Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

MEGA ♪: A New Paradigm in Risk Assessment Tools for Sexually Abusive Youth

  • ADULT SURVIVOR, PARENTING COMPETENCY AND SEXUALLY ABUSIVE YOUTH ASSESSMENT
  • Published:
Journal of Family Violence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Prognostic utility of MEGA ♪ was evaluated on a sample of 969 male and female youth without history of sexually-related probation or parole violation. Six month follow-up of 334 (34 %) found a new sexually-related probation or parole violation occurred in 28 (8.4 %). ROC findings showed Risk Scale significantly (p < .001) predictive of a new violation (AUC = .71 [95 % CI = .62 to .80]). MEGA ♪ Risk Scale scores added incremental prognostic utility over demographic variables (p < 0.001) and resulted in a net reclassification improvement of 31.5 %. Contravention for youth ages 4 to 12 was defined as new reports of sexually abusive behaviors in three or more different locations, or sexual behaviors that included oral, anal, vaginal, direct skin to skin contact, and/or penetration. Post-hoc analysis found 8 youth (21 %) experienced these outcomes. Risk Scale was significantly predictive (AUC = .77 [95 % C.I. = .60 to .96; p = 0.016]).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Coarse sexual improprieties are behaviors that reflect an unsophisticated awareness of psychosexual conditions, environments, or social situations. Youth with coarse sexual improprieties engage in sexual behaviors that are crude, indecent, and outside the societal norms of propriety (e.g., crude sexual gestures, sexually suggestive and/or vulgar sexual comments, mooning, looking up skirts, a young child rubbing his or her genitals in public or trying to grab another’s genitals, a child looking over a stall in a public restroom) (Miccio-Fonseca, 2010).

  2. Sexually abusive behaviors and improprieties of these youth fall along a coercion continuum of low, moderate, high, or very high (lethal) risk; this applies to sexually abusive youths who are either adjudicated or non-adjudicated.

  3. ERASOR, 2.0’s author, James Worling, began to refer to the tool in his writings as ERASOR. The tool is commonly referred to by independent researchers in this way, so the name ERASOR is used in this article.

References

  • Aebi, M., Plattner, B., Steinhausen, H. C., & Bessler, C. (2011). Predicting sexual and nonsexual recidivism in a consecutive sample of juveniles convicted of sexual offenses. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 23(4), 456–473.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boer, D. P., Hart, S. D., Kropp, P. R., & Webster, C. D. (1997). Manual for the sexual violence risk-20. Burnaby, British Columbia: The Mental Health Law and Policy Institute, Simon Fraser University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell, M., Ziemke, M., & Vitacco, M. (2008). An examination of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act as applied to juveniles: Evaluating the ability to predict sexual recidivism. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 14, 89–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpentier, J., & Proulx, J. (2011). Correlates of recidivism among adolescents who have sexually offended. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 23(4), 434–455.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chu, C. M., Ng, K., Fong, J., & Teoh, J. (2012). Assessing youth who sexually offended: the predictive validity of the ERASOR, J-SOAP-II, and the YLS/CMI in a non-western context. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 24(2), 153–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collie, R. M., & Ward, T. (2007). Current empirical assessment methods for adolescents and children who sexually abuse others. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 16(4), 75–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeLong, E. R., DeLong, D. M., & Clarke-Pearson, D. L. (1988). Comparing the areas under two or more correlated Receiver Operating Characteristic curves: a nonparametric approach. Biometrics, 44(3), 837–845.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Epperson, D., & Ralston, C. A. (2007). Validation of the Juvenile Sexual Offender Recidivism Risk Assessment Tool-II (JSORRAT-II). Paper presented at the 26th Annual Research and Training Conference of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), San Diego, CA.

  • Epperson, D., & Ralston, C. (2009). Validation of the Juvenile Sexual Offender Recidivism Risk Assessment Tool-II (JSORRAT-II) in Iowa. Paper presented at the 28th Annual Research and Training Conference of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), Dallas, CA.

