| Juveniles |
The age of 14 has special significance in the prosecution of children for sex
offenses. It is the most common age of all offenders in cases of sex
offenses investigated by police in the United States. The graph below, from
a government analysis of national crime data shows the proportion of
people of different ages in the commission of all sexual assaults on record
from 1991 to 1996. Notice that the steep increase in offender age on the left
side of the graph corresponds roughly to puberty. What we have here is
evidence of the onset of the sexual interest of children. And the fact that
those children are being prosecuted for exploring that interest.
offenses. It is the most common age of all offenders in cases of sex
offenses investigated by police in the United States. The graph below, from
a government analysis of national crime data shows the proportion of
people of different ages in the commission of all sexual assaults on record
from 1991 to 1996. Notice that the steep increase in offender age on the left
side of the graph corresponds roughly to puberty. What we have here is
evidence of the onset of the sexual interest of children. And the fact that
those children are being prosecuted for exploring that interest.
Psychology, Public Policy, and Law
published an important study showing
that the systems in place to determine
which juveniles are at high risk for
recidivism simply don't do the job.
“This finding suggests that a juvenile's
assessed level of risk may be more
dependent on the state he lives in than
on his actual recidivism risk," the
authors concluded. And SORNA's
own tiered risk system fared even
worse: Juveniles designated as high
risk actually recidivated at lower rates
than others. In summary, the
researchers concluded that the risk
tools that have such important
implications for the lives and futures of
adolescents are both "nonscientific"
and "arbitrary."
[Click here for study]
published an important study showing
that the systems in place to determine
which juveniles are at high risk for
recidivism simply don't do the job.
“This finding suggests that a juvenile's
assessed level of risk may be more
dependent on the state he lives in than
on his actual recidivism risk," the
authors concluded. And SORNA's
own tiered risk system fared even
worse: Juveniles designated as high
risk actually recidivated at lower rates
than others. In summary, the
researchers concluded that the risk
tools that have such important
implications for the lives and futures of
adolescents are both "nonscientific"
and "arbitrary."
[Click here for study]
A pair of studies in 2003 and 2005 about Megan's Law by the US National
Center for Juvenile Justice found that:
• Thirty-two states required at least some juveniles found guilty of a sex
offense, either adjudicated in juvenile or convicted in (adult) criminal court, to
register as sex offenders. Twenty-six of those states applied the
requirement to juveniles of any age, while six limited it to those who were at
least a certain age, ranging from 11 to 15, when committing the offense.
(South Carolina would register at any age, but if the child was under 12 at the
time of adjudication or conviction, the registration was not made public.) In
16 of the 32 states, the requirement applied to all such juveniles, subject to
any applicable age limitation. The other 16 states allowed judges some
discretion as to whether to require registration, based on a variety of
factors, such as risk of reoffense and level of danger to public safety.
• Nine states and DC did not register adjudicated juveniles, but required
juveniles convicted of a sex offense in (adult) criminal court to register.
• The remaining nine states did not register juveniles at all.
The Adam Walsh Act changes that, requiring all states to include in their
public registries offenders who were at least 14 at the time of committing
certain offenses, or lose a portion of their federal funding for law
enforcement resources.
[Click here for study]
Center for Juvenile Justice found that:
• Thirty-two states required at least some juveniles found guilty of a sex
offense, either adjudicated in juvenile or convicted in (adult) criminal court, to
register as sex offenders. Twenty-six of those states applied the
requirement to juveniles of any age, while six limited it to those who were at
least a certain age, ranging from 11 to 15, when committing the offense.
(South Carolina would register at any age, but if the child was under 12 at the
time of adjudication or conviction, the registration was not made public.) In
16 of the 32 states, the requirement applied to all such juveniles, subject to
any applicable age limitation. The other 16 states allowed judges some
discretion as to whether to require registration, based on a variety of
factors, such as risk of reoffense and level of danger to public safety.
• Nine states and DC did not register adjudicated juveniles, but required
juveniles convicted of a sex offense in (adult) criminal court to register.
• The remaining nine states did not register juveniles at all.
The Adam Walsh Act changes that, requiring all states to include in their
public registries offenders who were at least 14 at the time of committing
certain offenses, or lose a portion of their federal funding for law
enforcement resources.
[Click here for study]
| Reports |
| Justice Policy Institute |
Youth who commit sex offenses: Facts and Fiction
In the push to target dangerous individuals and protect children from
sexual violence, lawmakers have indiscriminately targeted some youth
with legislation that publicly brands them as sexual predators. This is
bad policy because public registries not only fail to protect
communities, but they hurt young people by stigmatizing them and
alienating them from crime-reducing social networks like families,
schools and jobs. This fact sheet debunks some of the most common
misperceptions about young people convicted of sex offenses.
