Re: juvenile perpetrators in child sexual abuse

[John M Price PhD <jmprice@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 2 Mar 2003, Jean Charles Marion wrote:

> Hello,
>     I am a doctoral student @ Columbia University School of Nursing.  In 
> my clinical practice as a pediatric nurse practitioner on Long Island 
> NY, I have seen a significant increase in the number of children under 
> 15 as the perpetrators of sexual abuse on other children.

I'd like to know if this is a definitional issue, as Okami has mentioned a
couple of times, or perhaps an overreaching of law enforcement.  As to the
latter I recall a discussion with a defense attorney about a 13yo being
charged with sexual abuse.  Tha abuse consisted of mutual masturbation
with an 8yo friend/neighbor he'd known for a couple of years.  (This, of
course, also begs the question of the definition of abuse being used.)

This may point to a societal issue where we are all (in the US) becoming
really paranoid about any sexual activity of children, moving what would
be considered reasonably normal developmental behaviors into the realm of
crime based on unresonable assumptions of childhood sexual development or
flat out lack of such knowledge by caseworkers.

The question may be asked effectively by comparisons with our European and
Canadian friends - would the behavior so criminalized in any case be seen
as rising to that level in those nations?

I am reminded of the kid in CO who was so accused because of interactions
with his sister(?), causing Swedes involved to immediately leave the US,
and extract the kids as soon as possible as well.  We were not seen in
such a good light because of the reaction of CPS in CO.

-- 
John M. Price, PhD                                     jmprice@calweb.com
Life: Chemistry, but with feeling!      |      PGP Key on request or FTP!
Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated          Atheist# 683