  • Epperson, D. L., Ralston, C. A., Fowers, D., DeWitt, J., & Gore, K. S. (2006). Actuarial risk assessment with juveniles who offend sexually: Development of the Juvenile Sexual Offense Recidivism Risk Assessment Tool-II (JSORRAT-II). In D. Prescott (Ed.), Risk assessment of youth who have sexually abused: Theory, controversy, and emerging strategies (pp. 118–169). Oklahoma City, OK: Woods ‘N’ Barnes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, N., Cosgrove, P., Moth, B., & Hewitson, J. (2004). Adolescent females who have engaged in sexually abusive behavior: A survey for the STOP adolescent program. Christchurch, New Zealand: Te Awatea Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fanniff, A. M., & Becker, J. V. (2006). Specialized assessment and treatment of adolescent sex offenders. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11(3), 265–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fanniff, A. M., & Letourneau, E. J. (2012). Another piece of the puzzle: Psychometric properties of the J-SOAP-II. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 24(4), 378–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelhor, D., Ormrod, R., & Chaffin, M. (2009, December). Juveniles who commit sex offenses against minors. Juvenile Justice Bulletin. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/227763.pdf

  • Gerhold, C. K., Brown, K. D., & Beckett, R. (2007). Predicting recidivism in adolescent sexual offenders. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 12(4), 427–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez, R., Flores, J., & Rosenfeld, B. (2007). Validity of the juvenile sex offender assessment protocol-II in a sample of urban minority youth. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(10), 1284–1295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miccio-Fonseca, L. C. (1996). Research report: on sex offenders, victims and their families. Special Edition. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 23(3/4), 71–83. Published simultaneously as: Comparative differences in the psychological histories of sex offenders, victims, and their families. In E. Coleman, S. M. Dwyer, & N. J. Pallone (Eds.), Sex Offender Treatment, Biological Dysfunctions, Intrapsychic Conflict, Interpersonal Violence (pp. 71-83). Binghamton, NY: Haworth.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miccio-Fonseca, L. C. (1998). Fonseca inventory of sex offenders’ risk factors. San Diego, CA: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miccio-Fonseca, L. C. (2000). Adult and adolescent female sex offenders: experiences compared to other females and male sex offenders. Special edition, Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 11(3), 75–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miccio-Fonseca, L. C. (2005). Fonseca Inventory of Sex Offenders’ Risk Factors (FISORF)—professional manual. San Diego, CA: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miccio-Fonseca, L. C. (2008). Multiplex empirically guided inventory of ecological aggregates for assessing sexually abusive children and adolescents (ages 19 and under)—MEGA ♪ : Professional manual and rating booklet. San Diego, CA: L.C. Miccio-Fonseca.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miccio-Fonseca, L. C. (2009). MEGA ♪: a new paradigm in protocol assessing sexually abusive children and adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 2, 124–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miccio-Fonseca, L. C. (2010). MEGA ♪ : an ecological risk assessment tool of risk and protective factors for assessing sexually abusive children and adolescents. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 19, 734–756.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miccio-Fonseca, L. C. (2012). Multiplex empirically guided inventory of ecological aggregates for assessing sexually abusive children and adolescents (ages 19 and under)—MEGA ♪. San Diego, CA: L. C. Miccio-Fonseca.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miccio-Fonseca, L. C., & Rasmussen, L. A. (2008). Empirical support for MEGA ♪. In L. C. Miccio-Fonseca (Ed.), Multiplex empirically guided inventory of ecological aggregates for assessing sexually abusive children and adolescents (ages 19 and under)—MEGA ♪ : Professional manual and rating booklet. San Diego, CA: L.C. Miccio-Fonseca.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miccio-Fonseca, L. C., & Rasmussen, L. A. (2009a). Advancement in risk assessment of sexually abusive youth: applicability of MEGA ♪ to low intellectual functioning youth. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 2(3), 161–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miccio-Fonseca, L. C., & Rasmussen, L. A. (2009b). New nomenclature for sexually abusive youth: naming and assessing sexually violent and predatory offenders. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 18(1), 106–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miccio-Fonseca, L. C., & Rasmussen, L. A. (2013). Applicability of MEGA ♪ to sexually abusive youth with low intellectual functioning. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 6(1), 42–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oxford Dictionaries. (2012). Definition of contravention. Retrieved from http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/contraventionome.

  • Parks, G. A., & Bard, D. E. (2006). Risk factors for adolescent sex offender recidivism: evaluation of predictive factors and comparison of three groups based on victim type. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 18(4), 319–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pencina, M. J., D’Agostino, R. B., Sr., D’Agostino, R. B., Jr., & Vasan, R. S. (2008). Evaluating the added predictive ability of a new marker: from area under the ROC curve to reclassification and beyond. Statistics in Medicine, 27, 157–172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Powers-Sawyer, A. B., & Miner, M. H. (2009). Actuarial prediction of juvenile recidivism: the static variables of the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol-II (J-SOAP-II). Sexual Offender Treatment, 4(2). Retrieved from http://www.sexual-offender-treatment.org/index.php?id=78&type=123.

