Working with Juvenile
Sexual Offenders
Differences from Adults and Special
Considerations
Donya L. Adkerson, MA, LCPC
Alternatives Counseling, Inc.
2005
Not Just Younger Adults
Things to keep in mind:
PMuch less is known from research on
JSOs than with ASOs
PWhat we know for sure about ASOs does
not necessarily apply to JSOs
PAdolescence as a developmental stage
goes into the early 20s
PResearch does suggest that intervention
is MORE EFFECTIVE with JSOs than adults
Practical Differences
with JSOs
PThere will be a legal guardian involved who can
help or may hurt the intervention process
PJSOs may not be in control of simple things,
like getting to therapy on time, or at all
PJSOs more likely to have continued contact
with their victims that is out of their control (e.g.,
in home or at same school)
Practical Differences
with JSOs
PSchool and family systems often provide
complications not faced with adults
PJSOs may view adults as an alien species
PImpulsivity, questionable judgement, and
testing rules and limits are all normal and
expected annoyances to some degree
PWide variation among youth requires
flexibility for maximum effectiveness
Group Issues with JSOs
Caution is needed
PPeers can have greater power over youth than
the adults in group
< Antisocial youth may be powerful role models
< Drive for acceptance by peers may be greater
than desire to please group leader
PToo much difference in age/development can
pose risk for exploitation of more vulnerable
youth
POutpatient JSOs more likely to see group
members in other settings than with adults
Additional differences in working
with JSOs
PThings change RAPIDLY B risk other
assessments are very time-limited in their
useful validity
PSexual arousal patterns less fixed
PLevel of sexual focus may be high due to
hormones rather than compulsion
PFactual knowledge of human sexuality
may be poor, misinformation is common
Additional differences in working
with JSOs
PThere may be pressure from family to
deny even normal sexual interest or
behavior, not just the offending
PThe younger the JSO the more likely a
victimization history is plying a role in the
offending
PCurrent hidden victimization is a risk
Finding a Balance
Safety Planning vs. Normal development
PJSOs need normal developmental
experiences to develop a healthy lifestyle
and the social skills and confidence they
will need to help them avoid offending in
the future.
PNormal developmental experiences may
bring risks or opportunities to offend.
PBalancing these potential conflicts must
be a case-by-case decision.
JSOs & the School
Case by case decisions
PNot all JSOs pose a risk at school
PSchools may overreact
PSchools MUST be involved when there is
any identified potential for offending at
school
<Peers
<On-campus daycare or younger grades
<Field trips
<Bus
JSOs and work
Common issues
PNO BABYSITTING!
< The JSO should never be in a position of
authority over younger children.
PFast food job precautions
< Not handling children=s parties
< Restrooms
< Playground areas
Other environments to consider
Case by case
PAfter school programs
PSports & recreational activities
<Beware swimming pools
PChurch
PHomes of friends and relatives
POnline/internet
PTransportation
Treatment Tasks
With JSOs
PRemediate skill deficits that interfere with
successful functioning, such as
<Identification and expression of feelings
<Realistic levels of trust
<Assertiveness training
<Anger & stress management; emotional
regulation
<Communication & relationship skills
<Sex-role stereotyping
<Values clarification
Treatment Tasks
With JSOs
PDevelop positive and prosocial sexuality
< Learn about of human sexuality
< Sexual health-Birth control, STDs, safe sexual
practices
< Gender roles
< Responsibility sexuality
< Healthy relationship and sexual skills
Treatment Tasks
With JSOs
PIdentify family issues or dysfunction that
trigger, support, or fail to inhibit the
offending behaviors
PWork with youth and family system for
successful reintegration, when clinically
appropriate
Family Reintegration Work
should include
PSuccessful progress of the offender in
his/her treatment
PTherapy including the offender an family
PTherapy for the victim (individual and
family)
PSupervised visits transitioning to
successful unsupervised visits
PProgression from apology to
reconciliation to reunification
Treatment Tasks
With JSOs
PPrepare the youth for successful
reintegration into the community
<Activities in the community
<Attending public or community schools
<Employment opportunity
<Family visits
P
Treatment Tasks
With JSOs
PInvolve the youth in Arestorative justice@
activities to make amends, such as
<Public service
<Community projects
<Financial restitution
Treatment Tasks
With JSOs
PAddress other clinical needs
<Substance abuse
<Mental health issues
<Medical needs
<Educational needs
Treatment modalities that may be
used for intervention with JSOs
Include
PIndividual
PGroup
PFamily
PMilieu (for residential settings)
PMulti-systemic
Individual Therapy
PBenefits
< Allows the most individualized focus; good for
unusual needs that may not fit a broader group
of clients
< Pacing can be as slow as needed for lower
functioning clients; and as repetitive as
necessary
< Adaptable for shorter attention spans
< Some techniques (e.g., EMDR) only usable in
individual work
Individual Therapy
PLimitations
< Easier to con an individual therapist
< Intense focus may increase resistance of
some clients
< No opportunity to learn from peers or practice
peer interaction; lack observation of peer
interaction
< May reinforce belief that the client is Asick@
and isolated with his problem
