al, 1999). It is, however, consistent with Bagley's (1992) results where it was found that the majority of his sample of adolescent sexual offenders came from intact families.…”

Psychological profiles of sexually abusive adolescents in Ireland

“…The heterogeneity of the target group profiled in this study may have concealed important differences between different subgroups of sexually abusive adolescents. For example, Graves, Openshaw, Ascoine and Ericksen (1996) in a meta-analysis identified three distinct subgroups of adolescent offenders: the paedophilic offender, the sexual assault offender, and the mixed-offence offender. They found that paedophilic and sexually assaultive youths came from families in which the structure was judged to be chaotic-rigid, or disengaged-enmeshed.…”

“…For example, they show more behaviour problems than normal controls but not incarcerated controls; they have difficulties with making and maintaining friendships and establishing empathy with others; they have problems with impulse control, anger management and assertiveness; and they come from families characterized by a variety of problems (Graves, Openshaw, Ascoine, & Ericksen, 1996;Hastings, Anderson, & Hemphill, 1997;James & O'Neil, 1996;Monto, Zgourides, & Harris, 1998;Monto, Zgourides , Harris, & Wilson, 1994;Vizard, Monck, & Misch, 1995). Despite the burgeoning international literature in this area, few studies have been conducted on Irish adolescent sexual abusers (Carr, 1999a(Carr, ,1999bO'Reilly & Carr, 1998) and non-adjudicated abusers.…”