Michael P. Hagan

Eight-Year Comparative Analyses of Adolescent Rapists, Adolescent Child Molesters, Other Adolescent Delinquents, and the General Population

This study involved an 8-year comparative analysis of sexual assault among adolescent perpetrators of sexual assault against children, adolescent perpetrators of rape against same age or older peers, other adolescent delinquents, and the general population. Results of this study found that adolescent sex offenders were significantly more likely to sexually reoffend in the 8-year period after their release from a juvenile correctional facility than were a control group of other non–sex offending adolescent delinquents from the same institution. Juvenile non-sex offenders, child sexual offenders, and adolescent rapists were all found to be significantly more likely to be involved in sexual assaults than was the general male population in the United States.

Characteristics of adolescent sex offenders: A review of the research

While significant research has been completed on adult sex offenders, this has yet to be the case for adolescent offenders. This article reviews current research on adolescent sex offenders, discusses the importance of research in this area, and describes directions for future study.

A Ten-Year Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Rapists upon Return to the Community:

This is a 10-year longitudinal analysis examining the recidivism of adolescent perpetrators of rape upon return to the community. All subjects were adolescent rapists who had completed a sex offender treatment program. The 10-year follow-up found that the majority were involved in other crimes but did not perpetrate another sexual assault. The pattern of sexual assault was similar in the years 6 to 10 as compared with the years 1 to 5. This suggests that adolescent rapists continue to commit offenses at a similar level of risk after conviction for an initial sexual assault for 6 to 10 years after release. There appears to be no decrease in the risk of sexual recidivism even up to 10 years after release. Although it may be premature to suggest that these findings are comparable to trends found in the adult populations, there is no evidence to suggest they are inconsistent.

An Analysis of Adolescent Perpetrators of Homicide and Attempted Homicide Upon Return to the Community

This study assesses the recidivism for adolescent perpetrators of homicide and attempted homicide who were released from a juvenile correctional facility in the late 1970s and 1980s. This follow-up is a minimum of 5 years post release to more than 15 years after release. The results indicate that the youth studied did not perpetrate additional homicides after release. The majority were reinvolved in crime, however, and most who reoffended did so against persons. A significant number did not become reinvolved in crime, and almost half were not reincarcerated. The youth who perpetrated homicides and attempted homicides did not differ significantly from other juvenile delinquents in their likelihood to reoffend upon release as evidenced by a comparison of the two groups.

A Ten-Year Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Perpetrators of Sexual Assault Against Children

Abstract The purpose of this study was to follow the transition of adolescent perpetrators of sexual assault against children upon their return to the community to help determine the minimal base level of risk they present for sexual and other re-offending. The results of this study found that the majority of adolescent perpetrators of sexual assault against children re-offended, but were not involved in another sexual assault. Twelve percent of the sample re-offended sexually, 66% were convicted of non-sexual offenses, and 22% were not convicted of any offenses during the follow-up period. This study also found that the risk of sexual re-offense continued throughout the ten-year follow-up, and that the majority of first sexual offenses post-release occurred between years zero and five. Additional research recommendations are made.

Evaluation of a Cognitive Intervention Program for Juvenile Offenders

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a cognitive intervention program for juvenile offenders. Using the How I Think (HIT) Questionnaire, 165 offenders from three juvenile correctional facilities in Wisconsin are assessed after completion of the first two phases of the Juvenile Cognitive Intervention Program. Multiple t tests are used to assess change in thinking as measured by the HIT. Results indicate significant improvement in thinking across all areas as measured by the HIT. Discussion regarding the significance of the results and recommendations for future research are provided.

Screening for Suicide Among Juvenile Delinquents Reliability and Validity Evidence for the Suicide Screening Inventory (SSI)

The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of a new instrument for assessing suicidality in adjudicated delinquents. The Suicide Screening Inventory (SSI), a 14-item interview, was evaluated based on archival data from 442 adolescents, primarily male, between the ages of 12 and 20. Two estimates of reliability indicated moderate internal consistency. In addition, a moderate correlation (r= .53) between the SSI and the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale suggested convergent validity. Expert ratings of the instruments utility also provided content validity evidence. Descriptive data were collected on four youth who made suicide attempts. Elevated scores among these select cases provided some evidence for consequential validity. These results are discussed with regard to practical and research implications.

The Effect of a Cognitive Treatment Program for Male and Female Juvenile Offenders

This study assessed the effectiveness of a cognitive intervention treatment program for juvenile offenders, which is called the Juvenile Cognitive Intervention Program. The program was provided to incarcerated delinquents at three juvenile correctional facilities in Wisconsin. The results indicated that using the How I Think (HIT) Questionnaire as a measure of change, significant improvement in reducing cognitive distortions were found across age groups and gender, and included individuals who were unable to successfully complete the program the first time and then completed it successfully. The HIT is a measure of cognitive distortions that are associated with delinquent thinking patterns and behavior. Cognitive change is a major focus of treatment programs in juvenile corrections as there has been substantive research demonstrating a link to reduced delinquent and later criminal behavior.

Five-Year Accuracy of Assessments of High Risk for Sexual Recidivism of Adolescents:

This study looked at 12 juveniles in Wisconsin who were recommended by experts for commitment under Chapter 980, known as the Sexually Violent Person Commitments Act, but who ultimately were not committed. The purpose was to determine the accuracy of these assessments and risk for sexual reoffending for juvenile sexual offenders. The results found a rate of 42% sexual recidivism among these individuals, with a 5-year at-risk period. This figure is in contrast to the low rates of sexual recidivism reported in the general juvenile sexual research. This provides evidence that the capability to assess the risk in juvenile sexual re-offending may at times be higher than previously estimated. Implications of these unusual results are discussed.

An Assessment of the Effectiveness of an Intensive Treatment Program for Severely Mentally Disturbed Juvenile Offenders

This study is a follow-up of a 1992 analysis of juvenile offenders with severe mental and behavioral disorders who completed an intensive treatment program on the Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) at a midwestern juvenile correctional facility. The recidivism of this group was compared with that of a control group of offenders who were not on the ITU as a means of assessing (a) overall program effectiveness and (b) status as a mentally disturbed offender on the ITU as a predictive factor for further criminal and violent behavior This study specifically compared these two groups in rates of reoffending, type of reoffending, and sentencing. The results showed that ITU and control subjects did not differ significantly on any of these variables. It was concluded that mentally disturbed offenders who complete intensive treatment programming reduce their risk for further reoffending, including future violent offending, to levels similar to that of juvenile offenders from the general institution population.