Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(1), January 2011, pp.3-20.
Publisher:
Sage
This article explores the characteristics of juveniles who have committed group sexual offenses. The study aimed to investigate the role of the leaders versus followers and to compare both groups on levels of psychopathology, intelligence, and psychosocial and offense-related characteristics. The participants were group sex offenders who had been referred by the police to the Dutch child protection agency. There were a total of 89 participants with a mean age of 14.9 years; 23 of the participants were classified as leaders and 66 as followers. Psychopathology, intelligence, and psychosocial and offense-related characteristics were assessed by means of standardised instruments, and criminal careers of the participants were ascertained from official judicial records. Although leaders and followers were similar on many characteristics, some differences were found. The followers reported using excessive force more frequently than leaders. Furthermore, leaders reported more emotional problems, whereas followers were characterised by higher levels of problems in the social relational domain. The article concludes that juvenile group sex offenders should be considered a group with substantial mental health needs. The absence of some expected differences between leaders and followers could be due to the method of classification or because group offending constitutes a dynamic process without clearly defined roles for individuals.
This article explores the characteristics of juveniles who have committed group sexual offenses. The study aimed to investigate the role of the leaders versus followers and to compare both groups on levels of psychopathology, intelligence, and psychosocial and offense-related characteristics. The participants were group sex offenders who had been referred by the police to the Dutch child protection agency. There were a total of 89 participants with a mean age of 14.9 years; 23 of the participants were classified as leaders and 66 as followers. Psychopathology, intelligence, and psychosocial and offense-related characteristics were assessed by means of standardised instruments, and criminal careers of the participants were ascertained from official judicial records. Although leaders and followers were similar on many characteristics, some differences were found. The followers reported using excessive force more frequently than leaders. Furthermore, leaders reported more emotional problems, whereas followers were characterised by higher levels of problems in the social relational domain. The article concludes that juvenile group sex offenders should be considered a group with substantial mental health needs. The absence of some expected differences between leaders and followers could be due to the method of classification or because group offending constitutes a dynamic process without clearly defined roles for individuals.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, sexual offences, violence, young sex offenders, groups;
Scotland. Scottish Executive. Central Research Unit
Publication year:
2000
Pagination:
125p.,bibliog.
Place of publication:
Edinburgh
Aims to provide a summary of current and recent UK and international literature on the sentencing of dangerous offenders and the subsequent management of these offenders, whether in hospital or prison settings, and upon release into the community. The research is divided by country, split up into those who use a community protection approach, those who use a clinical approach, and other jurisdictions. It concludes with an examination of the issue of compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Aims to provide a summary of current and recent UK and international literature on the sentencing of dangerous offenders and the subsequent management of these offenders, whether in hospital or prison settings, and upon release into the community. The research is divided by country, split up into those who use a community protection approach, those who use a clinical approach, and other jurisdictions. It concludes with an examination of the issue of compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Subject terms:
hospitals, human rights, law, law courts, legal proceedings, mental health problems, offenders, psychiatry, prisons, rape, sentences, sex offenders, sexual offences, treatment, therapy and treatment, violence, dangerous offenders, crime, criminal justice;
Location(s):
Canada, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, England, Hungary, Iceland, Finland, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Scotland, Spain, United States, Wales