Mental Disorders and Criminal Re-referrals in Juveniles Who Sexually Offended

Overview

Journal Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Date 2015 Mar 7

PMID 25745514

Citations 3

Authors

Lisette A t Hart-Kerkhoffs

Cyril Boonmann

Theo Ah Doreleijers

Lucres Mc Jansen

Anton Ph van Wijk

Robert Rjm Vermeiren

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of mental disorders in (subgroups of) juvenile suspects who sexually offended (JSOs), and its relation with criminal re-referrals five to eight years later.

Methods: A sample of 106 JSOs (mean age 15.0 ± 1.5 years) referred to the Dutch Child Protection Board between May 2003 and December 2006 was classified into JSOs with child victims (N = 19), solo JSOs with adolescents and/or adults victims (N = 29), and group JSOs with adolescents and/or adults victims (N = 58). Mental disorders were assessed at baseline by means of a semi-structured interview (K-SADS-PL), the level of functioning by means of the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) and re-referrals was ascertained from official judicial registration systems.

Results: Three quarters of JSOs met criteria for at least one mental disorder. Comorbidity was found in more than half of the subjects and almost two thirds of the JSOs were functionally impaired. As compared to the other subgroups, JSOs with child victims showed higher rates of affective disorders and had a lower overall level of functioning. Furthermore, JSOs re-referred for another sexual offense were more often diagnosed with an affective disorder, were more often sexually abused and had a lower level of global functioning than JSOs who were not re-referred for another sex offense.

Conclusions: JSOs should receive mental assistance, as more than two thirds are functionally impaired due to mental problems. This may not only be important to safeguard the development of the juvenile offender but might also reduce repeated sexual offending.

Citing Articles

Sex offending among adolescents and young men with history of psychiatric inpatient care in adolescence.

Kaltiala R, Holttinen T, Ellonen N Crim Behav Ment Health. 2022; 32(2):87-99.

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Prevalence Rates and Evolution of Psychiatric Disorders Among Incarcerated Youths in Comparison With Non-incarcerated Youths.

Heller P, Morosan L, Badoud D, Laubscher M, Jimenez Olariaga L, Debbane M Front Psychiatry. 2022; 12:784954.

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Sexuality and Autistic-Like Symptoms in Juvenile Sex Offenders: A Follow-Up After 8 Years.

Baarsma M, Boonmann C, t Hart-Kerkhoffs L, de Graaf H, Doreleijers T, Vermeiren R J Autism Dev Disord. 2016; 46(8):2679-2691.

PMID: 27193182 PMC: 4938848. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2805-6.

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