Sex Offender Typology

Sex Offender Typology

Purpose

To identify a typology of juvenile sex offenders and examine the different treatment needs of the heterogeneous juvenile sex offender population. The typology of juvenile sex offenders will clarify differences between subgroups of offenders and serve as a guide for comprehensive decisionmaking in individual cases, thus facilitating identification of the appropriate treatment or detention strategy.

Background

The release of sex offenders into a community can engender fear among area residents. In response to public concern and a desire to address the training and technical assistance needs of the field, the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) convened a national summit, "Promoting Public Safety Through the Effective Management of Sex Offenders in the Community," from November 24 to 26, 1996, in Washington, D.C. The summit brought together policymakers, criminal justice practitioners, researchers, treatment providers, and victims’ advocates to share their individual and collective knowledge regarding the safe management of sex offenders and to advise on training and technical assistance activities.

Recognizing the many differences between adult and juvenile sex offending patterns, etiologies, treatments, societal attitudes, and system responses, OJP convened a separate working group on juvenile sex offending. This solicitation is a direct response to a recommendation proposed by that working group and adopted by summit participants: to perform "research that will result in the development of juvenile typology profiles" (Center for Effective Public Policy, 1996).

There is a need to develop a typology of juvenile sex offenders to facilitate the judicial decisionmaking process and provide appropriate treatment interventions so that juvenile sex offending does not become part of a vicious cycle. Informed decisionmaking is critical because of the extensive consequences to victims, families, communities, and society as a whole. Research shows that adolescent males commit a relatively high percentage of the sexual assaults against women and children in the United States. For example, Brown, Flanagan, and McLeod (1984) note that juveniles are responsible for 30 percent to 60 percent of the cases of child sexual abuse and 20 percent to 30 percent of the rapes committed in this country each year. Snyder and Sickmund (1995) report that there has been a steady rise in the number of juveniles arrested for sexual offenses.

Other studies indicate that victims of juvenile sex offending may become abusers later in life. Research also suggests that juvenile sex offending may be linked to maltreatment, exposure to pornography or violence, and substance abuse.

In spite of data suggesting that most juvenile sex offenders are amenable to treatment if provided with specialized therapy linked to legal sanctions, these offenders are increasingly being committed to correctional settings. Recently, however, clinical resources and legal options for processing and handling juvenile sex offenders have increased in the justice system. Several hundred providers are offering services for the treatment of juvenile sex offenders. These treatment services range from specialized residential treatment to community-based treatment programs. Although different treatment options for juvenile sex offenders are increasing, however, there is still not an empirically validated typology of juvenile sex offenders.

Attempts to classify juvenile sex offenders have not been very exact. One basic classification strategy is based on two categories: (1) victim-age-preference offenders such as child molesters and rapists (of peer age or older victims) and (2) nuisance offenders such as voyeurs and exhibitionists. However, classification studies show that there are several different types of juvenile sex offenders. Some are socially isolated and naive, and others have social ties and skills. Usually there has been some type of neglect, abuse, or familyproblem in the history of violent juvenile sex offenders (Weinrott, 1996). Using clinical experience, O’Brien and Bera (1986) have identified several types of juvenile sex offenders on the basis of variation in family background, temperament, socialization, mental status, peer influence, substance abuse, cognitive ability, and conduct problems.

Knight and Prentky (1993) find that correlates of being caught for aggressive sexual behaviors are different from correlates of engaging in this behavior. This finding is based on their work with adult offenders, and it remains to be seen if it is also true for juveniles.

Up to now, a significant problem with classification studies has been the small sample size used to develop classifications. A second problem has been that the samples frequently include the entire heterogeneous mix of juvenile sex offenders. Large subgroups of juvenile sex offenders may have different profiles. The proposed research will address the deficiencies of the earlier studies.

Some issues to be considered about juvenile sex offenders are dangerousness, appropriateness of placement, assessment requirements, potential for rehabilitation or habilitation, and intervention needs of the offender. A typology would offer a scientific way to understand the differences between groups of juvenile sex offenders and would provide guidance on appropriate sanctions and treatment. The field also needs to design intervention approaches specific to the needs of various subgroups of juvenile sex offenders.

An empirically based typology of juvenile sex offenders will facilitate the development of more appropriate treatment programs. Treatment developed for the individual needs of juvenile sex offenders could result in a reduction in sex offending and reoffending, ultimately reducing the number of individuals entering the juvenile and adult justice systems.

Goal

To develop and validate an empirically based typology of juvenile sex offenders. Some subtypes of juvenile sex offenders could be determined according to the contribution of the offenders’ personality characteristics, modus operandi, sexual history, causative factors, violence history, offense history, alcohol and other drug abuse history, and family history.

Objectives

Phase I (1-6 months)

Review the literature on juvenile sex offenders to identify the range of information available.
Establish a data base of current information on juvenile sex offenders. This data base would include certain subtypes of juvenile sex offenders determined by the offenders’ personality characteristics, modus operandi, sexual history, causative factors, violence history, offense history, alcohol and other drug abuse history, and family history.
Develop a national survey design to collect comprehensive data on the factors noted above, using measures with established reliability and validity. Subjects should represent a national sample (roughly 1,500) of juvenile sexual offenders who are waiting for case disposition and those in community, residential, and correctional intervention programs.

Phase II (7-24 months)

Conduct a survey that tracks offenders through the intervention process to see the relationship between subgroup membership and intervention-related variables. These variables would include behavioral difficulties, type of intervention, level of participation, and completion status.
Develop a typology of sex offenders that would help judges and counselors refer the individual sex offender to appropriate treatment modality.
Develop training materials to train others to use the typology.
Develop publications to describe the typology to the mental health field, juvenile justice practitioners, and the public.

Program Strategy

This program requires innovative research that will provide both the scientific basis for understanding differences between groups of juvenile sex offenders and direction to guide judicial decisionmaking. The research design should define the needs and/or problems and describe the objectives, strategies, and methodology to be employed.

Products

Phase I

Literature review.
National survey design of a sample of juvenile sex offenders.

Phase II

Juvenile sex offender typology.
Training manual for juvenile justice and other treatment providers.
Fact sheets, bulletins, and/or research summaries based on the typology.

Eligibility Requirements

OJJDP invites applications from public and private agencies, organizations, institutions, or individuals. Private, for-profit organizations must agree to waive any profit or fee. Joint applications from two or more eligible applicants are welcome, provided that one is designated primary applicant and any others are coapplicants.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be evaluated and rated by a peer review panel according to the criteria outlined below.

Problem(s) To Be Addressed (15 points)

The problem(s) to be addressed must be clearly stated and based on issues that have particular relevance to the field and current OJJDP priorities. The utility of this project must be clearly stated.

Goals and Objectives (15 points)

The goals and objectives must be clearly defined, measurable, and related directly to achieving the project’s goals.

Project Design (40 points)

The project design must be sound and contain program elements directly linked to the achievement of the project objectives. The applicant is required to provide a detailed workplan describing the methodology of the program. The applicant must also fully describe all products and their usefulness to the juvenile justice field.

Management and Organizational Capability (20 points)

The project management structure must be adequate to conduct the program successfully. The applicant should provide specific tasks and timelines for the research program activities. The applicant must explain how the management structure is consistent with the ends of the program and identify staff qualified to support the project successfully. Staff résumés must be attached as part of the appendixes. The applicant is required to demonstrate sufficient organizational capability to support the successful completion of the project. Applicants should demonstrate knowledge of and experience with juvenile justice issues.

Budget (10 points)

Applicants must provide a proposed budget that is complete, detailed, reasonable, allowable, and cost effective in relation to the activities proposed to be undertaken.

Format

The narrative must not exceed 25 pages (excluding forms, assurances, and appendixes) and must be submitted on 8½- by 11-inch paper, double spaced on one side of the paper in a standard 12-point font.

Award Period

The project will be funded for 24 months in a 6-month and an 18-month budget period. Funding after the first budget period depends on grantee performance, availability of funds, and other criteria established at time of award.

Award Amount

Up to $100,000 is available for the initial 6-month budget period. Continuation funding is anticipated at the same proportionate level.

Delivery Instructions

All application packages should be mailed or delivered to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, c/o Juvenile Justice Resource Center, 2277 Research Boulevard, Mail Stop 2K, Rockville, MD 20850; 301-519-5535. NOTE: In the lower left-hand corner of the envelope, you must clearly write "Sex Offender Typology."

Due Date

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the original and five copies of the application package are received by 5 p.m. ET on August 11, 1997.

Contact

For further information call Betty Chemers, Director, Research and Program Development Division, 202-307-3677, or send an e-mail inquiry to [email protected].

References

Brown, F., T. Flanagan, and M. McLeod (eds.). Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1984.

Center for Effective Public Policy. "Recommendations to the Office of Justice Programs from the National Summit Working Groups." Strategies to Promote Public Safety Through the Effective Management of Sex Offenders in the Community. Washington, DC: Center for Effective Public Policy, 1996.

Knight, R.A., and R. Prentky. "Exploring Characteristics for Classifying Juvenile Sex Offenders." In H.E. Barbaree, W.L. Marshall, and S.M. Hudson (eds.), The Juvenile Sex Offender, pp. 49-79. New York: Guilford, 1993.

O’Brien, M., and W.H. Bera. "Adolescent Sexual Offenders: A Descriptive Typology." Preventing Sexual Abuse: A Newsletter of the National Family Life Education Network 1: 2-4, 1986.

Snyder, H.N., and M. Sickmund. Juvenile Offenders and Victims: A Focus on Violence. Pittsburgh, PA: National Center for Juvenile Justice, 1995.

Weinrott, M.R. Juvenile Sexual Aggression: A Critical Review. Portland, OR: Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, 1996.

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