scholarly journals Self Perceptions and Cognitions of Child Sexual Exploitation Material Offenders

2021 ◽  
pp. 0306624X2110621
Author(s):  
Chad M. S. Steel ◽  
Emily Newman ◽  
Suzanne O’Rourke ◽  
Ethel Quayle
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Cognitive Distortions ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Child Pornography ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Reference Population ◽  
The United States ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Child Sexual Exploitation

Identifying the self-perceptions of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) consumers compared to a reference population of non-consumers is critical in establishing distorted cognitions that may not be elucidated when comparison is made with groups who have committed other offenses. This exploratory work utilizes a quantitative approach toward identifying how individuals previously convicted of child pornography offenses view CSEM and CSEM offending, using a group of non-offenders as a baseline. The target group was selected based on their inclusion in two sex offender registries for child pornography offenses ( n = 78). A reference group of non-offenders ( n = 254) was gender-matched from a subset of a prior study evaluating the public perceptions of CSEM. Both groups were adults located within the United States and were asked questions using an online survey about their general perceptions of CSEM, their endorsement of CSEM beliefs, and their opinions related to the legality of various forms of CSEM and associated laws and sentencing guidelines. The study found that CSEM consumers more accurately assessed risks associated with CSEM offending, but that they exhibited potential minimization-based cognitive distortions related to severity and victimization and more strongly endorsed child erotica and virtual child pornography being legal. Additionally, they endorsed treatment over prison, and were strongly opposed to sex offender registration for child pornography offenses. The results provide potential treatment targets, including behavioral areas that may be pathways to CSEM offending.

Internet-Facilitated Child Sexual Exploitation Crimes

2019 ◽  
pp. 13-23
Author(s):  
Keith F. Durkin ◽  
Ronald L. DeLong
Keyword(s):  
Human Trafficking ◽  
Psychological Assessment ◽  
Child Pornography ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Child Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Internet Crimes Against Children ◽  
Classification And Treatment

Internet crimes against children are a problematic yet often misunderstood phenomenon. Prominent examples of these offenses include child pornography, adults soliciting minors online, and the commercialized sexual exploitation of minors (e.g., human trafficking). Drawing upon recent research, the characteristics of offenses, offenders, and victims are examined. A multitude of issues related to the psychological assessment, classification, and treatment of the individuals who commit these offenses are also explored. Strategies for the prevention of this behavior and protection of minors online are discussed.

scholarly journals Lawless Space Theory for Online Child Sexual Exploitation Material Offending

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad M.S. Steel ◽  
Emily Newman ◽  
Suzanne O'Rourke ◽  
Ethel Quayle
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Risk ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Cognitive Distortions ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Space Theory ◽  
Psychosocial Needs ◽  
Behavioural Treatment ◽  
Child Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Joint Consideration

Deterrence, treatment and legal responses to online child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) offenders is enhanced by the joint consideration of technological behaviours and cognitions. CSEM offenders choose an environment based on both psychosocial needs and utility, and in turn that environment shapes future behaviour and reinforces cognitive distortions. This paper introduces lawless space theory, which posits that offenders will primarily choose and utilize a perceived lawless space that best meets their psychosexual needs in the most frictionless way; habituation and differential association in the lawless space will reduce the perceived risk; normalization will increase comfort in a particular lawless space, increasing friction costs that must be overcome to switch technologies; and additional countermeasures will only be implemented by offenders to reduce perceived risk and lower cognitive dissonance, but not at the expense of utility. The theory offers explanatory power for the lifecycle of a lawless space, the use of legacy spaces in the presence of objectively more capable options, the simultaneous use of multiple spaces to meet different psychosexual needs, and the adoption of new technologies by offenders. Additionally, the gateway choice and progression of lawless space usage informs investigations, risk assessments, and deterrence efforts and provides behavioural treatment targets.

Child Sexual Exploitation Materials Offenders

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly M. Babchishin ◽  
Hannah L. Merdian ◽  
Ross M. Bartels ◽  
Derek Perkins
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Sexual Interest ◽  
Child Pornography ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Criminal History ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Sexual Offenses ◽  
Child Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Antisocial Tendencies

Abstract. The downloading and possession of Child Sexual Exploitation Materials (CSEM; also referred to as child pornography and indecent images of children) is a commonly convicted type of Internet sexual offenses. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on CSEM offenders. We first provide a summary of the key motivations of CSEM offenders, characteristics of CSEM offenders compared to contact sexual offenders against children, and important facilitative factors. We then review the factors related to recidivism among CSEM offenders. Finally, we describe current developments in the risk assessment, police case prioritization, and treatment approaches for CSEM offenders. Generally, CSEM offenders hold a sexual interest in children, are low on antisocial tendencies, and pose a low risk to reoffend (including contact sexual offending). Key facilitative factors for CSEM offending include access to children, offense-supportive cognitions, and sexual arousal. Factors indicative of antisocial tendencies (e.g., criminal history) are associated with an increased risk of reoffending. Lastly, we address atypical sexual interest, socio-affective dysfunctions, and strategies for maintaining an offense-free lifestyle as key treatment targets for CSEM offenders. Lower treatment dosage, however, should be considered given CSEM-exclusive offenders’ lower risk level for contact sexual offenses. We hope that this review will inspire others to explore the current research gaps in future studies.

scholarly journals Sexual Interests of Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM) Consumers: Four Patterns of Severity Over Time

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Fortin ◽  
Jean Proulx
Keyword(s):  
Child Pornography ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
Information Networks ◽  
Progressive Decrease ◽  
Hard Drives ◽  
Child Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Sexual Interests

This study analyzed the evolution over time of the activity of consumers of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM). To this end, images and metadata were extracted from the hard drives of 40 individuals convicted of possession of child pornography and analyzed. A sample of these images ( N = 61,244) was categorized by the age of the subjects depicted and—using the Combating Paedophile Information Networks in Europe (COPINE) scale—by severity of the acts depicted. Collecting activity was observed to follow four patterns. The most prevalent pattern was a progressive decrease in the age of the person depicted and a progressive increase in the severity of the sexual acts. In light of the results, we propose four explanations of the nature of, and variations in, child-pornography collections.