[Click here for full report]
sexual violence, lawmakers have indiscriminately targeted some youth
with legislation that publicly brands them as sexual predators. This is
bad policy because public registries not only fail to protect
communities, but they hurt young people by stigmatizing them and
alienating them from crime-reducing social networks like families,
schools and jobs. This fact sheet debunks some of the most common
misperceptions about young people convicted of sex offenses.
[Click here for full report]
The negative impact of registries on youth: Why are youth different
from adults?
from adults?
The federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA),
which mandates a national registry of people convicted of sex offenses
and expands the type of offenses for which a person must register,
applies to both adults and children. Although 31 states already post
young people on their sex offender registries, SORNA imposes
additional burdens on these states by requiring community
notification and prohibiting any process that allows a state to eventually
remove a rehabilitated youth from the registry. By publicizing the names
of youth, SORNA undermines state’s rights to implement many
developmentally appropriate practices in youth court. This practice
erodes youth court confidentiality -- a cornerstone of the rehabilitative
process. Youth are different from adults because their developing
brains are highly amenable to treatment. A registry system designed for
adults could carry lifelong consequences, and should not apply to youth.
[Click here for full report]
which mandates a national registry of people convicted of sex offenses
and expands the type of offenses for which a person must register,
applies to both adults and children. Although 31 states already post
young people on their sex offender registries, SORNA imposes
additional burdens on these states by requiring community
notification and prohibiting any process that allows a state to eventually
remove a rehabilitated youth from the registry. By publicizing the names
of youth, SORNA undermines state’s rights to implement many
developmentally appropriate practices in youth court. This practice
erodes youth court confidentiality -- a cornerstone of the rehabilitative
process. Youth are different from adults because their developing
brains are highly amenable to treatment. A registry system designed for
adults could carry lifelong consequences, and should not apply to youth.
[Click here for full report]
According to a Dallas Morning News analysis of the Texas sex offender
registry, there are about 4,000 people on the registry who were younger
than 18 at the time of their crime, including 1,004 younger than 14. Even
folks over at the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault were
"stunned" that children so young were required to register. I actually was
aware (from reading the law) that it was possible for children that young
to wind up on the registry, but I had no idea that one-quarter of the
juveniles registered were under 14 when they committed their offense.
[Click here for full article]
registry, there are about 4,000 people on the registry who were younger
than 18 at the time of their crime, including 1,004 younger than 14. Even
folks over at the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault were
"stunned" that children so young were required to register. I actually was
aware (from reading the law) that it was possible for children that young
to wind up on the registry, but I had no idea that one-quarter of the
juveniles registered were under 14 when they committed their offense.
[Click here for full article]
| Texas sex offender registry includes kids as young as ten |
When it comes to sex, a child is considered anyone under the age
of 17 (in Illinois). When it comes to murder, a 12-year-old is
considered an adult. What's wrong with our system?
of 17 (in Illinois). When it comes to murder, a 12-year-old is
considered an adult. What's wrong with our system?
| When is a child a child? |
Boy, 12, faces grown up murder charges
[Click here for story]
[Click here for story]
| Swiss Promote Extra-Small Condoms for Preteen Boys |
The Swiss have come up with an idea that they hope might curb the growing
problem of teenage pregnancy rates: extra-small condoms for boys as
young as 12.
A government-backed study of 1,480 people age 10 to 20 showed that more
were having sex from the ages of 12 to 14 compared with a similar study in
the 1990s.
Young boys, the study showed, "have more of a tendency not to protect
themselves" and do not understand "the consequences of what they are
doing," a woman who headed the research, Nancy Bodmer, told The Daily
Telegraph of London.
[Click here for article]
problem of teenage pregnancy rates: extra-small condoms for boys as
young as 12.
A government-backed study of 1,480 people age 10 to 20 showed that more
were having sex from the ages of 12 to 14 compared with a similar study in
the 1990s.
Young boys, the study showed, "have more of a tendency not to protect
themselves" and do not understand "the consequences of what they are
doing," a woman who headed the research, Nancy Bodmer, told The Daily
Telegraph of London.
[Click here for article]
| Should Teens be on Sex Registry? |
Adolescents' judgment skills are not fully developed; if they were, there
would not be laws prohibiting them from driving, drinking alcohol or buying
tobacco. They are still under the supervision of others, whether their parents
or other adults. Until they are individuals completely under their own
recognizance, the impact of identifying them as a criminal to the public would
be excessive.
A registry would end a teen's chance to become a productive part of
society, because society would feel compelled to shun them even if they are
taking the right steps, such as getting treatment for their behavior.
[Click here for article]
would not be laws prohibiting them from driving, drinking alcohol or buying
tobacco. They are still under the supervision of others, whether their parents
or other adults. Until they are individuals completely under their own
recognizance, the impact of identifying them as a criminal to the public would
be excessive.
A registry would end a teen's chance to become a productive part of
society, because society would feel compelled to shun them even if they are
taking the right steps, such as getting treatment for their behavior.
[Click here for article]
| MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON |