A six year follow-up of a clinical sample of sexually offending adolescents. Exploring the outcome on health, sexuality, social adjustment, and sexual reoffending.

• Background: Risk assessment protocols have been taken into practice during the last fifteen years. Further research is needed to validate the assessment practice. Some follow up studies have used solely data from registers as outcome variables. Individual follow up of clinical samples may contribute further to our knowledge.Method: A sample of previously risk assessed males aged 12-18 years was used for this study. ERASOR (Worling & Curwen, 2001) was used to support the structured clinical assessments.To explore outcome on health, sexual reoffending and social adjustment among assessed males, 78 young adults were invited to participate in the follow-up study, at least four years past assessment. Their mean age by assessment was 14.9 years (SD 1.6) and by follow-up 21.59 years (SD 2.4). Respondents were seen for a face-to-face interview and for completing six questionnaires.Result: Thirty-nine males (50%) agreed to participate. As index-offence the majority sexually targeted children. Twelve young males were assessed being of high risk of sexual reoffending. The remaining 27 were assessed being of moderate or low risk.One-fifth of the sample (n=8) had sexually reoffended by follow-up. Those who had sexually reoffended by follow up were significantly more likely by index offense to be assessed in high risk of sexual reoffending. Four of the suggested risk factors of ERASOR were significantly associated with sexual reoffending. The total of correct predictions was 62.0%. Those who sexually reoffended were significantly more likely to have learning disabilities, to self rate a risk of sexual reoffending by follow-up, and to report being a victim of sexual abuse than the non-reoffenders. The reoffenders vs non-reoffenders did not differ on the extent of received specialized treatment interventions.Discussion: We examined the validity of using a structured risk assessment (ERASOR) and identified 62% correct predictions by follow up, which confirms previous promising results. Further learning disabilities emerged as a risk factor for sexual reoffending together with previously suggested risk factors. Those who sexually reoffended received specialized treatment to the same extent as non-reoffenders of the sample. The findings underline the importance of adjusted interventions for the group of young people with impairment.Results on a number of variables will be presented and discussed as well as clinical implications. 

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Socialt arbete

Social Work

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