Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2026-3
A crime script analysis of child sexual abuse in Youth-Serving Organisations: Using offending behaviours knowledge to raise awareness for reduction and prevention purposes
In this study, the goal is to develop a crime script based on an Australian sample of incarcerated offenders who offended in Youth-Serving Organisations (YSOs) to provide insights into preventing child sexual abuse in those organisations. First, the study generates and presents a detailed empirical crime script on how sexual offenders operate in YSOs. Second, consistent with the main purpose of developing crime scripts, the script is utilised as a framework to discuss how this knowledge can be utilised to develop or improve current practices within YSOs. The implications of the script for YSOs are discussed for prevention purposes.
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