Today, the number of juvenile sexual abuses in the United States is at its highest.

1. Today, the number of juvenile sexual abuses in the United States is at its highest.

Introduction

1. Today, the number of juvenile sexual abuses in the United States is at its highest.
2. 1 in 8 girls under the age of 16 years has experienced sexual assaults or abuse.
3. 1in47 boys under the age of 16 years have been sexually abused or assaulted.
4. Approximately 75% of all victims of sexual abuse are female under the age of 18 years
5. Females under the age of 16 years are five times more vulnerable to sexual abuse than the rest of the population.

Today, a report on child sexual abuse is significantly rising in the United States. According to a national survey carried out by Ryan and Otonichar (2016), as of 2015, about 1 in 8 girls under the age of 16years have experienced at least one form of sexual abuse or assault at the hands of an adult. Additionally, the survey indicated that 1 in 47 boys under the age of 16 years had experienced at least one form of sexual assault or abuse (Ryan & Otonichar, 2016). Another study carried out by Ryan and Otonichar (2016) found out that approximately 75% of all victims of sexual abuse and assaults are females under the age of 18 years. Furthermore, Ryan and Otonichar (2016), demonstrated that females under the age of 16 years are five times more vulnerable to sexual assaults or abuse than the general population in the united states.

Fixated Offenders

1. Fixated offenders often have an intense, persistent sexual attraction towards children
2. Fixated offenders tend to build a social relationship with the victim to gain sexual favors.
3. The tendency develops during puberty stage and continues to adulthood
4. Fixated offenders often prey on unrelated male victims
5. The behavior is often premeditated and not influenced by perceived stressors.
6. Fixated offenders are more likely to repeat their offenses countless times.

The fixated offenders are child molesters that have a compulsive and persistent sexual attraction to children. As a result, the offender is often diagnosed with pedophilia. Fixated offenders develop the tendency of intense sexual attraction to children during their adolescent stage and last throughout their adulthood. According to Ryan and Otonichar (2016), the fixated offender is often characterized by impaired cognitive growth and shows characteristics of a child. Typically, these offenders have never had an age-appropriate relationship. Fixated offender’s actions do not result from stress but are typically premeditated. As a result, fixated offender tends to build and maintain a social relationship with children in order to satisfy their sexual needs (Ryan & Otonichar, 2016). Most of their victims are always unrelated males, and the offender is highly likely to repeat the offense countless times.

Regressed Offender

1. Offending stems from external stressors like unemployment, loneliness, or marital problems
2. An offending tendency develops during adulthood
3. The offender often preys on children they know, including their children and acquaintances.
4. The gender varies depending on how easily the offender can get access to the victim
5. The offender’s sexual abuse is not fixed on children.
6. The lack of fixation on victims lowers the risk of reoffending.

Regressed offenders are people that sexually assault children. The regressed offender’s tendencies to sexually abuse children develop during adulthood. According to Ryan and Otonichar (2016), regressed offender’s actions result from perceived external stressors. These perceived stressors can be situational such as substance abuse, marital problems, unemployment, anxiety, stress, or loneliness. These stressors often cause low self-esteem and reduced self-confidence, and as a result, the offender often preys on children to boost his self-esteem and self-confidence. According to Ryan and Otonichar (2016), most of the victims of regressed offenders are often the people they know, including their children, relatives, and acquaintances. Additionally, sexual involvement with children among regressed offenders is not fixed and thus lowering the risk of reoffending if effectively treated.

Other Typologies of Juvenile Sexual Offenders

1. Sadistic offenders are incredibly aggressive and are sexually aroused by violence
2. The morally indiscriminate offender commits juvenile sexual abuses to obtain pleasure for their victims
3. The sexually indiscriminate offender commits juvenile sexual abuses out of mere exploration and boredom
4. Inadequate offenders commit juvenile sexual abuses to boost their social and personal insecurities.
5. The rationale for categorizing juvenile sexual offenders is dependent on the offender’s psychological needs and victim gender-relationship

Other than regressed offenders and fixated offenders, there are other typologies of juvenile sex offenders such as sadistic, morally indiscriminate, sexually indiscriminate, and inadequate offenders. Sadistic offenders are incredibly aggressive, dangerous, and are sexually aroused by violence. Besides, these offenders target strangers. Morally indiscriminate offender’s victims are often not fixed and tend to use victims for their sexual pleasure (Ryan & Otonichar, 2016). According to Ryan and Otonichar (2016), sexually indiscriminate offenders are often interested in sexual exploration and tend to abuse children out of boredom. Inadequate are offenders with low self-confidence and self-esteem and often abuse children to manage their insecurities (Ryan & Otonichar, 2016). The rationale for the difference in typologies of child offenders is dependent on the offender’s psychological needs, victim gender-relationship, and the degree to which a deviant sexual act is entrenched.

Criminal Justice Responses

1. Child sexual abuse in the United States is enacted under the child’s protection policy.
2. Juvenile sexual abuse conviction laws vary across different states within the United States.
3. An offender of child abuse may be penalized to the imprisonment of not less than 15 years.
4. An offender may also face criminal penalties like fines, restriction on parole, or registration as a sex offender.
5. Additionally, offenders may face various civil penalties, including the liability to loss of parental rights, damages, involuntary commitment, or injunctions.

According to Ryan and Otonichar (2016), child sexual abuse laws apply to only offenders that sexual abuse victims under the age of 16 years. Juvenile sexual abuse is illegal in all the states with the United States. Also, juvenile conviction laws vary across different states within the United States. However, there are specific penalties that are common across all the states. An offender convicted of child sexual abuse may face criminal penalties, including fines, imprisonment, restriction on parole and probation, or registration as a sex offender (Ryan & Otonichar, 2016). Furthermore, an offender may face civil penalties, including liability for injunctions, damages, loss of parental rights, and involuntary commitment. Notably, the legal penalties are dependent on the degree of abuse.

References

Ryan, E. P., & Otonichar, J. M. (2016). Juvenile sex offenders. Current psychiatry reports, 18(7), 67.