The Extent and Origins of Sexual Molestation and Abuse among Incarcerated Adolescent Males

Abstract

While sexual victimization is one of the mostprevalentforms of child abuse reported within this country, investigations into the history of such abuse among groups ofjuvenile offenders remain limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent and origins of sexual victimizations perpetrated upon incarcerated male juvenile offenders. The results suggest significantly large numbers of adolescent males entering the juvenile justice system have been victimized and the incidence of sexual molestation and abuse within this population is often under-reported and misunderstood. These findings are discussed in relation to the need for developing intervention and treatment strategies within residential programs and the self-reinforcing cycle of abuse often found among the families of youthful offenders.