1 Basics of Youth Who Have Sexually Offended

1 Basics of Youth Who Have Sexually Offended JRA Academy Jeff Patnode October 2013 patnoj@dshs. wa. gov 360 -902 -7952

The Truth The protection of children is of the greatest importance to all of us. There are few crimes as sensitive and Concerning as sexual offenses, Specifically sexual offenses Committed against children. The impact of these offenses on the Victims and their families is devastating.

3 Today’s Topics 1. Myths & Facts 2. Community Protection Act 3. Legal Requirements 4. Research Tidbits

Victims • Myth: Most sexual assaults are committed by strangers (the mediasupported idea of the predator lurking in the bushes) • Truth: Most sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim or the victim’s family, regardless of whether the victim is a child or an adult (Greenfield, 1997; Lieb, Quinsey & Berliner, 1998; Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998)

YSOs as Adults • Myth: Youth that sexually offend are victims of child sexual abuse and grow up to be adult sex offenders • Truth: Multiple factors, not just sexual victimization as a child, are associated with the development of sexually offending behavior in youth • Most children who are sexually victimized never perpetrate against others (Center for Sex Offender Management [CSOM], 2006)

Recidivism • Myth: Most sex offenders reoffend • Truth: Only a very small number of youth re-offend sexually. Current research suggest rates between 5 to 14%. • The assumption that YSOs will become adult sex offenders is not supported. (Caldwell, 2010)

Current YSO Population in JRA Care 196 300 250 200 150 104 JRA In residence JRA Parole 100 50 0 Data taken from Automated Client Tracking System 10/2011

8 Legal Requirements

The 1990 Community Protection Act & Legal Requirements • Washington State Legislature passed the act in 1990. It was the country’s most comprehensive reforms addressing community protection from sexual offenders. • This comprehensive set of laws impacted: ▫ Increased prison term for sexual offenders ▫ Established registration and notification laws ▫ Authorized funds for treatment ▫ Provided services for the victims of sexual assault. ▫ Established civil commitment program

Community Protection • WA Risk Level Classification • Sex Offender Notification • Sex Offender Registration ▫ Local Law Enforcement ▫ Length of Registration determined by felony class Class A – Lifetime Class B – 15 years Class C – 10 years

Registration Requirements • Juveniles and adults have the same registration requirements. • Petitioning for Relief of registration. • Petitioning for records to be sealed.

Community Notification Per RCW 4. 24. 550 • Level 1: Low risk to reoffend “in the community at large. ” • Level 2: Moderate risk to reoffend “in the community at large. ” • Level 3: High risk to reoffend “in the community at large. ” Passive and Active Community Notification Different jurisdictions have different approaches

Protection Orders • Many types of Protection Orders: Domestic Violence (DVPO), Sexual Assault Protection Orders (SAPO) Court ordered “No Contact” of a formal disposition or informally handwritten into orders on adjudication.

14 School Legal Requirements • RCW 13. 40. 215 • Prohibited from attending school with victim or victim’s siblings.

Why do I need to know this? • Treatment • Transition/Re-entry ▫ Legal consequences • Reunification

16 Research Tidbits

17 A Paradigm Shift • The field of treating youth who have sexually offended is experiencing dramatic changes. • Research and practice suggesting we shouldn’t use adult treatment approaches with juveniles. • JRA among the leaders making shift toward more holistic treatment.

What do we know now? National Characteristics of Juveniles who Commit Sex Offenses • • • Mostly male, ages 13 -17 Females account for 8% of sexual offenses 20 -50% Victims of Physical Abuse 40 -80% Victims of Sexual Abuse 30 -60% Suffer Learning Disabilities Females suffer at a much higher rate of both physical and sexual abuse • 80% may suffer from other psychiatric disorders Understanding Juvenile Sexual Offending Behavior: Emerging Research, Treatment Approaches and Management Practices 1999 Longo, R. , Prescott, D. (2006). Current Perspectives: Working with Sexually Aggressive Youth & Youth with Sexual Behavior Problems.

Juvenile offenders are different then adults • • More fluid sexual interests & arousal patterns Incomplete brain development More impulsivity Less entrenched antisocial values & attitudes Low social skills much more common Greater influence of family, peers Lower recidivism rates Despite these important distinctions, there is no difference in registration or community notification laws between adults and juveniles.

Research • Common Characteristics among juveniles who commit sex offenses: ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Adverse family backgrounds Attachment difficulties Mental health needs Social competency deficits Empathy deficits Inadequate coping skills Victims of physical and/or sexual abuse

More Research: Sexual & Non-sexual Recidivism of YSO’s 7. 80% Sexual Recidivism General Recidivism 43. 40% Caldwell 2010 N=11, 219 Approx. 6 year follow-up

Preliminary Typologies Youth who have Sexually Offended • Adolescent Onset, Non-Paraphilic (90%) -Experimenters/ Anxious and Depressed • Life-Course Persistent-Antisocial (5%) -Conduct-disordered youth, engage in variety of criminal behaviors • Early Adolescent Onset, Paraphilic Interests (5%) -Emerging deviant interest Becker and Kaplan (1988) A)A complete desisting pathway, B) A continued non sexual delinquency pathway, or C) A continued sexual offending pathway. Hunter, John (2006). Understanding Diversity in Juvenile Sexual Offenders: Implications for Assessment, Treatment , and Legal Management.

Sex Offense Treatment Coordinators (SOTC) • • EGCC-Jeff Merritt GHS-Charles South NYC-Steve Fox Spokane Parole Office-Art Cabellero Yakima Parole Office-Chad Kline Everett Parole Office-Mark Cho Seattle Parole Office-Dee Sowter Region 3 Parole Offices-Jedd Pelander

24 Role of SOTC’s • Liaison between institutional/regional SOTC’s. • Include SOTC in: ▫ ▫ ▫ 71. 09 Reviews and ROA documentation. Technical expert for JRRC’s and other staff. Coordination for polygraphs. Transition plans. Re-review of risk level (if needed).

Points to Ponder When You Work With Youth Who Have Sexually Offended • • • A “critical occupation” You need to evaluation your beliefs & their impact on your work Understand that failures do occur, not all will make progress Talk with your supervisor regularly. Go to team meetings and use consultations. Know your role and do it well Realize your limits, you cannot make clients change Process your feelings with other staff Leave issues at work Be prepared to recognize when you are burned out Network, share and ask for help when you need it Take a breath! Keep a sense of humor