THUR, Oct 7 \ 14.30-16.30 \ Juveniles, II

057
TREATING SEXUALLY REACTIVE ADOLESCENTS

Linda Chassman, M.S.
California State University, Fullerton, University of New England, Australia
lchassman@fullerton.edu

Scientific inquiry has identified a sub-set of sexualized children as sexually reactive, indicating that their sexualized behaviors are a reaction from early sexual trauma. The understanding that sexually reactive children are not child molesters has been important since it has since encouraged the development of treatment approaches that are unique to their needs. However, there is still great confusion about properly identifying adolescents with sexualized behaviors, and as such, many are put in environments and treated in ways that are counter-productive.
Sexual reactivity can be seen on a continuum of sexual behavior, between normative and aggressive sexual offending behavior. Sexually reactive adolescents are different from normative and aggressive sexual behaviors in terms of behavior, characteristics, etiology and intentionality. While we most often characterize adolescents with sexualized behavior as juvenile offenders, promiscuous or precocious, in fact they are acting out a pattern of soothing behaviors. These adolescents are at risk of harming themselves (early pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, prostitution, etc.) as well as victimizing other children. Therefore, it is necessary to consider their unique characteristics when making placement and treatment decisions.
This paper will demonstrate how to more accurately differentiate between adolescents with normative sexuality, sexual reactivity and sexual offending behavior. We will look at the often subtle differences in behavioral symptomology, character, intention and etiology between sexually reactive and sexually aggressive youth.
Sexually reactive youth present with difficult behaviors that can have severe impact on themselves and others. Those who live and work with this population need to understand not only the behavior, but what lies beneath. Our interactions must always be focused on understanding and meeting the adolescent's unique needs. This workshop will be relevant for those individuals working with sexualized adolescents with a history of sexual abuse, including treatment providers, therapists, social workers, group home workers and administrators, parents and foster parents.

058
JUVENILE SEX OFFENDERS: RESEARCHING POLICY, PROCEDURES AND SERVICES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (UK) AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (ROI)

Helen Masson, Simon Hackett
University of Huddersfield & University of Durham, England
h.c.masson@hud.ac.uk, Simon.Hackett@durham.ac.uk

This presentation will present findings from a recently completed two year research programme, the overall aim of which was to investigate current developments in the UK and the Republic of Ireland in services for young people who have sexually abused others. The research was jointly funded by the National Organisation for the Treatment of abusers (NOTA), the Youth Justice Board in England and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
Juvenile sexual abuse is a contested and controversial area of work, although it constitutes a significant proportion of all sexual abuse committed in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The research base relating to this area is relatively under-developed and so the project completed by the presenters is the first large-scale attempt to capture developments in this area of work across all the nations comprising the UK and the ROI. A multi-method study was undertaken, which included:

• A comprehensive mapping exercise relating to services, including practices, policies and procedures;
• Two Delphi exercises, collecting views and opinions of key experts in the field of sexual abuse on need, standards and principles of practice;
• A qualitative study of service user perspectives, which explored users' views, opinions and experiences of the services offered to them.

The presenters will reflect upon the process of investigating this area of practice using the above methods, drawing out the implications for those who may wish to conduct similar research in their own nations.

059
CONSENSUS AND DIVERGENCE IN THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE SEX OFFENDERS: FINDINGS OF A DELPHI STUDY OF EXPERIENCED PRACTITIONERS

Simon Hackett, Helen Masson
University of Durham & University of Huddersfield Simon.Hackett@durham.ac.uk , h.c.masson@hud.ac.uk

This presentation will focus on one element of a recently completed research project, the overall aim of which was to investigate current developments in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland in services for young people who have sexually abused others. The research was jointly funded by the National Organisation for the Treatment of abusers (NOTA), the Youth Justice Board in England and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
A three-stage Delphi study was undertaken, which involves the design and administration of a series of questionnaires in two or more sequential rounds, in which respondents' viewpoints are represented anonymously to other participants. This process affords participants an opportunity to react to the views of others and to reassess their views in the light of wider group feedback and opinion. As the rounds progress, participants views' are processed into narrower and more specific statements and the level of consensus or otherwise within the whole sample emerges.
The presentation will overview the methodology and findings of this first Delphi survey of practitioners in the UK and the ROI who were working with young people who have sexually abused others. Their views were gathered and analysed in order to establish the degree to which there is consensus in the field about intervention goals, theoretical concepts underpinning intervention and the content of intervention approaches.

060
JUVENILE SEX OFFENDERS IN CYPRUS

Semeli Vizakou & Louis Kariolou
Mental Health Services of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
semeli.vizacou@cytanet.co.cy, kariolou@cytanet.com.cy

The cases of juvenile sex offenders show a considerable increase in the last years. More children and adolescents, usually boys, alone or in group assault children of the same age or younger, in the aim of sexual gratification or imposition of their power on others. Sometimes these acts may be part of a gang play and they may continue for several years.
In this paper, the authors aim to present a national study on the reported cases of juvenile sex offenders between 1998 and 2003 who were handled by the Health and Welfare Departments in Cyprus. The study gives special focus to the juvenile sex offenders and their victims in regards to their personal profile, family background, expressed psychopathology, possible therapeutic interventions pre and post the abuse, the relationship between offender and victim and the frequency, manner and type of sexual offence they committed etc.
The results of the research identify between these children and adolescents, high risk ages to commit sexual violence and the major risk factors involved in such crimes, in an attempt for better understanding of the issues involved and thus a better possibility to grow prevention and treatment programs which will arm juvenile sex offenders and victims with psychological and social barriers, such as resilience, against sexual violence.