The Safer Society Handbook of Assessment and Treatment of Adolescents Who Have Sexually Offended
Edited by Dr. Sue Righthand and Dr. William Murphy

The Safer Society Handbook of Assessment and Treatment with Adolescents Who Have Sexually Offended is a resource aimed at aiding professionals in the fields of juvenile justice, psychology, social work, criminal justice, and public policy. This handbook is not only for current practitioners but also serves as an educational tool for students preparing to enter these professions. It provides an evidence-based guide to understanding, assessing, and intervening in cases where adolescents engage in sexually harmful behaviors.

Written by experts brought together by editors Dr. Sue Righthand and Dr. William Murphy, two of the leading experts on youth who have sexually harmed, this book is a single-volume reference on the best practices for professionals working with this population.

Purpose and Audience

• Practitioners: Clinicians, attorneys, juvenile justice personnel, and others involved in the direct care or management of adolescents who have sexually offended.
• Policy Makers: To inform policy development around sexual offending by adolescents.
• Next Generation: Undergraduate and graduate students in relevant fields to equip them with knowledge for future practice.

Scientifically Comprehensive

• The handbook integrates research reflecting the dynamic nature of adolescent development.
• It underscores the importance of understanding that healthy sexual behavior is a natural and vital part of growing up.
• It was developed by leading experts from around the world, providing a broad perspective on adolescent sexual offending.

Four-Part Structure

• Characteristics of Adolescents Who Sexually Offend:
  • Examines unique characteristics, offending patterns, and potential pathways to desistance.
• Assessment:
  • Discusses forensic assessments, clinical implications, trauma-informed assessments, and the distinction between general and sex offense-specific risk assessments.
• Intervention:
  • Outlines best practices in intervention, emphasizing developmentally appropriate, socio-ecological approaches tailored to individual needs.
• Special Issues:
  • Covers topics such as pornography use, public policy implications, and community reentry strategies.

Highlights

• Understanding Adolescent Development: Recognizing the developmental context in which sexual offending occurs.
• Normative Sexual Behavior: Providing insights into what constitutes healthy adolescent sexual behavior.
• Assessment Practices: Exploring forensic and clinical assessments, including their strengths, limitations, and best practices for quality assurance.
• Intervention Strategies: Detailing effective interventions that consider gender, cognitive functioning, mental health, and other diverse characteristics to promote risk reduction and prosocial skills.

Unlike adults, adolescents benefit from interventions that recognize their developmental stage and the unique factors influencing their behavior. Research shows that young people who engage in harmful sexual behaviors often have histories of trauma and respond better to individualized, strengths-based approaches that address underlying needs while promoting healthy development. Effective treatment plans incorporate family involvement and developmental considerations, helping professionals leverage the natural plasticity of adolescence to foster positive change. Through this informed approach, clinicians can better distinguish between typical exploration activities and those activities that involve concerning behaviors. This will assist therapists to create interventions that reduce recidivism while supporting healthy development during this critical period.

An Essential Reference

The Safer Society Handbook of Assessment and Treatment with Adolescents Who Have Sexually Offended stands as an essential reference for all involved in or entering fields where they might encounter adolescents with sexually harmful behavior. Its focus on scientific rigor, developmental sensitivity, and the integration of positive psychology and cognitive-behavioral therapy principles makes it a cornerstone for those committed to fostering rehabilitation and reducing recidivism in this specialized population.

Endorsement

"In The Safer Society Handbook of Assessment and Treatment of Adolescents Who Have Sexually Offended, Editors Sue Righthand and William Murphy have assembled an impressive series of chapters on the characteristics of those who offend, best practices in assessment and intervention, and special issues. Scientifically comprehensive, legally relevant, developmentally sensitive, and clinically sophisticated, this volume will offer valuable assistance to all who work with this challenging population". - Kirk Heilbrun, PhD, Drexel University

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The Handbook is the first book in a new imprint from Safer Society Press: Global Institute of Forensic Research Professional Book.