ABSTRACT
Research on adolescents involved in sexually abusive or aggressive behavior has paid little attention to the lives of this group prior to and after their involvement in a sexual offense. Consequently, the extant literature often provides a description of such individuals that reduces them to their characteristics at just one stage of their life course. We consider the extent to which recent research from a developmental life course criminological framework supports the perspective that adolescents involved in sexually abusive behavior are a group of life-long, predatory sexual offenders. Recommendations for moving this initial research forward are considered, with specific attention to: (a) the possible link between childhood sexual behavior and later sexually abusive behavior; and (b) the way policies for adolescents involved in sexually abusive or violent behavior might reduce the likelihood of experiencing positive psychosocial outcomes that are typically helpful turning points in the lives of former offenders.
