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As a victim in a high-risk situation, Duane clearly needed more counseling and support to help him deal with the crimes that had been perpetuated upon him. This highlights how social inequities can affect a child's trajectory in life. A young boy from a socioeconomically advantaged home would likely not have been in the vulnerable position of Duane, given that there would have been more resources to provide him with supervision. Had he still suffered abuse, a wealthier family would be able to provide assistance through private means of the best quality (such as a private child psychologist). They would also have been able to have afforded academic support and specialized attention for their child.

Sexual abuse can happen to any child, and all children, regardless of income status, can experience developmental delays. However, families with additional financial resources can 'cushion' the blows of these difficulties much more easily. This is neither just nor fair but seems inevitable. According to Nelson (2007), the problem of treating juvenile offenders equitably is compounded by the fact that juvenile sex offenders often have certain unique characteristics, versus general offenders. They are more likely to have learning disabilities or conduct disorders, for example, and are more likely to continue to offend even after they are no longer members of the juvenile population (Nelson 2007). A chaotic family and exposure to sexuality at an early age is also characteristic of offenders, as was the case with Duane.

Sexual abuse is usually a 'chronic' disorder, versus other types of delinquent behavior such as status offenses (truancy,