A DEVELOPMENTAL-APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF ADOLESCENT SEXUAL OFFENDERS

A developmental integrated framework for planning assessment, treatmen t, evaluation and research with sexually aggressive children and adole scent sexual offenders is presented in this paper. The model takes acc ount of the fact that atypical sexual behaviour is usefully conceptual ized as occurring not in isolation, but within the context of the youn gster's physical, cognitive, moral, social and emotional development a nd also within the context of the child's overall social network inclu ding the family, the peer group and the school. For case management, p rogramme evaluation and research, assessment procedures are therefore developmentally referenced and span a range of domains including peer relationships, coping strategies, social skills, family relationships, taking responsibility far sexual aggression, adherence to treatment, understanding sexual offending behaviour, development of empathy and c aring, and relapse prevention. Treatment procedures based on this mode l, unlike those based on downward extensions of adult offending behavi our programmes, are matched to the youngster's developmental level. Th ey are also comprehensive, integrated, flexible and address general be haviour patterns of which sexual offending is but one.