NCJ Number
215302
Date Published
2006
Length
24 pages
Annotation
Based on interviews with male inmates in Quebec (Canada) who were convicted of having sex with preadolescent boys, this study identified the settings in which these men interacted with like-minded offenders prior to their current incarceration.
Abstract
Of the 17 inmates interviewed, only 5 reported extensive involvement with similar offenders. The two settings where this occurred were urban "gay villages" (neighborhoods where gays are concentrated in their living quarters and/or social interactions) and interactive Internet Web sites. According to the men interviewed, these settings and the interactions that occur within them are best understood as social networks that provide a feeling of acceptance and support. This means they are not primarily instrumental means for obtaining accomplices or partners in their offending activities. The interactions serve to provide nonjudgmental companionship and an honest expression of feelings and motivations deemed deviant by mainstream society. The interviews also revealed a subculture of "hustlers" (preadolescent and adolescent boys who cater to the sexual needs of the men for money) who sought clients through the Web site and "village" settings. Such interactions enable the men to view their offending behavior as normal/consensual sex rather than a criminal violation. The author suggests that the expanded interactions among like-minded sexual offenders and their "hustling" victims may help to explain the aggregate increase in reported sex offenses that involve under-age victims. Suggestions are offered for further research. All of the 17 male offenders interviewed were unattached singles sexually attracted to boys. All were nonviolent, and their victims were not kin-related. The interviews focused on eliciting detailed information on the process by which they found other offenders for the purpose of mutual assistance. 10 notes and 19 references