Caregivers’ Considerations of Remorse and Responsibility Among Youth Who Sexually Offend
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of interpersonal violence
Abstract
Abstract
When a youth sexually offends, most of the reactions and repercussions
that follow are understandably negative. However, there is limited research
about mixed reactions involving remorse and responsibility on the part
of the adolescent who offended and their relatives. Based on qualitative
interviews with 16 caregivers among 10 families in Canada, this article
presents the parents’ perspectives on the various processes, benefits,
challenges, and outcomes related to expressions of remorse and experiences
of responsibility among youth who sexually offended, their victims, and their
parents. This study sheds particular light on how adolescent perpetrators
of sexual harm and especially their caregivers do feel deeply remorseful
and responsible for the impacts of sexual offending behavior, which is
contrary to public scrutiny that negatively projects responsibility onto youth
offenders and their parents. Thus, our findings emphasize the constructive
and considerate ways in which remorse is felt and responsibility is assumed;
and by extension, they point to the importance of restorative practices in
efforts toward reconciliation and accountability.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
child on child abuse, remorse, responsibility, rehabilitation, International Resources, Canada
Citation
Gervais, C. L., & Johnston, M. S. (2021). Caregivers’ Considerations of Remorse and Responsibility Among Youth Who Sexually Offend. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 08862605211042815.