Sexually Violent Juveniles
Sexual violence is defined as forceful sexual acts committed against another person’s will or without their consent (Keogh, 2012). Juveniles do not become sexually violent overnight; most youths experience some type of traumatic experience that can have a negative influence on how they development (Rasmussen, Lev-Wiesel, Eisikovits, 2013). A juvenile that is sexually violent towards other minors are seeking power and control and have more sexual knowledge than the average child (Righthand, Welch, 2001). The types of sexual offenses made by sexually violent youth can be put into two categories: forcible or nonforcible acts (Finkelhor, Ormrod, Chaffin, 2009). Forcible acts committed by youths are rape, sodomy, fondling, etc., whereas a nonforcible
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act is statutory rape or incest (Finkelhor, Ormrod, Chaffin, 2009). Extremely violent acts such as rape with a weapon or torture are considered irregularities because these types of acts are more uncommon for youths to commit, but that does not mean that they do not occur.
Many juveniles that are sexually violent have a history of being exposed to family violence, neglect, sexual exploitation, parental abuse, etc.
(Finkelhor, Ormrod, Chaffin, 2009). For example, children that were sexually abused are five times more likely to commit sexual abuse against a stranger and are eight times more likely to commit sexual abuse toward a family member (Keogh, pg.6, 2012). Although not all sexually violent juveniles experience physical abuse or maltreatment, a vast majority of them do (Finkelhor, Ormrod, Chaffin, 2009). The impact of witnessing or experiencing these types of tragedies can negatively alter the way a child develops. The reason why some juveniles that possess sexually violent behaviors become sex offenders over others is because they did not receive the proper treatment in their early childhoods or they could not let go of what occurred to them in their pasts (Ryan, Leversee and Lane, 2013). Sexually violent juveniles also tend to lack social skills compared to youths that have not been exposed to maltreatment or sexual abuse. Minors that are sexually forceful have been seen to be socially isolated from the rest of their peers and do not tend to have many acquaintances (Righthand, Welch, 2001). It is not common among juveniles in the United States to be sexually violent because not all minors that experience tragic events or parental sexual abuse become sexual predators. This is so because there are early intervention programs that have been put into place since the 1980’s for juveniles that have displayed sexually violent behavior (Ryan, Leversee and Lane,
2013).
act is statutory rape or incest (Finkelhor, Ormrod, Chaffin, 2009). Extremely violent acts such as rape with a weapon or torture are considered irregularities because these types of acts are more uncommon for youths to commit, but that does not mean that they do not occur.
Many juveniles that are sexually violent have a history of being exposed to family violence, neglect, sexual exploitation, parental abuse, etc.
(Finkelhor, Ormrod, Chaffin, 2009). For example, children that were sexually abused are five times more likely to commit sexual abuse against a stranger and are eight times more likely to commit sexual abuse toward a family member (Keogh, pg.6, 2012). Although not all sexually violent juveniles experience physical abuse or maltreatment, a vast majority of them do (Finkelhor, Ormrod, Chaffin, 2009). The impact of witnessing or experiencing these types of tragedies can negatively alter the way a child develops. The reason why some juveniles that possess sexually violent behaviors become sex offenders over others is because they did not receive the proper treatment in their early childhoods or they could not let go of what occurred to them in their pasts (Ryan, Leversee and Lane, 2013). Sexually violent juveniles also tend to lack social skills compared to youths that have not been exposed to maltreatment or sexual abuse. Minors that are sexually forceful have been seen to be socially isolated from the rest of their peers and do not tend to have many acquaintances (Righthand, Welch, 2001). It is not common among juveniles in the United States to be sexually violent because not all minors that experience tragic events or parental sexual abuse become sexual predators. This is so because there are early intervention programs that have been put into place since the 1980’s for juveniles that have displayed sexually violent behavior (Ryan, Leversee and Lane,
2013).