Juvenile Behavior and Peer-to-Peer Sexual Assault

When are Teens Crossing the Line With Sex?

With society and the media pushing sexuality around every corner, from advertisements to commercials and television programming, it can be difficult as a teenager and pre-teen to understand and recognize where normal flirtatious behavior ends and sexual assault begins.

A very good rule of thumb and the main message that must be conveyed to all teens is learning that “No!,” Means No, and that saying “No”, is the best way to avoid further confrontations of any kind.

If you are more concerned with losing a friend than you are with protecting yourself from unwanted sexual attention, then you're not getting the right message.

That being said, there are some clear cut delineations that determine what age-appropriate sexual behavior looks and feels like, and what the courts and law enforcement consider a sexual assault.

Age appropriate sexual behavior for juveniles 8 to 12 year olds consists of:

• Occasional masturbation
• Show me yours/I'll show you mine with peers
• Kissing and flirting
• Genital or reproduction conversations with peers
• Dirty words or jokes with peer group*

Age appropriate sexual behavior for juveniles from ages 13 to 18 consists of:

• Sexually explicit conversations with peers
• Obscenities and jokes within the cultural norm
• Sexual innuendo and flirting
• Solitary masturbation
• Kissing, hugging, holding hands
• Foreplay with mutual informed consent and peer aged partner
• Sexual intercourse plus full range of sexual activity*

These behaviors become a cause for concern when they become in any way aggressive, or are one-sided, with the other party expressing discomfort or disinterest. Additionally, behaviors in children of these age groups that involves pornography, compulsive sexual behaviors, invasion of personal body space of peers, groping or unwanted fondling, sexually aggressive or explicit language or taunts and insults, sexual contact or aggression with those outside peer group or younger children, and any kind of forced sexual behavior.

If your teenager or pre-teen exhibits any of these behaviors, you need to seek professional counseling at once. It may not be that they themselves have been the ones assaulting others, they themselves may also be a victim of sexual abuse in some form if they are acting out in this way.

*Source for sexual behavior information at http://www.secasa.com.au/index.php/family/12/369/5


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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Criminal Defense, Divorce, or Immigration Law in RI contact Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald at 401-421-1440.

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