Assignment:
One of the most troubling and difficult issues facing our Juvenile Justice System is that of child sex offenders, As you will read from the studies attached, the problem with child offenders is in three parts:
1) When a child exhibits sexual behavior towards another child, is it normal experimentation? When does it become a sex offense?
2) Is a child sex offender an offender, a victim or both? The vast majority of children that commit sexual acts are victims of abuse themself.
3) Our society has largely determined that adult sex offenders are untreatable. How then can treatment work in the area of children?
For this discussion, I want to define some of the terminology. Pedophilia is by definition, the sexual attraction towards a PRE-PUBSCENT child. Attraction to a young man or woman who is simply not old enough to consent to sex, but has developed the sexual maturity of an adult, is not considerered a sexual disorder. It is a crime (statutory rape) due to the ability of the juvenile to consent, but not a disorder. We are focusing here on child sex offenders, involving children acting on sexual desires to other pre-pubescent children. This is not a discussion about teenage love and exploration.
For the discussion, please describe your approach to dealing with children who exhibit sexual behavior directed towards pre-pubscent behavior. It would be helpful to include in your analysis, one of the three unified theories of crime, as an underlying basis for your plan. The resource articles are listed below:
- Abuse as a symptom
- When is abuse normal exploration?
- What is abuse?
- Is child abuse an issue of orientation?
Directions: Use links above and reference. Needs to be 5 paragraphs total and a reference page. Please read directions.