Evidence-based treatments for juvenile sexual offenders: review and recommendations

Pages223-236
Date12 October 2015
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-01-2015-0155
Published date12 October 2015
AuthorAlex R. Dopp,Charles M. Borduin,Cynthia E. Brown
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Aggression, conflict & peace
Evidence-based treatments for juvenile
sexual offenders: review and
recommendations
Alex R. Dopp, Charles M. Borduin and Cynthia E. Brown
Alex R. Dopp is Doctoral
Student, Dr Charles M. Borduin
is Professor and Cynthia E.
Brown is Doctoral Student,
all at the Department of
Psychological Sciences,
University of Missouri,
Columbia, Missouri, USA.
Abstract
Purpose Effective treatments for juvenile sexual offenders are needed to reduce the societal impact
of sexual crimes. The purpose of this paper is to review the empirical literature on treatments for this
clinical population.
Design/methodology/approach The authors searched PsycInfo and MEDLINE (via PubMed) for studies
that evaluated outcomes of treatments with juvenile sexual offenders.
Findings There are a small but growing number of treatment studies (n¼10) with juvenile sexual offenders,
and all of these studies evaluated cognitive-behavioral therapy or multisystemic therapy for problem sexual
behaviors. The results of these studies are promising, although conclusions about treatment effectiveness
have been frequently limited by methodological problems.
Originality/value The authors provide recommendations for treatment providers and policymakers
to consider in their decisions about interventions for juvenile sexual offenders. Furthermore, the authors
offer suggestions for researchers who seek to develop effective interventions targeting this clinical
population.
Keywords Literature review, Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Evidence-based treatment,
Family systems therapy, Juvenile sexual offenders, Multisystemic therapy
Paper type Literature review
Youths under the age of 18 years account for approximately 17 percent of all arrests for sexual
crimes, not including prostitution (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2014). This arrest statistic is
particularly concerning when one considers that the ratio of self-reported to adjudicated sexual
crimes by juveniles is approximately 12:1 (Lee et al., 2012). Furthermore, there is evidence that
many juvenile sexual offenders continue to be rearrested into adulthood for sexual (Hagan et al.,
2001) and nonsexual offenses (McCann and Lussier, 2008; Vandiver, 2006) and that up to half of
all adult sexual offenders commit their first sexual offense during childhood or adolescence
(Veneziano and Veneziano, 2002; Zolondek et al., 2001). Thus, the development of effective
treatment approaches for juveniles who sexually offend should be a priority for researchers
and clinicians, given the potential public welfare benefits of preventing further criminality among
these youths.
Unfortunately, current public policies that attempt to manage juvenile sexual offendersrisk of
future offending are often based on longstanding, erroneous assumptions about these youths.
Indeed, research has shown that juvenile sexual offenders commit fewer crimes and are more
responsive to treatment than is generally assumed (Chaffin, 2008) and have many of the same
risk factors and developmental trajectories as juvenile nonsexual offenders (Ronis and Borduin,
2013). Nevertheless, federal and state policies have increasingly emphasized aggressive and
Received 26 January 2015
Revised 27 May 2015
Accepted 13 June 2015
The second author is a board
member of MST Associates, the
organization that provides training
in MST for youths with problem
sexual behaviors.
DOI 10.1108/JACPR-01-2015-0155 VOL. 7 NO. 4 2015, pp. 223-236, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1759-6599
j
JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, CONFLICT AND PEACE RESEARCH
j
PAG E 22 3

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT