Working with Juvenile Sexual Offenders

1
Working with Juvenile Sexual Offenders

• Differences from Adults and Special
  Considerations Donya L. Adkerson, MA,
  LCPCAlternatives Counseling, Inc.2005

2
Not Just Younger Adults

• Things to keep in mind

• Much less is known from research on JSOs than
  with ASOs
• What we know for sure about ASOs does not
  necessarily apply to JSOs
• Adolescence as a developmental stage goes into
  the early 20s
• Research does suggest that intervention is MORE
  EFFECTIVE with JSOs than adults

3
Practical Differences

• with JSOs

• There will be a legal guardian involved who can
  help or may hurt the intervention process
• JSOs may not be in control of simple things, like
  getting to therapy on time, or at all
• JSOs more likely to have continued contact with
  their victims that is out of their control (e.g.,
  in home or at same school)

4
Practical Differences

• with JSOs

• School and family systems often provide
  complications not faced with adults
• JSOs may view adults as an alien species
• Impulsivity, questionable judgement, and testing
  rules and limits are all normal and expected
  annoyances to some degree
• Wide variation among youth requires flexibility
  for maximum effectiveness

5
Group Issues with JSOs

• Caution is needed

• Peers can have greater power over youth than the
  adults in group
• Antisocial youth may be powerful role models
• Drive for acceptance by peers may be greater than
  desire to please group leader
• Too much difference in age/development can pose
  risk for exploitation of more vulnerable youth
• Outpatient JSOs more likely to see group members
  in other settings than with adults

6
Additional differences in working with JSOs

• Things change RAPIDLY B risk other assessments
  are very time-limited in their useful validity
• Sexual arousal patterns less fixed
• Level of sexual focus may be high due to hormones
  rather than compulsion
• Factual knowledge of human sexuality may be poor,
  misinformation is common

7
Additional differences in working with JSOs
PThere may be pressure from family to deny even
normal sexual interest or behavior, not just the
offending PThe younger the JSO the more likely a
victimization history is plying a role in the
offending PCurrent hidden victimization is a risk
8
Finding a Balance

• Safety Planning vs. Normal development

• JSOs need normal developmental experiences to
  develop a healthy lifestyle and the social skills
  and confidence they will need to help them avoid
  offending in the future.
• Normal developmental experiences may bring risks
  or opportunities to offend.
• Balancing these potential conflicts must be a
  case-by-case decision.

9
JSOs the School

• Case by case decisions

PNot all JSOs pose a risk at school PSchools may
overreact PSchools MUST be involved when there is
any identified potential for offending at
school ltPeers ltOn-campus daycare or younger
grades ltField trips ltBus
10
JSOs and work

• Common issues

• NO BABYSITTING!
• The JSO should never be in a position of
  authority over younger children.
• Fast food job precautions
• Not handling childrens parties
• Restrooms
• Playground areas

11
Other environments to consider

• Case by case

PAfter school programs PSports recreational
activities ltBeware swimming pools PChurch PHomes
of friends and relatives POnline/internet
PTransportation
12
Treatment Tasks

• With JSOs

PRemediate skill deficits that interfere with
successful functioning, such as ltIdentification
and expression of feelings ltRealistic levels of
trust ltAssertiveness training ltAnger stress
management emotional regulation ltCommunication
relationship skills ltSex-role stereotyping ltValues
clarification
13
Treatment Tasks

• With JSOs

• Develop positive and prosocial sexuality
• Learn about of human sexuality
• Sexual health-Birth control, STDs, safe sexual
  practices
• Gender roles
• Responsibility sexuality
• Healthy relationship and sexual skills

14
Treatment Tasks

• With JSOs

PIdentify family issues or dysfunction that
trigger, support, or fail to inhibit the
offending behaviors PWork with youth and family
system for successful reintegration, when
clinically appropriate
15
Family Reintegration Work

• should include

PSuccessful progress of the offender in his/her
treatment PTherapy including the offender an
family PTherapy for the victim (individual and
family) PSupervised visits transitioning to
successful unsupervised visits PProgression from
apology to reconciliation to reunification
16
Treatment Tasks

• With JSOs

PPrepare the youth for successful reintegration
into the community ltActivities in the
community ltAttending public or community
schools ltEmployment opportunity ltFamily visits P
17
Treatment Tasks

• With JSOs

PInvolve the youth in Arestorative justice_at_
activities to make amends, such as ltPublic
service ltCommunity projects ltFinancial restitution
18
Treatment Tasks

• With JSOs

PAddress other clinical needs ltSubstance
abuse ltMental health issues ltMedical
needs ltEducational needs
19
Treatment modalities that may be used for
intervention with JSOs

• Include

PIndividual PGroup PFamily PMilieu (for
residential settings) PMulti-systemic
20
Individual Therapy

• Benefits
• Allows the most individualized focus good for
  unusual needs that may not fit a broader group of
  clients
• Pacing can be as slow as needed for lower
  functioning clients and as repetitive as
  necessary
• Adaptable for shorter attention spans
• Some techniques (e.g., EMDR) only usable in
  individual work

21
Individual Therapy

• Limitations
• Easier to con an individual therapist
• Intense focus may increase resistance of some
  clients
• No opportunity to learn from peers or practice
  peer interaction lack observation of peer
  interaction
• May reinforce belief that the client is Asick_at_
  and isolated with his problem
• Costly

22
Choose Individual Therapy

• When

PClient cannot follow group process (due to age,
severe developmental delay, active
psychosis) PIntensive trauma recovery
work PUnique clinical need is not shared by other
group members PTo address severe anxiety or
depression PNo group is available
23
Individual may be used very effectively as an
adjunct to group

• Some uses for adjunctive Individual therapy
  include

• Teaching specific tasks (i.e., ammonia aversion)
• Handling reactive depressions
• Reinforcing clarifying concepts for cognitively
  slower youth
• Treating PTSD symptoms

24
AFamily_at_ can cover a wide range of people
ltBio, Step or Adoptive Parents ltCurrent, past or
future foster parents ltExtended
family ltCaseworkers and Mentors ltOther caregivers
25
Roadblocks presented by Caretakers

• Can impede the progress of the JSO

PDenial Minimization ltAcknowledging the offense
self failing as parent ltFears their anger at
child if accept the offense happens ltFears
choosing between children ltOwn victimization
history triggered dissociative
coping PEnabling ltHas own deviancy issues
ltIncestuous family culture
26
Roadblocks presented by Caretakers
PUnhealthy AProtecting_at_ ltSees role as protecting
child from consequences PParental
Dysfunction ltAlcohol drug abuse ltMental
illness ltCriminal involvement ltSerious domestic
violence PUninformed ltLacks knowledge, either
about offending overall or about their own
childs problems/patterns
27
Family Involvement may be critical

• Possible ways include

PFamily education PFamily therapy PEducational
groups PSupervised visitation POther means of
involvement
28
Family Therapy

• Benefits
• Allows education of the support system
• Addressing dysfunction within the family that may
  support the offending
• Allows for improvement of skills in general
  parenting and supervision of child with the
  sexual behavior problem
• Can improve likelihood of child remaining in or
  returning to the family system

29
Family Therapy

• Limitations
• Family secrets (e.g., undisclosed parental
  offending or parental trauma history)) can
  undermine the therapy and increase stress on
  client and sibs
• It can be damaging to victim if family therapy
  undertaking without victim treatment, appropriate
  work for parents support of victim, or if sibs
  are blaming victim
• Families who do not want the offender in home may
  sabotage treatment, increasing harm to client
• Often difficult to get/keep family participation

30
Choose family therapy

• when

• Parents need better understanding or skills
  relating the abuse problem
• Family Reintegration is a goal
• Other family dysfunction is impacting the client
• Communication skills or family relationships need
  strengthening

31
Family Therapy is Contraindicated

• When

• A parent is an untreated offender
• The victim is in the family and has not had
  victim treatment OR the abuser is not yet fully
  honest/accountable about the offending
• Parent-child dyad may be utilized to begin work
  until victim offender are both ready for family
  work
• The familys current level of hostility, anger,
  or punitive behavior makes therapy too
  emotionally risky for the client

32
Group Therapy
PBenefits ltDecreases ability to Aget over_at_ on the
therapist ltIncreases hope of positive
change ltDecreases sense of isolation, stigma, and
uniqueness ltSocial skills practice ltVery
effective for the problem area ltCost-effective
33
Group Therapy
PLimitations PNot all clients capable of
following group process ltRequires effort from
therapist to develop and maintain a positive
group culture ltA single disruptive member may
take valuable time from others ltHigher initial
level of nervousness from clients ltRisk breach of
confidentiality by group members
34
Typical goals of Group JSO therapy

• include

PSocial skills PCycle work PChanging
cognitions PLearning practical skills
strategies PDevelop motivation POn-going
assessment of client
35
Choose Group Therapy

• Whenever

PClient has capacity to interact, follow a group
process PTreatment needs are within norms for the
population
36
Types of Interventions that Utilized in Group

• include

PEducation PCorrection PModeling PReinforcing PCon
sequences PFacilitating peer Intervention
37
External Controls

• Are a form of therapeutic intervention

• Supervision
• Visual monitoring
• Alarms
• Locked facility
• Restrictions on activities, places, people
• Legal sanctions
• Physiological monitoring
• Polygraph monitoring
• Drug testing

38
Multi-systemic Therapy

• Research-proven value with criminal youth

• A combination of interventions, including
  therapy, family intervention, and community
  interventions
• Educational
• Occupational
• Recreational
• Proven effectiveness for reduction of delinquent
  behaviors including sexual offending
• Research established cost-effectiveness
• Likely best approach for antisocial/conduct
  disordered youth

39
Helpful Skills for JSO therapy

• Group or individual

PListen carefully and hear what is behind the
words PRead body language PCommunicate ltKnowledge
ltAttitudes
40
Helpful Skills for JSO therapy

• Group or individual

PKnow your subject ltJSO issues goals ltThe
clients history PHumor PCaring ltAbout
protecting victims ltAbout the client
41
Treatment traps In JSO work

• In any modality

PPower struggles PWasting time PToo much personal
disclosure PPersonalizing
42
Treatment traps In JSO work

• In any modality

PSide-stepping sex PEroticizing
material PReacting to the offense (rather than to
victim harm) PFailing to connect back to offending
43
Treatment traps In JSO work

• In any modality

PToo much belief or trust of self-report ltThis
gets worse the longer a therapist works with a
client!
44
Treatment traps In JSO work

• In group therapy

PIgnoring the silent PABeating a dead
horse_at_ PInappropriate modeling ltSocial
skills ltAbusive confrontation ltFacilitator
thinking errors
45
Treatment traps In JSO work

• In group therapy

PMonopolizing the group PGiving up control of the
group