Developmental issues in the assessment and treatment of adolescent perpetrators of sexual abuse

Sexual abuse perpetrated by adolescents is not recognized as a major problem. While there may be similarities between adults and adolescents who perpetrate sexual abuse, adolescent sexual abusers face developmental issues which are different from those of adults. It is argued that the specific needs of the adolescent sexual abuser cannot be fully understood by simply extrapolating knowledge derived from work with adult perpetrators. The purpose of the present paper is to discuss the importance of the developmental issues facing the adolescent perpetrator of sexual abuse and their implications for the assessment and treatment of this group of sexual abusers.