by Dr Dave M. Jenkins

Created on: February 10, 2007   Last Updated: April 19, 2007

While there are multiple forms of sex abuse and sex crimes, the focus of this paper is around child sex abuse and offenders. Admittedly, there are female sex offenders; however, the research for this paper was limited to male offenders. The aim of this paper is to review the effects of child sex abuse, investigate counselor attitude for working with child sex offenders and explore treatment options for child sex offenders.

Victim Impact
Child sex abuse is a devastating crime that affects more than the victim. It affects the family and the whole community. The effects are long lasting. The damage can take place on an unseen level that may not show itself for years. The consequences of maltreatment may not show up until several years later in the form of antisocial or self-destructive behaviors (Tyler, Hoyt, Whitbeck, and Cauce, 2001). The maltreatment may manifest itself as low self-esteem, anxiety, poor social skills, and or substance abuse. The long-term effects may include promiscuity, depression, difficulties trusting, self-destructive behaviors and re-victimization (Tyler et al., 2001). On going sexual abuse is a continuous, repetitive exposure to interpersonal trauma that damages one's attachment at an early age and can seriously impair future capacity to attach in satisfying and safe ways (Silk, Lee, Hill, and Lohr, 1995). Attachment failures can distort interpersonal development throughout life and lead to adult character pathology (Silk et al., 1995).
The experience of childhood sexual abuse, when left untreated, may present symptoms that persist into adulthood (Stubenbort, Greeno, Mannarino, and Cohen, 2002). Unless the victim receives treatment, the victim is forced into a life long cycle of pain and trauma.
All is not lost because a history of childhood sex abuse does not sentence a person to become a sex offender. A longitudinal study conducted by Salter, McMillan, Richards, Talbot, Hodges, Bentovim, Hastings, and Stevenson, 2003 found that only 12% of their 224 subject that had a history of sexual abuse grew up to become sex offenders.
The effects of a sex abuse within a family can paralyze the family. Another consequence of sexual abuse is a sense of betrayal when the child realizes a trusted person has harmed them or failed to protect them (Smith and Howard, 1994). When the offender is caught and or convicted, the family may be thrown into a state of confusion. The non-offending parent (often the mother) may be blamed for not protecting the victim

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