Abstract
In 2002, an estimated 2.3 million juveniles were arrested in the United States; of those youths, over 100,000 were in detention facilities across the country (Office of Justice Programs, 2004), and a substantial number were charged with a sexually abusive crime. Indeed, according to Corrections Today, "research by the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicates that arrested juveniles under the age of 18 commit 14.3 % of forcible rapes . . . with the other 84% committed by . . . adults, and 17% of other sex offenses" (Crump et al., 2013). With a high number of juvenile sexual offenders being arrested, there was a clear need for treatment and research. Professionals saw a need for concentrated research on this specific population of offenders to better understand their risks and needs. Through this research came treatment modalities focused on addressing the risks that are associated with a juvenile sex offender. Major findings showed that juvenile sex offenders are from abusive homes, have difficulty connecting to others, show poor academics and social skills, and have unusual sexual behavior for their age group. Research was taken from several sources and common treatment modalities tested to show what is the most effective treatment for this population of offenders.
