Who Are The Sex Offenders? They Are Getting Younger and More Violent

First the good news, sex offenses by adults have decreased 56 percent since 1993.

Now the bad, sex offenses my minors have increased drastically since a new study came out and they are typically more violent in natures. The incidents in sexual assaults by minors have risen from 24 thousand in 1985 to almost 34 thousand in 2004. The study shows that these offenses are also much more violent than in the past.

The number of children under 18 accused of forcible rape, violent and nonviolent sex offenses rose from 24,100 in 1985 to 33,800 in 2004, the AP’s analysis found. Violent offenses include attempted rape and sexual assault, while nonviolent offenses including fondling, statutory rape and prostitution. By comparison, rape and sexual assaults by adults decreased more than 56 percent from 1993 to 2004. Comparable statistics were unavailable before 1993.

The AP analyzed state and federal crime statistics, as well as independent research on juvenile sex offenders. Sources included the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Center for Juvenile Justice, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that specializes in statistical and policy research; and The Safer Society Foundation Inc., a Vermont nonprofit that works to prevent sexual abuse. via CNN.com