Children Who Commit Sex Offenses Juvenile sexual offenses have become a major issue in the juvenile justice system given that nearly 30% of all sexual assaults on children are carried out by perpetrators below the age of 18. The increase in juvenile sexual offenses has contributed to the need for professionals to develop effective means to respond to these crimes. Moreover, this recent trend has contributed to numerous studies on juvenile sexual recidivism. According to the findings of studies conducted since the early 1980s shows that a huge portion of sexual offenses against children are carried out by those below 18 years (Wind, 2003, p.76). Further researches demonstrate that nearly 20% of rapes and between 30 and 50% of sexual offenses or abuse is carried out by juveniles, especially males.

Based on these recent statistics, juvenile sex offenders continue to pose a huge problem for the law and society. The significant challenges are attributed to the fact that the actions of these offenders goes beyond the normal bounds of ordinary sexual behavior and challenge the conventional juvenile criminal jurisprudence. Actually, much of the dedication regarding sexual abuse and offenses against children has largely been influenced by the dreadful nature of the sexual abuses themselves. In some...

These concerns have emerged as the juvenile justice system has been seeking for suitable ways for dealing with the problem. Prosecutors in these system as well as other professionals have engaged in attempts to develop effective responses to the issue of juvenile sexual offenses. In examining whether juvenile sexual offenders should be prosecuted for sex crimes against another child, it is important to consider the probability of the perpetrator to commit future sexual offenses.
Since prosecuting these offenders seems to be the most suitable option for dealing with juvenile sexual offenders, these criminal should be prosecuted for committing a sex crime against another child. However, the prosecution should be accompanied by subjecting the offenders to juvenile sex offender treatment. The prosecution of these offenses plays a crucial role in providing suitable punishment of the offenders for…