Citation

Caldwell MF. Child Maltreat. 2002; 7(4): 291-302.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

States have increasingly subject juvenile sexual offenders tosex offender registration and commitment under sexual predatorlaws in recent years. These statutes assume that sexualoffenders present a sustained risk to recommit sexually violentcrimes over an extended time period. Implicit in this assumptionis that criminal sexual behavior is a product ofsome form of stable trait or condition that continues to pushthe juvenile toward sexually violent behaviors as they getolder. This article examines these assumptions in light of theavailable research on the stability of sexually offending behaviorin juveniles. The difficulties attendant to applyingadult offender risk assessment models to juvenile sexual offendersare addressed. The available evidence indicates thatthe development and persistence of sexually criminal behavioris poorly understood, making the prediction of sustainedsexual offending in juveniles that is required by some sexualpredator statutes a particularly difficult task. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Child Maltreatment, 2002. Copyright © 2002 by SAGE Publications)

Juvenile Offender
Juvenile Violence
Sexual Assault Offender
Offender Recidivism
Reoffense Likelihood
08-03