Child sexual abuse (CSA) victimisation has been linked to a greater risk of engaging in juvenile offending broadly, and sexual offending specifically, for male youth. This study used both administrative youth justice data and clinical information from a Queensland specialised service providing interventions to youth who perpetrate sexual offences to examine the links between CSA victimisation experiences and sexual offending. 

The comorbidity of maltreatment and adverse developmental experiences among youth with sexual offences highlights the complexity of delivering interventions and the importance of adopting trauma-informed frameworks.

Key findings

• CSA victimisation was more prominent among young people who sexually offended than those with non-sexual offences.
• CSA typically co-occurred with other forms of maltreatment and adverse developmental experiences.
• The findings highlight the need for early intervention to prevent the emergence of sexual harm.
• Further research is required to better identify those victimised youth most at risk of engaging in harmful sexual behaviours.