Right off the top of my head; my first answer is lack of solid good family values at the home. From the article:
<snip> “The whole society is not yet up on this problem,” Araji said. “These kids, on the extreme end, if nothing is done to catch them, they’re going to become our adult offenders of tomorrow.”
Studies show that one in two sex offenders began their sexually abusive behavior as juveniles.
Where do these juveniles live? At home of course... so what are they learning at home? That it's okay to "play doctor?" with their younger/older siblings? Who's minding the kids? Who's making sure the kids are not exposed too young to images revolving around sex and violence? Who is making sure that parent blocks are on the kid's computer, that (adult-aged) labeled video games aren't falling into their hands? Who's sitting down with them with some quality and bonding time(s) to make sure they're not going to be tempted by the rampant images and goings on in our society?
The parents set the tone of values
in the home for
their children to follow. If there's none then what is the child going to go on?
Again from the article:
‘Treatment is a politically safe outcome’
The rise in juvenile sex offenders has spawned hundreds of new treatment facilities for children as young as 5.
In 2002, there were 937 programs in the U.S. treating adolescent offenders — generally ages 12-17 — up from 346 in 1986.
During the same period, the list of programs specifically aimed at children under 12 grew from zero to 410, according to The Safer Society Foundation.
However, Franklin Zimring, a juvenile justice expert at the University of California, Berkeley, thinks many children are unnecessarily treated as sex offenders. True pedophiles are extremely rare among young people, he says.
Define "true pedophiles" for me here? Someone having inappropriate sexual relations (by any definition) with a minor? Does that "someone" have to be an adult (over 18) to qualify? Is it O.K. for two 8 year olds (any sex combo) to be "curious" and "experiment"? That's normal? When does that behavior become "too far?" When it's repeated? How often?
From the article again:
Many — estimates range from 40 percent to 80 percent — were molested themselves. And 42 percent have been exposed to hardcore pornography, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, an arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, said in a 2001 report.
That fact is horrendous indeed and it's even more horrible to realize that a very large percentage of molestations
do not get reported. Because it's a secret. A family secret. A shameful act that the wife and husband agree not to talk about because one or the other could be sent to jail and that would wreak havoc on their home, work, church and other society functions.
Don't talk about it and definitely
don't get treatment because they know the law and therapist/psychologists/psychiatrists are bound to report the crime to the authorities. "No, we'll handle this on our own" and the best way to handle it is to not talk about it. Sure... because you got no answers and lots of fragile promises to the kids on how it will
nevvverrr happen again.
Psychologists prefer to refer to juveniles charged with sex crimes as “sexually aggressive children,” rather than as sex offenders.

heh, a rose by any other name...
During my "internship" at a sexual abuse treatment center I learned that many of the offenders were in denial about how their crimes would affect their victims in later years. While true many victims do go on to lead normal lives for years on end, something causes them to act out in one form or another. Drinking, drugs, bizarre sexual behavior (sometimes with a consenting spouse) or any number of behavior traits that are not among the "norm".
Others act out much sooner and the result is a "sexually aggressive child". The child is of course trying to figure out what the hell happened? WHY are they feeling this way?... Mainly because they haven't "told" due to the secrecy vows taken during the act... and they are definitely there. So the child "acts out". Trying to emulate the same feelings the adult "must've" been feeling when they were doing it to them. Trying to understand. Hmm, he/she was smiling, laughing at times... it must've been fun for them... how much fun could it be I wonder? So little Billy or Sally gets the focus of their attention... and that adult/child pattern is repeated because of the sense of power one gets from dominating the smaller, weaker soon-to-be victim.
Mommy finds out or Daddy finds out! Lots of yelling, screaming, crying, threats,
blaming, lots and lots of unanswered questions. Then the key words... "Don't ever-ever tell anyone about this... do you understand? You'll get us into a lot of trouble! Do you want Daddy/(older-brother) Johnny to go to jail? Then don't ever talk about this!" The cycle is repeated over and over until someone in authority finds out about it.
This is only one of a dozen different scenarios and again it's starts in the home. The offense could've taken place anywhere; school, after-school en route home, during a camping or vacation trip... anywhere at any time.
Parents must be vigilant and learn how to watch for signs of abuse however small. It's
THEIR responsibility for their child's welfare in all regards to their growth, mental, physical and spiritual. Other adults
should be held accountable as well. Neighbors, teachers, spiritual leaders, etc. They see something wrong they should let the parent know and then it's back on the parent to DO something about it. To break the secret and break the cycle of abuse.