Sexual Abuse and Juveniles

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that tens of thousands of children in America are the victims of sexual abuse in some form. They are not only targets, but also perpetrators; many are permanently affected by the crimes against them and by a surrounding culture in which sexual coercion and violence are common. The author points out that there is not one single act that is considered a "sexual offense." Legally, the definitions of sexual offenses vary by state. The paper suggests that sexual abuse problems among juveniles might be prevented by stricter and more focused programs against crime, longer school days, and more intensive sex education for children that would help them to develop into healthily functioning sexual beings, as opposed to individuals who use sex as a form of punishment for themselves or others.

From the Paper:

"Juvenile sexual offenses are statistically surprising. "Adolescents under the age of 18 account for 20% of arrests for all sexual offenses (excluding prostitution.)" Of these offenses in 1995, up to 16% of the arrests were for forcible rape. Approximately half of all sexual offenses against boys, and up to one fifth of all sexual offenses against girls, may be committed by juveniles. A majority of adult sexual offenders began as minors, and studies show that 42% of adult pedophiles were committing sexual offenses before the age of 12. Over 90% of adolescent sex offenders are male, however there remains a significant number of female offenders. Females are actually about as likely to commit a sexual offense against a brother as a male would be. "20% of sex offenses against male siblings are committed by sisters, compared to 21% for brothers." Close to 15% of adolescent sexual offenses occur on school property, and "the most likely hour for a kid to commit sexual assault is between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on a school day."

More papers on Sexual Abuse and Juveniles:

• Research Paper # 98513 : "Child Sexual Abuse"
• Essay # 54019 : "Legislation and Child Sexual Abuse"
• Research Paper # 124053 : "Child Abuse and Deliquency"

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