This article reports on developmental, individual and family characteristics of 108 adjudicated adolescent sexual offenders who had been referred to a specialised assessment and treatment service. A Principal Components Analysis of measures of developmental characteristics (abuse histories, conduct problems), individual characteristics (callous unemotional traits; externalising and internalising behaviours), and family functioning (parental involvement; parental supervision; positive parenting practices; inconsistent discipline and corporal punishment) yielded three main components. These components were designated Negative Environment, Positive Environment and Transgression. Three subgroups were identified on the basis of their criminal histories: specialist offenders (n = 47); versatile offenders (n = 33), and short-duration offenders (n = 28). MANCOVA revealed a significant multivariate main effect for offender subtype. A significant univariate effect was found for Transgression. Results suggest that offence specialisation and versatility among adolescent sexual offenders may arise from somewhat different developmental pathways.
Journal article
Developmental, individual and family characteristics of specialist, versatile, and short-duration adolescent sex offenders
Sexual Abuse in Australia and New Zealand, Vol.2(2), pp.85-96
2010
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Abstract
Details
- Title
- Developmental, individual and family characteristics of specialist, versatile, and short-duration adolescent sex offenders
- Creators
- Ian A Nisbet - Southern Cross UniversityStephen W Smallbone - Griffith UniversityRichard Wortley - Griffith University
- Publication Details
- Sexual Abuse in Australia and New Zealand, Vol.2(2), pp.85-96
- Identifiers
- 1003; 991012821987502368
- Academic Unit
- Centre for Children and Young People
- Resource Type
- Journal article