COUNSELING POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF SEX CRIMES (FROM POLICE COUNSELING, 1978 - SEE NCJ-56602)

• NCJ Number: 56614
• Author(s): M BAURMANN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 31 pages
• Corporate Author: Bundeskriminalamt
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

STATISTICS ON SEXUAL CRIMES AND METHODS OF COUNSELING POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF SUCH CRIMES ARE PRESENTED TO ASSIST WEST GERMAN POLICE COUNSELORS.

Abstract

SEXUAL CRIMES ARE BEST AVERTED BY TEACHING POTENTIAL VICTIMS, MOST FREQUENTLY CHILDREN, TO AVOID CRIMINAL SITUATIONS AND BEHAVIOR. THE SOCIAL GROUP AT RISK MUST BE IDENTIFIED ON THE BASIS OF PREVIOUS VICTIMS (E.G., GIRLS UNDER 14 YEARS OLD), AND POLICE COUNSELORS SHOULD USE EXISTING INSTITUTIONS (SEMINARS FOR TEACHERS) TO REACH THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS. COUNSELING AIMS TO PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION, OVERCOME FEARS OF POTENTIAL VICTIMS, TRAIN THREATENED PERSONS TO RECOGNIZE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, AND HELP VICTIMS COPE WITH THE EFFECTS OF SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION. THE NECESSARY PREREQUISITE FOR COUNSELING IS GENERAL SEX EDUCATION OF CHILDREN BY PARENTS AND TEACHERS STARTING AT AN EARLY AGE (5 OR 6 YEARS OLD). STATISTICS INDICATE THAT SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN RARELY LEADS TO MURDER (SIX CASES IN 1977), AND REFERENCES TO SENSATIONAL CASES SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN COUNSELING. CHILDREN SHOULD BE INFORMED THAT DANGEROUS OFFENDERS ARE UNCOMMON AND ADVISED TO RUN TO OTHER PEOPLE WITHOUT CRYING IF A THREATENING SITUATION ARISES. ACCORDING TO POLICE INFORMATION, ONE THIRD OF THE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL CRIMES ARE BETWEEN 6 AND 9 YEARS OLD AND TWO THIRDS BETWEEN 10 AND 13. CONTRARY TO THE POPULAR VIEW OF THE SENILE OLD MAN, 80 PERCENT OF THE OFFENDERS ARE BETWEEN 14 AND 40 YEARS OLD, AND IN ONE THIRD OF THE CASES VICTIM AND OFFENDER ARE ALMOST THE SAME AGE. ONLY 25 TO 30 PERCENT OF THE CASES INVOLVE ACTUAL INTERCOURSE. MOST OF THE CONTACTS OCCUR WITHING A BUILDING, FREQUENTLY THE HOUSE OF THE VICTIM OR OFFENDER; OFFENDER AND VICTIM ARE FREQUENTLY ACQUAINTED OR EVEN RELATED. AS PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURE RATHER THAN FORCE IS EXERTED BY THE OFFENDER AND THE VICTIM USUALLY REACTS PASSIVELY, CHILDREN SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO RESIST. THE FACT THAT FEW CHILDREN REPORT SUCH CRIMES SUGGESTS THAT THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS. A TABLE, FIGURES, REFERENCES, AND AN EXTENSIVE APPENDIX WITH GUIDELINES FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS ON IDENTIFYING OFFENDERS AND PROTECTING CHILDREN ARE FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)