The Bugmy principles apply to offenders whose childhood deprivation includes sexual abuse, not only to Aboriginal offenders or those from environments of alcohol abuse and violence. However, where an offender who was sexually abused as a child commits sexual offences against children, the offender's awareness of the harm caused by such abuse may negate any reduction in moral culpability. A causal link between childhood sexual abuse and offending cannot be assumed without evidence; while psychological harm from childhood sexual abuse may be assumed, a propensity to offend sexually cannot.
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