WHO ARE THE OFFENDERS AND WHAT ARE THEIR COMMON CHARACTERISTICS?
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IT'S NOT JUST ADULTS THAT
SEXUALLY ABUSE CHILDREN |
SO, WHO ARE THE OFFENDERS?
| COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF
SEX OFFENDERS
IT'S NOT JUST ADULTS
THAT SEXUALLY ABUSE CHILDREN
-
10% of children and
adolescents have molested children.
-
50% of all sexual
crimes against children are committed by juveniles.
-
40% of
"acquaintance rapes" are committed by juveniles.
-
75% of adult sex offenders start offending prior to 18 and
the average age of their first criminal offense is age 14. (Groth,
1987)
SO, WHO ARE THE OFFENDERS? (Huot,
1999)
-
72% of cases
involve parents, step-parents, boyfriends, in-laws,
grandparents, uncles, friends of the family or neighbors.
-
Biological
parent (16%)
-
Stepparent
(14%)
-
Other relative
(16%)
-
Friend of
parent (26%)
-
22% involve people
who work in youth service organizations such as sports
organizations, youth clubs, camps, churches and daycare
programs.
-
5% of cases involve strangers.
-
Other (1%)
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF SEX
OFFENDERS
-
Deviant arousal or
interests
-
Over identification
with children
-
Use of sexual
behavior as a coping mechanism
-
Adverse family
backgrounds
-
Attachment problems
-
Intimacy deficits
-
Emotional problems
-
Social competency
problems
-
Inadequate coping
skills
-
Poor impulse
control