Male Juveniles with Sexual Behavior Problems: Are There Differences Among Racial Groups?

Abstract

This study used archival data on a sample of 186,492 referrals from a southwestern state Juvenile Probation Commission to compare the characteristics of 5,439 male Black, Hispanic, and White juveniles with sexual behavior problems on the five most common sexual offenses in the data set. The characteristics of 181,053 juveniles of the three races without sexual behavior problems were also compared on the basis of the seven most common nonsexual offenses. The bases of comparison were the seven variables: reported incidence of sexual offenses, the primary caregivers or living arrangements, age, suspected sexual abuse, suspected emotional abuse, suspected physical abuse, and special education status, on which racial differences were found. Prevention and treatment implications of findings are discussed.

Disproportionate Minority Contact

“…In a study conducted by Davis and Leitenberg (1987), African American JSOs were charged with forcible rape more frequently (58% of total rape charges) than European Americans (42% of rape charges). However, in another more localized study, European Americans emerged as the racial/ethnic group most likely to commit aggravated sexual assault, while African Americans were the racial/ethnic group most likely to commit crimes of indecency or sexual exposure (Ikomi, Rodney, & McCoy, 2009). Such racial/ethnic group findings imply potential differences in violent forms of sexual offending.…”

“…Second, we examined whether SORN tier classification, offense characteristics (i.e., offense type, victim age), and offender J-SOAP-II scores differed by racial/ethnic group among JSOs. Findings from empirical studies indicate African American JSOs are more likely to commit violent sexual offenses (e.g., rape, sexual assault), and that J-SOAP-II scores are comparable across racial/ethnic groups (Ikomi, Rodney, & McCoy, 2009). Therefore, we hypothesized that (a) SORN tiers would be higher among African American participants relative to European American participants, (b) our African American JSO participants would have more violent sexual offenses than European American JSOs, and (c) J-SOAP-II scores would not differ between racial/ethnic groups.…”

Treatment for Juveniles Who Sexually Offend in a Southwestern State

“…The respondents came from 23 counties that had a vast number of juvenile offenders based on Ikomi, Rodney, and McCoy (2009) as well as treatment providers. Sixty or more sex offenders in a single county were considered a large population, and the presence of sex offenders in such numbers was considered an indication that treatment providers would be available in those counties.…”

Simulated judicial decision‐making for African and European American adolescents with illegal sexual behavior: The impact of medical data and victim race/ethnicity

“…Thus, examining how medical evidence interacts with other salient predictors of outcomes in child sexual abuse cases, such as the racial/ethnic identities of victims and defendants, is warranted. possible differences in the age of onset of puberty or sexual behavior among Black and White Americans (e.g., Ikomi, Rodney, & McCoy, 2009). One such stereotype is that Black Americans are more sexually promiscuous and deviant than White Americans (e.g., Davis & Tucker-Brown, 2013), which may implicitly lead jurors to view Black survivors of sexual abuse as less believable than White survivors (Bottoms et al, 2004).…”

“…Racial stereotypes partly account for the differential treatment of Black and White defendants and victims. Some stereotypes about Black persons involve precociousness, particularly with sexual behavior, which may stem from possible differences in the age of onset of puberty or sexual behavior among Black and White Americans (e.g., Ikomi, Rodney, & McCoy, ). One such stereotype is that Black Americans are more sexually promiscuous and deviant than White Americans (e.g., Davis & Tucker‐Brown, ), which may implicitly lead jurors to view Black survivors of sexual abuse as less believable than White survivors (Bottoms et al, ).…”