This paper closely examines descriptive and significant group comparison results on a sub-sample of youth, 16-19 years of age, referred to as ’emerging adults’; a term descriptive of reaching the age of transitioning into adulthood. Findings cover gender differences, risk levels, and protective factors; neuropsychological difficulties; family, education, and antisocial variables, along with data on victims, types of crimes and so on. The sub-samples (n = 1,170 and n = 1,731) came from two large validation studies: the MEGA^♪ Combined Cross-Validation Studies (N=2,717), and MEGA^♪ Combined Samples Studies (N=3,901) respectively. MEGA^♪ is a risk level assessment tool (comprised of seven aggregates and four scales) for assessing coarse sexual improprieties and/or sexually abusive behaviour in adjudicated and non-adjudicated male and female youth ages 4-19, including youth with low intellectual functioning. MEGA^♪’s calibrated risk levels provide an accurate assessment of sexually abusive youth, including youth, ages 16-19, transitioning into adulthood.

Key words: Risk assessment, Sex offender, Juvenile sex offender, Sexually violent, Transition-age, Emerging adults.

Vol 1, Issue 1, April 2020