Third of young offenders sexually abused
Brian Hogan, acting director of Oberstown Boys School in Lusk, Co Dublin, said their study of detainees found 30%-35% are either sexual offenders or victims.
Also, at any one time, between three and 5% of the centre’s 20 male detainees, aged between 12 and 16, are convicted sexual offenders.
Ronan Barry, one of the managers of the centre, said they organised yesterday’s high-profile international conference on young sexual abusers in the Grand Hotel, Malahide, Co Dublin, to learn more about the problem.
Mr Barry said they particularly wanted to learn how to relate with victims to ensure that they themselves did not go on to relate with other young people in an inappropriate sexual way.
The centre has now developed the expertise through reflective practice to deal with sexual offenders, and all of their policies and practices are being constantly reviewed.
Mr Barry said they believed up to 15% of detainees who have been sexually abused had the potential to go on to become abusers themselves.
He also said for every sexual crime committed, about 75 people are indirectly affected.
Mr Hogan said the conference was particularly beneficial as it allowed participants to meet and share their experience of what was ethical and worked in dealing with the issue.
“It is important to foster innovation and to take risks on behalf of the young people and the families we serve,” he said.
Mr Hogan said staff at Oberstown never forgot that they are dealing with young human beings.
“You cannot just write off the children referred to us by the courts. Everything possible should be done for them because it is possible to achieve significant changes in their lives.”
London-based child and adolescent psychiatrist Arnon Bentovim said violence in the home caused boys to go on and abuse other children.
Dr Bentovim said the implications for treatment are of great concern because of the need to help the children live an abuse-free life while dealing with their own experiences of abuse and neglect.
The psychiatrist pointed to UK statistics that showed 30% of sexual offenders are under 21 years while 16% are under 16.
In many cases where young boys sexually offend there was a family history of emotional, sexual and physical abuse.
He revealed results of a follow-up study of 240 sexually abused boys that found that 12% had been convicted of sexual offence.
Dr Bentovim, who also works with SWAAY, a UK-based residential service for boys between 11 and 16 who have been responsible for extensive abusive behaviour, told how they had a ‘no touch’ rule because touch had become perverse.
* One-in-three juvenile offenders are either perpetrators or victims of sexual abuse.
* UK statistics show 30% of sexual offenders are under 21 years while 16% are under 16.
* A follow-up study of 240 sexually-abused boys in the UK found 12% had been convicted of sexual offences.
* For every sexual crime committed, about 75 people are indirectly affected.
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