Although sexually deviant behavior among minors is not a new phenomenon, there has been a dramatic increase in concern around this problem over the past two decades. As the number of juvenile sex offenders arrested increases, so does the recognition of this problem as a serious problem. Anxiety over juvenile sex crimes has led to a wide variety of research being conducted to determine whether a history exists among offenders. The enormous data collected and analyzed in an attempt to understand the factors that cause a minor to commit sexual violence has given rise to a wide range of theories and also to much disagreement among professionals about the appropriate consequences a sex offender should face. . The fundamental uncertainty about who is a juvenile sex offender can often be difficult to resolve. The fact is that, demographically, almost everyone is likely to be a juvenile delinquent, based solely on their physical characteristics. It is currently estimated that minors account for up to one-fifth of the rapes and half of the child molestation cases committed each year in the United States (USDJJD, 2000). It is almost impossible to develop a statistical strategy based on demographics since juvenile sexual delinquencies appear to cross racial and cultural lines and have no significance in relation to the religious preferences of the perpetrator. It should also be noted that juvenile delinquents can be found in all socio-economic classes. Statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention show little relativity between these demographic areas and the foreshadowing of the identity of the real perpetrators (2000). The only demographic area that research shows as a contributing factor is gender. ...... Middle of document ...... Statistics of young people who commit sexual assault. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 13(3/4), 15-32.Ronis, ST and Borduin, CM (2007). Individual, family, peer, and academic characteristics of male juvenile sex offenders. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. 35(2), 153 – 163. Ryan, G. (1999). Treatment of sexually abusive youth. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.14(4), 442 – 436. Schwarts, B.K., Cavanaugh, D., Pimental, A., & Prentky, R. (2006). Descriptive study of the precursors of sexual delinquency among 813 boys and girls. Victims and offenders. 1.61 – 77. Understanding juvenile sexual offending behavior: emerging research, therapeutic approaches, and management practices. (1999). Center for Sex Offender Management. United States Department of Juvenile Justice: Adolescent Sex Offender Statistics. (2000).Sex Offender Management Center.