  • Prentky, R. (2006). Risk management of sexually abusive youth: a follow-up study. Final Report to U.S. Department of Justice: Document No. 214261, Award No. 2002-IJ-CX 0029. Retrieved from http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/214261.pdf

  • Prentky, R., & Righthand, S. (2003). Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol-II (J-SOAP-II) Manual. NCJ 202316. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinqncy Prevention, Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse. Retrieved from www.csom.org/pugs/JSOAP.pdf.

  • Prentky, R., Harris, B., Frizzell, K., & Righthand, S. (2000). An actuarial procedure for assessing risk with juvenile sex offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 12(2), 72–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prentky, R., Li, N. C., Righthand, S., Schuler, A., Cavanaugh, D., & Lee, A. F. (2010). Assessing risk of sexually abusive behavior in a child welfare sample. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 28, 24–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajlic, G., & Gretton, H. M. (2010). An examination of two sexual recidivism risk measures in adolescent offenders: the moderating effect of offender type. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 37(10), 1066–1085.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ray, J. A., & English, D. J. (1995). Comparison of female and male children with sexual behavior problems. Journal of Youth and Adolescents, 24(4), 439–451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Righthand, S., & Welch, C. (2004). Characteristics of youth who sexually offend. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 13(3/4), 15–32.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Righthand, S., Prentky, R., Knight, R., Carpenter, E., Hecker, J. E., & Nangle, D. (2005). Factor analysis and validation of the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol (J-SOAP). Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 17(1), 13–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, S. (2006). Adolescent females with sexual behavior problems: What constitutes best practice. In R. E. Longo & D. S. Prescott (Eds.), Current perspectives: Working with sexually aggressive youth and youth with sexual behavior problems (pp. 273–324). Holyoke, MA: NEARI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, H. N., & Sickmund, M. (2006). Juvenile offenders and victims: 2006 national report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Retrieved from http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/ojstatbb/nr2006/.

  • Thesaurus.com. (2012). Synonyms for contravene. Retrieved from (http://thesaurus.com/browse/contravene).

  • Viljoen, J. L., Scalora, M., Cuadra, L., Bader, S., Chavez, V., Ullman, D., & Lawrence, L. (2008). Assessing risk for violence in adolescents who have sexually offended: a comparison of the J-SOAP-II, J-SORRAT-II, and SAVRY. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 35, 5–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viljoen, J. L., Elkovitch, N., Scalora, M. J., & Ullman, D. (2009). Assessment of re-offense risk in adolescents who have committed sexual offenses: Predictive validity of the ERASOR, PCL-YV, YLS/CMI, and Static 99. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 36(10), 931–1000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viljoen, J. L., Mordell, S., & Beneteau, J. L. (2012). Prediction of adolescent sexual reoffending: a meta-analysis of the J-SOAP-II, ERASOR, J-SORRAT-II, and Static-99. Law and Human Behavior, 36, 423–438. doi:10.1037/h0093938.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Waite, D., Keller, A., McGarvey, E. L., Wieckowski, E., Pinkerton, R., & Brown, G. L. (2005). Juvenile sex offender re-arrest rates for sexual, violent nonsexual and property crimes: A 10-year follow-up. Sexual Abuse A Journal of Research and Treatment, 17(3), 313–331.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Worling, J. R. (2004). The Estimate of Adolescent Sexual Offense Recidivism (ERASOR): preliminary psychometric data. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 16(3), 235–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worling, J. R., & Curwen, T. (2001). The ERASOR: estimate of risk of adolescent sexual offense recidivism (Version 2.0). Toronto, Ontario: Sexual Abuse Family Education and Treatment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worling, J. R., & Långström, N. (2006). Risk of recidivism in adolescents who offend sexually: Correlates and assessment. In H. E. Barbaree & W. L. Marshall (Eds.), The juvenile sex offender (2nd ed., pp. 219–247). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worling, J. R., Bookalam, D., & Litteljohn, A. (2012). Prospective validity of the Estimate of Risk of Adolescent Sexual Offense Recidivism (ERASOR). Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 24(3), 203–223.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic for the Sexualities, 591 Camino De La Reina, Suite 705, San Diego, CA, 92108, USA

    L. C. Miccio-Fonseca

Authors
  1. L. C. Miccio-Fonseca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. C. Miccio-Fonseca.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Miccio-Fonseca, L.C. MEGA ♪: A New Paradigm in Risk Assessment Tools for Sexually Abusive Youth. J Fam Viol 28, 623–634 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-013-9527-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-013-9527-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation