Developing a Typology of Child Sexual Exploitation Material Offending in New Zealand

Post Hoc

Existing typologies of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) offending are significantly limited as many have not been empirically developed or tested for their validity or reliability. Furthermore, their practical utility is limited, as many typologies classify individuals based only on the type of CSEM offending they engage in or are limited to a small number of variables. The current research addresses these issues by developing an exploratory typology of individuals who have engaged in CSEM offending using a data set of 557 individuals in New Zealand, who have been identified by the Department of Internal Affairs. A latent class analysis was conducted using their offence characteristics to identify distinct subgroups within the sample. Follow-up tests were conducted to evaluate how these groups differed on various individual characteristics to develop a more detailed understanding of the individuals within each group. Results found four distinct subgroups of individuals who varied according to their level of engagement with the material, technical capability, type of CSEM offending, and the type of material they searched for. Post-hoc tests also revealed significant differences in access to children, previous sexual offending, and previous CSEM offending between groups. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Offense-Supportive Cognitions Expressed by Men Who Use Internet to Sexually Exploit Children: A Thematic Analysis

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology ◽

10.1177/0306624x20905757 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 0306624X2090575 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Paquette ◽

Franca Cortoni

Keyword(s):

Interpersonal Relationships ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Sexual Offending ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Future Research ◽

Specific Content ◽

Sexual Activities ◽

Police Interviews ◽

Offending Behavior

Although offense-supportive cognitions are related to the maintenance of contact sexual offending behavior, it is unknown whether this finding also applies to online sexual offending behavior. A few studies have examined the cognitions of men convicted for using child sexual exploitation material, but findings remain limited due to important methodological limitations. Furthermore, fewer studies have investigated the cognitions of men who use the internet to solicit sexual activities with children. The objective of this study was to examine the nature of the cognitions that support online sexual offending against children. The content of police interviews was analyzed using a thematic analysis to identify the cognitive themes present in the offense-related views expressed by 20 men who consumed child sexual exploitation material, 15 who sexually solicited children, and 18 who committed both types of online offenses. Results revealed eight cognitive themes that reflected four underlying themes related to interpersonal relationships, the sexualisation of children, perceptions of the self, and perceptions of the virtual environment. Findings indicate that while the cognitive themes of the three groups are similar, their specific content varies according to the types of offenses. Implications for future research are discussed.

Trust and Relationship Development Among Users in Dark Web Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Networks: A Literature Review From a Psychological and Criminological Perspective

Trauma Violence & Abuse ◽

10.1177/15248380211057274 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 152483802110572

Author(s):

Juliane A. Kloess ◽

Madeleine van der Bruggen

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Research Question ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Relationship Development ◽

Expert Advice ◽

Future Research ◽

Criminological Perspective ◽

Dark Web

The increased potential and speed of the Internet has changed the nature of sexual crimes against children. It enables individuals with a sexual interest in children to meet, interact, and engage in illegal activities. The literature review presented here aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge and understanding of trust and relationship development among users of online networks that are dedicated to the sexual exploitation and abuse of children. A systematic search using six databases was conducted to identify relevant literature from a psychological and a criminological perspective. Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria that centered around the key aspects of the literature review’s research question, namely, (i) child sexual exploitation and abuse, (ii) Dark Web platforms, (iii) online forums and networks, and (iv) trust and relationship development. Our findings reveal that the engagement in interpersonal communication and interactions with like-minded others serves various functions, including validation, normalization, and support, as well as access to expert advice, information, and material. Dark Web networks are high-stake and risky environments, where users have to manage a continuous flow of threats, with information about others and their trustworthiness being limited. The establishment and maintenance of trust is of social and technical relevance, and users have to navigate a number of demands and commitments. Findings are discussed in relation to theoretical and practical implications, as well as directions for future research.

A Preliminary Descriptive Model of Expertise Related Competence in Child Sexual Offending

10.26686/wgtn.16968580.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Patrice A Bourke

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

New Zealand ◽

Sex Offenders ◽

Sexual Offenders ◽

Sexual Offending ◽

Sexual Offender ◽

Developmental Model ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Future Research ◽

Offender Rehabilitation

Child sexual offending is a great area of concern to the public and researchers alike. The damaging effects of Child Sexual Abuse are numerous and frequently enduring. Research in sexual offending has tended to focus on therapeutic interventions and effectiveness as well as the aetiological aspects of offending. Much of this research has focused on offender deficits associated with sexual crimes that are the target of intervention programs. There has been little attention paid to the view that sexual offenders appear to learn from their previous offending and in some cases acquire a considerable degree of offence related competency. In other words, some sexual offenders appear to develop high levels of expertise. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are 'expert' offenders within the child sexual offending arena who display greater competence in utilising grooming techniques, selecting targets, interpreting and evaluating social and environmental cues, and who possess extensive offence scripts. In this exploratory study, 47 male child sexual offenders were interviewed in New Zealand prison based Sexual Offender Rehabilitation Units about their offences as well as their lives prior to and post offending. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Grounded Theory to generate a model of offence specific decision making. Results indicated that child sex offenders vary on the above dimensions and effectively span the range from 'novice' to 'expert' offenders with respect to the quality of their decision making and their domain relevant knowledge structures. By using the general principles of expertise as a conceptual framework, a developmental model of expertise in child sex offenders in New Zealand was constructed. The implications of the constructed model for theory and treatment are discussed and suggestions are made for the direction of future research.