Female Youth Convicted of Sex Offenses: Public Opinion on Public Notification

2021 ◽  
pp. 088740342199190
Author(s):  
Kristen M. Budd ◽  
Shannon Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Plea Bargaining ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Public ◽  
Amazon's Mechanical Turk ◽  
Public Notification

Throughout the United States, sex offender registration laws in many states and the federal government have expanded to include juveniles. Once juveniles are registrants, they can potentially be subjected to required or discretionary public notification (PN). Given the documented detrimental effects of PN on juveniles and the prevalence of sexual offending by juvenile females, this study investigated public opinion on applying PN to juvenile females who were convicted of a sexual offense. Participants were 947 individuals recruited using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk who completed an online survey. Multivariate logistic regression found support for PN increased when the public felt law enforcement was effective in investigating these crimes and there were increased public safety concerns. Support for PN decreased when the public supported plea bargaining and supported the law distinguishing between adults and juveniles who commit sex crimes. Implications of these results are discussed.

Law Enforcement Perspectives on Sex Offender Registration and Notification: Effectiveness, Challenges, and Policy Priorities

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 391-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Harris ◽  
Jill S. Levenson ◽  
Christopher Lobanov-Rostovsky ◽  
Scott M. Walfield
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Crime Control ◽  
Public Information ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mixed Method Study ◽  
Sex Offender Registration ◽  
Face To Face

Since the 1990s, sex offender registration and notification (SORN) has assumed a prominent place on state and federal crime control agendas in the United States. Although researchers have examined many aspects of SORN policies and systems, relatively little is known about how SORN is used, perceived, and experienced by law enforcement professionals in the context of their work. This article presents findings from a mixed-method study, consisting of face-to-face interviews and a national online survey of police and sheriff agencies. We examined law enforcement views on SORN’s general functions and efficacy, barriers to SORN effectiveness, and recommendations for SORN-related policy. Results highlight the challenges associated with SORN’s various functions as a law enforcement information tool, as an offender monitoring mechanism, and as a conduit of public information. They also indicate differences between the perspectives of agency leadership and those on the front lines of registry enforcement and management, as well as a range of concerns associated with the reliability and utility of registry information, inter-system communication, registrant homelessness and transience, and the public’s capacity to understand registry information. Implications for policy reform and for SORN-related research are discussed.

scholarly journals Online child sexual exploitation material: A comparison from police data on men charged with child sexual exploitation material exclusively and men charged with contact child sexual abuse exclusively

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel J. Nicol ◽  
Danielle A. Harris ◽  
Mark R. Kebbell ◽  
James Ogilvie
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Community Supervision ◽  
Sexual Offences ◽  
Treatment Protocols ◽  
Child Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Police Data

We do not know whether men who access Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM) are contact child-sex offenders using technology - or a new and different type of child sex offender. This study compares men who were charged with Contact Child Sexual Abuse (CCSA) (n = 95) exclusively, and men who were charged with offences involving online CSEM (n = 99) exclusively. This is the first study of its kind in Australia, the first to divide participants into mutually exclusive offending type groups and to do this using police data. Logistic regression results indicated that CSEM offenders were significantly more likely to be older, more likely to be employed, have fewer criminal charges and supervision violations compared to CCSA offenders. The findings further highlighted the heterogeneity of those charged with child sexual offences based on offence typology. The identification of demographic, lifestyle and interpersonal characteristic differences between online CSEM and CCSA offenders’ questions the use of uniform approaches to community supervision and treatment protocols. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of an increased volume of people charged with CSEM offences.

scholarly journals Implicit Theories of Child Sexual Exploitation Material Offenders: Cross-Cultural Validation of Interview Findings

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Soldino ◽  
Hannah L. Merdian ◽  
Ross M. Bartels ◽  
Hannah K. Bradshaw
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Implicit Theories ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Distinct Type ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Conceptual Content ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Child Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Sexual Object

Offense-supportive cognitions are thought to result from underlying implicit theories (ITs). As child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) users are a distinct type of sex offender, Bartels and Merdian proposed that CSEM offenders hold five different ITs from those endorsed by contact sex offenders (i.e., Unhappy World, Self as Uncontrollable, Child as Sexual Object, Nature of Harm [CSEM variant], and Self as Collector), linked by an assumption about the Reinforcing Nature of the Internet. This article reports a conceptual content analysis of 23 interviews conducted with CSEM offenders in the United Kingdom and Spain. Support for all CSEM-specific ITs was found across both samples, providing an empirical validation of this conceptualization. Finally, four ITs originally identified for contact sex offenders were also identified, namely, Uncontrollability, Child as Sexual Being, Dangerous World, and Nature of Harm. Further validation of CSEM-related ITs is encouraged.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document