Presented by: Jennifer Vincent, LMHC, CSAYC Licensed Mental Health Counselor Robert Bennett, DSW, LCSW Director of the MSW Program Associate Professor Indiana University School of Social Work

 Dangerous myths about juvenile sex offenders: Meghan Fagundes at TEDxAustinWomen  jkr4 jkr4

 “Youth ranging from puberty to the age of legal majority who commit any sexual interaction with a person of any age against the victim’s will, without consent, or in an aggressive, exploitive, or threatening manner” (National Adolescent Perpetrator Network)

Sexual acts between children are normal and not harmful Children with SBP should not live with other kids Children with Sexual Behavior Problems (SBP) have been sexually abused Children with SBP should be placed in specialized inpatient/residential tx Children with SBP should not attend public school Children who have been sexually abused act out later sexually with other kids Without long term intensive tx they will continue to have sexual behavior problems Girls rarely have sexual behavior problems Children with SBP grow up to be adult sex offenders True or False?

Some sexual behavior between children is not appropriate With intervention and treatment, most children with SBP can live safely with other children Sexual acts between children can be significantly harmful Outpatient treatment can be successful for most children with SBP Many children with SBP have not been sexually abused Most children with SBP can safely attend any school Most children who have been sexually abused DO NOT have SBP’s Most treated children do not continue to have SBP. “short term” weeks of treatment. 15% recidivism after 2 yrs Most children with SBP do not demonstrate continued SBP into adolescence and adulthood

Sexual PlaySexual Play Problem Sexual Behavior Exploratory and spontaneousFrequent, repeated, compulsive Intermittently and mutual agreement Aggressive, forced or coerced, causing harm Similar age, size, development level No fear, anger or anxiety present Varying sizes, ages, developmental level Decreases when told to stopDo not decrease when told to stop Controlled by increase of supervision Often occurs between siblings, cousins, peers Occurs between children who do not know each other well. Becomes more sneaky if supervised more Normal behaviors VS Sexual Behavior Problem

Johnie 15 year old male referred to counseling  Offense: Child molestation 15/male offender 10/female.  Johnie’s family and victims family close friends for 15 years.  Behavioral concerns: Curiosity, family boundaries, lack of friends, isolated, depression symptoms for several years, pornography addiction history. Case Study

 Sexually Reactive Children- generally under the age of 12 who have been exposed to or had direct contact with, inappropriate sexual activities, sexual behaviors, or relationships and have begun to engage in or initiate sexual or sexualized behaviors, or relationships.

 Preoccupation/Anxiety regarding sex Pornographic interest Promiscuity/Polygamist  Behavior/Indiscriminant Contact  Sexually Aggressive Themes/Obscenities  Violating others body/personal space  Pulling skirts up or pants down  Single occurrence peeping, exposing, with KNOWN peers  Mooning and Obscene gestures

 Sexual activity with much younger or much older children  Excessive Masturbating/self-soothing  Knowledge of sex beyond their age  Sexual play that makes other children uncomfortable  Sexually Aggressive Pornography  Sexual conversation with significantly younger children  Touching and grabbing others genitals without permission

Engaging in adult like sexual acts Using bribery, threats or force to engage other children in sexual play. Making relationships sexual Sexual comments or talk

 Most have been sexually molested. Some were, many were not. Self-report rates range from 20% to 55%. Several studies have shown higher rates of self-reported physical abuse.  Most will become adult sex offenders. Studies indicate that the rates of sexual re-offense are 5%- 15%. This is lower than recidivism for other delinquent behaviors.  Youth convicted of sex offenses will become adults who commit sex offenses.

 Most adolescent sex offenders do not need to be placed in secure, residential treatment facilities for a long term.  According to the NCSBY, most youth sex offenders can be treated successfully through weekly outpatient group treatment lasting 8 to 28 months.  Juveniles are not the same as adult offenders.

Mostly male, ages Females account for 8% of sexual offenses 20-50% Victims of Physical Abuse 40-80% Victims of Sexual Abuse 30-60% Suffer Learning Disabilities Females suffer at a much higher rate of both physical and sexual abuse 80% may suffer from other psychiatric disorders

 Lots of reasons ………………  Curiosity / Experimentation  Impulsivity / Immaturity  Delinquency / Aggression  Psychological Problems- Autism/PTSD  Exposure to Sexual Materials or Behaviors  Sexual Abuse  Problems with Sexual Attraction to Children

 Interview – adolescent, parents.  Probation and/or CPS history  Standardized tests – CBCL, Personality Inventories, Depression inventory, Anxiety  IEP from school if available  Sexual information questionnaires  Risk assessment instruments ERASOR J-SOAP  Lie Detector test – not always necessary

 Family relationships  Risk factors  Risk management – what recommendation for safety of the victim and society

 Individual psychotherapy  Family therapy  Group therapy  Multi-systemic therapy  Residential milieu therapy  Inpatient acute  Juvenile justice system

 Address parent issues and feelings and stress the importance of their role in the treatment of their son or daughter  Provide support as parents struggle with the emotional trauma surrounding the offending behavior  Address communication, boundaries, discipline, problem-solving, conflict resolution

 Explore parents’ feelings about the premised that their child’s problems now as the whole family’s problems  Explore concepts of a faith and or support system (families often alienated)  Discuss with parents whether they feel ready and open to receiving help with their family’s problem  Ask parents to name the single most likely person or thing to blame for their child’s problem (opens to release deflecting)  Focus on helping parents to let go of their need to minimize their child’s behavior

 Safety Plans – 1 st priority. It is the responsibility of the adults to ensure that the victim and society are safe from additional sexual victimization.  Education regarding: ◦ Laws regarding sexual behaviors ◦ Human sexuality ◦ Good touch/bad touch ◦ Boundaries ◦ Coping skills

 Address physical boundaries in all areas of offenders home/school/work etc *Knock when door closed, no locks on inside of door, no shared bed Children of opposite sex should not share room after 5 years of age  Children should not share bedroom with parent after age one  *Sexually abused children may not cuddle in bed with parents  One person in a room/bathroom at a time  Rules around play  Touching between offender-victim

 Clothing- no one should be in underwear only  Touching- always ask permission, no viewing others privates  Being alone with others-have a “witness”, never allow babysitting  Horseplay/wrestling/tickling-limited-clarify hugs, kisses affection etc  Feelings-emotional boundaries  One on one time with parents  Technology-monitor ALL means of access to internet, cell phone, chat

 Most get better and do not re-offend  Adolescents and parents are receptive once the initial defensiveness is allowed and acknowledged  The therapeutic regime is difficult. These clients struggle to deal with one of the most difficult problems and one that is judged harshly by society.

 Fight the new drug  National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth  Safer Society DoChildren.pdf  Pathways: Timothy Kahn

 National Adolescent Perpetrator Network  National Center on Sexual Behavior of Youth. Frequently asked questions about adolescent sex offenders (ASOs).  Banyard, V.L., Moynihan, M.M., and Plante, E.G Sexual violence prevention through by standereducation: An experimental evaluation.  Childhood Sexuality: It’s Perfectly Normal - Wayne Duehn, Ph.D.  Longo, R., Prescott, D. (2006). Current Perspectives: Working with Sexually Aggressive Youth & Youth with Sexual Behavior Problems

Thank you for your attention and interest Questions? Contact Information: Jennifer Vincent, LMHC, CSAYC Robert Bennett, DSW, LCSW Director of the MSW Program Indiana University School of Social Work