< Costly
Choose Individual Therapy
When
PClient cannot follow group process (due
to age, severe developmental delay, active
psychosis)
PIntensive trauma recovery work
PUnique clinical need is not shared by
other group members
PTo address severe anxiety or depression
PNo group is available
Individual may be used very
effectively as an adjunct to group
Some uses for adjunctive Individual therapy include
PTeaching specific tasks (i.e., ammonia
aversion)
PHandling reactive depressions
PReinforcing & clarifying concepts for
cognitively slower youth
PTreating PTSD symptoms
AFamily@ can cover a wide range
of people
<Bio, Step or Adoptive Parents
<Current, past or future foster parents
<Extended family
<Caseworkers and Mentors
<Other caregivers
Roadblocks presented by
Caretakers
Can impede the progress of the JSO
PDenial & Minimization
<Acknowledging the offense =self failing as
parent
<Fears their anger at child if accept the offense
happens
<Fears choosing between children
<Own victimization history triggered;
dissociative coping
PEnabling
<Has own deviancy issues
Roadblocks presented by
Caretakers
PUnhealthy AProtecting@
<Sees role as protecting child from
consequences
PParental Dysfunction
<Alcohol & drug abuse
<Mental illness
<Criminal involvement
<Serious domestic violence
PUninformed
<Lacks knowledge, either about offending overall
Family Involvement may be critical
Possible ways include
PFamily education
PFamily therapy
PEducational groups
PSupervised visitation
POther means of involvement
Family Therapy
PBenefits
< Allows education of the support system
< Addressing dysfunction within the family that
may support the offending
< Allows for improvement of skills in general
parenting and supervision of child with the
sexual behavior problem
< Can improve likelihood of child remaining in
or returning to the family system
Family Therapy
PLimitations
PFamily secrets (e.g., undisclosed parental
offending or parental trauma history)) can
undermine the therapy and increase stress on
client and sibs
< It can be damaging to victim if family therapy
undertaking without victim treatment,
appropriate work for parent=s support of victim,
or if sibs are blaming victim
< Families who do not want the offender in
home may sabotage treatment, increasing harm
to client
Choose family therapy
when
PParents need better understanding or
skills relating the abuse problem
PFamily Reintegration is a goal
POther family dysfunction is impacting the
client
PCommunication skills or family
relationships need strengthening
Family Therapy is Contraindicated
When
PA parent is an untreated offender
PThe victim is in the family and has not
had victim treatment OR the abuser is not
yet fully honest/accountable about the
offending
< Parent-child dyad may be utilized to begin work
until victim & offender are both ready for family
work
PThe family=s current level of hostility,
anger, or punitive behavior makes therapy
Group Therapy
PBenefits
<Decreases ability to Aget over@ on the
therapist
<Increases hope of positive change
<Decreases sense of isolation, stigma, and
uniqueness
<Social skills practice
<Very effective for the problem area
<Cost-effective
Group Therapy
PLimitations
PNot all clients capable of following group
process
<Requires effort from therapist to develop and
maintain a positive group culture
<A single disruptive member may take valuable
time from others
<Higher initial level of nervousness from clients
<Risk breach of confidentiality by group
members
Typical goals of Group JSO
therapy
include
PSocial skills
PCycle work
PChanging cognitions
PLearning practical skills & strategies
PDevelop motivation
POn-going assessment of client
Choose Group Therapy
Whenever
PClient has capacity to interact, follow a
group process
PTreatment needs are within norms for the
population
Types of Interventions that
Utilized in Group
include
PEducation
PCorrection
PModeling
PReinforcing
PConsequences
PFacilitating peer Intervention
External Controls
Are a form of therapeutic intervention
PSupervision
< Visual monitoring
< Alarms
< Locked facility
PRestrictions on activities, places, people
PLegal sanctions
PPhysiological monitoring
< Polygraph monitoring
< Drug testing
Multi-systemic Therapy
Research-proven value with criminal youth
PA combination of interventions, including
therapy, family intervention, and
community interventions
< Educational
< Occupational
< Recreational
PProven effectiveness for reduction of
delinquent behaviors including sexual
offending
PResearch established cost-effectiveness
Helpful Skills for JSO therapy
Group or individual
PListen carefully and hear what is behind
the words
PRead body language
PCommunicate
<Knowledge
<Attitudes
Helpful Skills for JSO therapy
Group or individual
PKnow your subject
<JSO issues & goals
<The client=s history
PHumor
PCaring
<About protecting victims
<About the client
Treatment traps In JSO work
In any modality
PPower struggles
PWasting time
PToo much personal disclosure
PPersonalizing
Treatment traps In JSO work
In any modality
PSide-stepping sex
PEroticizing material
PReacting to the offense (rather than to
victim harm)
PFailing to connect back to offending
Treatment traps In JSO work
In any modality
PToo much belief or trust of self-report
<This gets worse the longer a therapist works
with a client!
Treatment traps In JSO work
In group therapy
PIgnoring the silent
PABeating a dead horse@
PInappropriate modeling
<Social skills
<Abusive confrontation
<Facilitator thinking errors
Treatment traps In JSO work
In group therapy
PMonopolizing the group
PGiving up control of the group
