ADOLESCENT SEX OFFENDERS - INVESTIGATING ADULT COMMITMENT-RATES 4 YEARS LATER

the purpose of this study was to investigate the long term community r e-adjustment of adolescent sex offenders released from a state residen tial group treatment program between 1988-1990. The results suggest: ( 1) the post-release behavior of adolescent sex offenders may not prese nt the degree of personal risk assumed by the public; (2) the majority of adolescent sex offenders who eventually enter the adult correction al system will be committed on property related charges and (3) servin g adolescent sex offenders within on agency's main campus peer group t reatment program may produce long term recidivism totes comparable wit h those reported among specialized treatment models. The findings are discussed in relation to the current demand for specialized sex offend er programs and the need for correctional practitioners to develop str ategies for this population of youth offenders.