Are juve sex offenses on the rise? If so, how should the law respond?

This AP article suggests a worrisome trend in sex offenses, although the data reported is certainly subject to debate.  Here are the basics from the story:

Courts have seen the number of sex offense cases involving juvenile offenders rise dramatically in recent years, an Associated Press review of national statistics found, and treatment professionals say the offenders are getting younger and the crimes more violent.

Some psychologists blame the increase in numbers — 40 percent over two decades — on a society saturated with sex and violence and the fact that many of the accused were themselves victims of adult sexual predators. Others say there aren’t more children committing such crimes, simply more awareness, better reporting and a general hysteria about sex offenders.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to suggest we have whole schools full of sexual predators … but we’re seeing more of it and more sexually aggressive acts,” said Scott Poland, past president of the National Association of School Psychologists. “How do these kids even know about this? It’s permeated throughout our society.”

Robert Prentky, a psychologist and nationally renowned expert on sex offenders in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, thinks the statistics are misleading.  “There aren’t more kids, there are more laws,” he said. “We now have fairly draconian laws with very harsh sanctions that apply to juveniles.”

The number of children under 18 accused of forcible rape, violent and nonviolent sex offenses rose from 24,100 in 1985 to 33,800 in 2004, the AP’s analysis found.  Violent offenses include attempted rape and sexual assault, while nonviolent offenses including fondling, statutory rape and prostitution.

A debate over what the data means is interesting, though I am even more intrigued by the question of how should sentencing law respond.  Sentences for sex offenses and for juvenile offenders have increased dramatically over the past two decades, so I am not sure we can get much tougher.  Perhaps, as the AP article suggests, the response to this data has to be a great emphasis and research on treatment options, especially because it is clear that those who suffer abuse are at great risk of becoming future offenders.