Juvenile Sex Offenders: Characteristics, Assessment, and Treatment By: Dr. Brad Hedges Dr. Brad Hedges Mid-Ohio Psychological Services Mid-Ohio Psychological Services 624 East Main Street 624 East Main Street Lancaster, Ohio Lancaster, Ohio (740) (740)

Introductions  Name  Position  Experience with Perpetrators/Victims  One Unique Term for Sexual Anatomy

Goals  Normal/abnormal sexual behavior  Dynamics of sexual offenders  Uniqueness of various offender populations  Multi-system needs  What is good assessment?  Treatment options

Agenda  Theoretical Normal vs. Abnormal Sexuality Normal vs. Abnormal Sexuality Developmental Sexuality Developmental Sexuality Why do they do it? Why do they do it?  Practical Disclosure/initiation Disclosure/initiation Assessment Assessment Intervention Intervention Case closure/reunification Case closure/reunification

Sex Ed Test

Why are we here? Why are we here?  Reduce victimization  Help youth “normalize” sexual behavior

Story

What is “abnormal” sexual behavior?  Statistical norm?  Community standard?  DSM IV?  Personal value?  Legal Definition?

Exercise: What is “normal” sexual behavior?  What is the developmental task of this age group?  What is the normal overt sexual behavior for this age?  What do they do in secret?

What is Normal Sexual Development?

What is Normal Sexual Development? (cont.)

Culpability  Mental Culpability  Physical Culpability  Sexual Culpability

Culpability  Mental Culpability Intelligence Intelligence Developmental Status Developmental Status Moral Development Moral Development Amount of planning/grooming used Amount of planning/grooming used Previous condemnation for behavior Previous condemnation for behavior Absence of inhibitors Absence of inhibitors Adapted from Jan Hindman

Culpability (cont.)  Physical Culpability Size Difference Size Difference Amount of Force/Coercion Used Amount of Force/Coercion Used Number of Contacts Number of Contacts  Sexual Culpability Sexual Knowledge Sexual Knowledge Personal Victimization Personal Victimization Sexual Behavior Experience Sexual Behavior Experience Variety of Sexual Behavior With “Contact” Variety of Sexual Behavior With “Contact” Adapted from Jan Hindman

Evaluating the Sexual Behavior of Children  Read each case as a group  Apply concept of culpability  Review range of sexual behavior  Decide if Normative/Concern/Abusive

Who are offenders?  Are they Male/Female?  Are they Young or Old?  What is their IQ?  Are they Rich/Poor?  Are they from certain cultural groups?

The Sexual Abuse Cycle

Etiology of Sexual Deviancy Biological Issues Personality Characteristics Developmental Issues Environmental Issues ABUSE Preconditions © 1991 Bradley A. Hedges Hormonal Imbalances Brain Structure Problems Appearance Issues Traumatic Events Family of Origin Structure Deviation from “Normal Sexual Development” Aggression Socialization Addiction Life Stressors Substance Abuse Rejection Other Motivation for Abuse Internal Inhibitors Access to Victims Overcome Victim Resistance

Circumplex Model Chaotic Rigid EnmeshedDisengaged David Olson, Candyce Russell, Douglas Sprenkle, 1979

Other Family Dynamic Issues  Intergenerational issues  Communication patterns  Conflicting parental roles  Emotional deprivation  Abuse of power

The Paradigm Shift  Who is the client  What is the goal of intervention  Personal values  Limits of confidentiality

Meagan’s Law  Now applies to both adults and kids  Requires various levels of notification for Sexual Predators, Habitual Sexual Offenders, and Sexually Oriented Offenders  Big Problems! No clear criteria No clear criteria Decreases conviction rates Decreases conviction rates False sense of security: People identified who are not a risk, fail to identify people who are a risk False sense of security: People identified who are not a risk, fail to identify people who are a risk

Guiding Ethical Concepts  Non-malfeasance  Beneficence  Autonomy/least restrictive environment

Case Planning Phases  Disclosure/panic phase  Assessment phase  Intervention phase Client treatment Client treatment Placement/supervision Placement/supervision  Closure phase

Exercise  What is the task to be accomplished in each phase?  What emotions must be managed in each phase?  What are the overt/covert needs in each phase?  What resources are needed in each phase?

Disclosure Phase  Gather as much information as possible  Stabilize the situation

“Sexually abusive youth should always be removed from the home when the victim is in the family unit, at least during the assessment phase of intervention.” (The Revised Report for the National Task Force on Juvenile Sexual Offending, 1993 of the National Adolescent Perpetrator Network, p.18)

Assessment  Performed by competent evaluator  Culturally sensitive  Comprehensive/ongoing  Must include collateral information  Must be offense specific

Goal of Assessment  Identify factors contributing to offence Environmental factors Environmental factors Familial factors Familial factors Individual factors Individual factors  Assess risk for further acting out  Provide recommendations for intervention

Risk Assessment  Clinical Assessment Based on clinical experience and describes the interaction of dynamic factors Based on clinical experience and describes the interaction of dynamic factors  Actuarial Assessment Based on statistical analysis of known recidivists Based on statistical analysis of known recidivists Best predictors include: Best predictors include: Age of VictimAge of Victim Level of HabituationLevel of Habituation Gender of VictimGender of Victim

Structure of Assessment  Procedure  Background information  Sexual history  Offence  Etiology  Risk assessment  Intervention recommendations

Review Assessment

Intervention Supervision Treatment + Intervention

“Prosecution should be a component of most interventions in juvenile offenses” (The Revised Report for the National Task Force on Juvenile Sexual Offending, 1993 of the National Adolescent Perpetrator Network, p.18)

Continuum of Supervision Incarceration Free in Society

Control of Environment  Electronic monitoring  Assessing environment  Random checks/changing routine

Treatment  Group vs. Individual  Sex Education  Social Skills  Relationship Skills  Fantasy Management  Victim Empathy  Relapse Prevention  Family Therapy

Reunification  Not always appropriate  Must be done incrementally, based on victim/perpetrator dynamics  Follow guidelines  Utilize feedback of monitors/treatment providers

Exercise I am __________________ (victim/perpetrator/father/mother/sibling) and my greatest concern is __________________________ and I feel ________________________________________

Juvenile Sex Offenders: Characteristics, Assessment, and Treatment By: Dr. Brad Hedges Dr. Brad Hedges Mid-Ohio Psychological Services Mid-Ohio Psychological Services 624 East Main Street 624 East Main Street Lancaster, Ohio Lancaster, Ohio (740) (740)