A Preliminary Descriptive Model of Expertise Related Competence in Child Sexual Offending

10.26686/wgtn.16968580 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Patrice A Bourke

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

New Zealand ◽

Sex Offenders ◽

Sexual Offenders ◽

Sexual Offending ◽

Sexual Offender ◽

Developmental Model ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Future Research ◽

Offender Rehabilitation

Child sexual offending is a great area of concern to the public and researchers alike. The damaging effects of Child Sexual Abuse are numerous and frequently enduring. Research in sexual offending has tended to focus on therapeutic interventions and effectiveness as well as the aetiological aspects of offending. Much of this research has focused on offender deficits associated with sexual crimes that are the target of intervention programs. There has been little attention paid to the view that sexual offenders appear to learn from their previous offending and in some cases acquire a considerable degree of offence related competency. In other words, some sexual offenders appear to develop high levels of expertise. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are 'expert' offenders within the child sexual offending arena who display greater competence in utilising grooming techniques, selecting targets, interpreting and evaluating social and environmental cues, and who possess extensive offence scripts. In this exploratory study, 47 male child sexual offenders were interviewed in New Zealand prison based Sexual Offender Rehabilitation Units about their offences as well as their lives prior to and post offending. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Grounded Theory to generate a model of offence specific decision making. Results indicated that child sex offenders vary on the above dimensions and effectively span the range from 'novice' to 'expert' offenders with respect to the quality of their decision making and their domain relevant knowledge structures. By using the general principles of expertise as a conceptual framework, a developmental model of expertise in child sex offenders in New Zealand was constructed. The implications of the constructed model for theory and treatment are discussed and suggestions are made for the direction of future research.

Leaky building stigma

International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis ◽

10.1108/ijhma-06-2016-0043 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 328-351 ◽

Author(s):

Song Shi ◽

Iona McCarthy ◽

Uyen Mai

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Principal Component ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Survey Respondent ◽

Data Set ◽

Content Type ◽

Transaction Data ◽

Regulatory Standards ◽

Value Loss

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the stigma effect on property valuation/sale price for remediated residential leaky buildings constructed in New Zealand during the 1990s and 2000s. In particular, the authors want to know whether meeting the regulatory standards for remediation work will totally eliminate the negative stigma effect on remediated properties. Design/methodology/approach Property transaction data for remediated leaky homes are often limited and not well recorded. Thus, it is very difficult or even impossible to identify those remediated properties in a standard property transaction data set. Moreover, a vast amount of information regarding the nature of property defects, remediation process and method is very difficult to obtain. In this study, members of the Property Institute of New Zealand (PINZ) and the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand were invited to participate in an online website survey. The results were then analysed using the principal component analysis, ordinary least squares and multinomial logit regressions. Findings This study indicates that for monolithic-clad dwellings, the price discount due to leaky building stigma is significant. Depending on the severity of the leaking problems, this is about 11 per cent on average for general market stigma and an additional 5-10 per cent for post-remediation stigma. The results highlight that meeting the regulatory standards for remediation work cannot totally eliminate the negative stigma effect on remediated properties. The findings are in line with the lemon theory introduced by Akerlof (1970) and robust to individual characteristics of the survey respondent. Originality/value General market stigma has been widely researched and documented in the literature. In contrast, there is a lack of research as to whether remediation will eliminate stigma, particularly in the presence of general market stigma. The authors are the first to show that post-remediation stigma can cause value loss in addition to general market stigma based on the lemon theory proposed by Akerlof (1970).

An Evaluation of a Community-Based Psycho-Educational Program for Users of Child Sexual Exploitation Material

Sexual Abuse ◽

10.1177/1079063216639591 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 169-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Steven M. Gillespie ◽

Alexandra Bailey ◽

Tom Squire ◽

Melissa L. Carey ◽

Hilary J. Eldridge ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Offenders ◽

Educational Program ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Program Completion ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Self Report ◽

Community Based Interventions ◽

Community Based ◽

Child Sexual Exploitation

Online sexual offenders represent an increasingly large proportion of all sexual offenders. Many of these offenders receive noncustodial sentences, and there is a growing need for community-based interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate a psycho-educational program for community dwelling users of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM). A total of 92 adult male participants completed self-report measures at pre and post. A subset of participants also completed measures after a follow-up period. Results suggested benefits across depression, anxiety, and stress; social competency, including locus of control and self-esteem; and distorted attitudes. Furthermore, these effects remained 8 to 12 weeks following program completion. Our results suggest that CSEM users are amenable to treatment in the community and that there are beneficial outcomes in affective and interpersonal functioning following psycho-education. These factors represent treatment targets for sexual offenders and are recognized risk factors for contact sexual offense recidivism.

A Billion Distorted Thoughts: An Exploratory Study of Criminogenic Cognitions Among Men Who Sexually Exploit Children Over the Internet

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology ◽

10.1177/0306624x19873082 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 64 (10-11) ◽

pp. 1114-1133 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Paquette ◽

Nicholas Longpré ◽

Franca Cortoni

Keyword(s):

Exploratory Study ◽

Sexual Offending ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

The Internet ◽

Sexual Offense ◽

Sexual Offenses ◽

Criminal Charges ◽

Criminal Behaviors

There is evidence that endorsing a higher level of offense-supportive cognitions is associated with contact sexual offending. Such an association assumes the construct of cognitions as unidimensional, thus ignoring the possibility that specific subtypes of cognitions exist and that certain may be criminogenic. To investigate this possibility, this study aimed at examining the associations between criminal behaviors and cognitive themes found in the discourse of men who engage in sexual offenses against children over the Internet. Through the discourse of a sample of 60 men with online child sexual exploitation material and solicitation offenses, a previous study identified eight cognitive themes: Uncontrollability, Nature of harm, Child as sexual being, Child as partner, Dangerous world, Entitlement, Virtual is not real, and Internet is uncontrollable. These themes were not investigated for their criminogenic nature. Thus, in this study, bivariate analyses were used to determine whether these cognitive themes were linked to three indicators of criminal behaviors: the extent of criminal charges, the diversity of offending behaviors, and the nature of contact with victims. Results suggest that, taken as a whole, online sexual offense–supportive cognitions may not be criminogenic. Moreover, only cognitive themes related to antisocial orientation and atypical sexuality were found linked with criminal behaviors, although associations found remain limited. Findings and associated implications are further discussed for research and clinical purposes.

Association between STI and child sexual exploitation in children under 16 years old attending sexual health clinics in England: findings from a case–control study

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2018-053842 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 95 (6) ◽

pp. 412-415 ◽

Author(s):

Chris Ward ◽

Gwenda Hughes ◽

Holly D Mitchell ◽

Karen E Rogstad

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Conditional Logistic Regression ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Data Set ◽

Health Clinics ◽

Related Risk ◽

Sexual Health Clinics

ObjectiveChild sexual exploitation (CSE) can be difficult to identify, as there may be few reliable indicators. Although they may be used in decision-making, there is no evidence that STIs are predictors of CSE. We investigated the relationship between STI presentation at sexual health clinics (SHCs) and CSE.MethodsSHCs with 18 or more children aged 13–15 years old with STI diagnoses in 2012 were identified using the Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Data Set STI Surveillance System. Cases with confirmed bacterial or protozoal STIs were matched by age, gender and clinic with non-STI controls. Lead clinicians were asked to complete an online questionnaire on CSE-related risk factors of cases and controls irrespective of STI presence. Associations between STI outcome and CSE-related risk factors were analysed using conditional logistic regression.ResultsData were provided on 466 children aged 13–15 years old; 414 (89%) were female, 340 (80%) were aged 15, 108 (23%) were aged 14, and 18 (3.9%) were aged 13 years. In matched univariate analysis, an STI diagnosis was significantly associated with ‘highly-likely/confirmed’ CSE (OR 3.87, p=0.017) and safeguarding concerns (OR 1.94, p=0.022). Evidence of an association between STI diagnosis and ‘highly-likely/confirmed’ CSE persisted after adjustment for partner numbers and prior clinic attendance (OR 3.85, p=0.053).ConclusionPresentation with bacterial or protozoal STIs in children aged 13–15 years old at SHCs may be considered a potential marker for CSE. It would be prudent to consider CSE, indepth assessment and potential referral for any children under 16 years old presenting with a bacterial or protozoal STI.

Child sexual exploitation

Journal of Forensic Practice ◽

10.1108/jfp-07-2016-0036 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 292-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Kirsty Amanda Alderson

Keyword(s):

Child Care ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Future Research ◽

Vulnerability Factors ◽

England And Wales ◽

Content Type ◽

Child Care Professionals

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer an overview of the research to date, including how some findings have informed practice within child care organisations in England and Wales. The challenges of applying this research are considered, along with some of its key limitations. Avenues for future research are proposed, but understanding will only progress further if research is underpinned by appropriate theory. This paper suggests promising theory that could be applied to CSE. There is also a need to consider CSE risk more holistically and not just in relation to the presence or absence of discrete vulnerability factors. Design/methodology/approach This is a brief overview of the literature to date, with a focus on how it has been applied by child care professionals. Findings Discusses how some findings have informed practice within child care organisations in England and Wales. Originality/value This is a viewpoint piece.