NCJ Number
209258
Date Published
March 2005
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes the unique characteristics of a cybersex offender and the harm that they may potentially cause to child victims.
Abstract
The cybersex child pornography offender poses unique challenges to law enforcement and a troubling risk to juveniles. Cybersex offenders who target children use the Internet to view, store, and produce child pornography, as well as to make contact with young victims and groom them for future victimization. Statistics are offered that illustrate the harm caused to young victims of cybersex offenders: approximately 1 in 5 juveniles ages 10 to 17 years has received a sexual solicitation over the Internet, 1 in 33 have experienced an aggressive approach, and 1 in 4 have received unwanted explicit pictures. Yet less than 10 percent of Internet sexual solicitation is reported by youth. The three main types of cybersex offenders are enumerated and include the dabbler, the preferential offender, and the miscellaneous offender. Clues for determining which type of offender investigators are dealing with can be found in files within the offender’s possession, as well as in the type of equipment and ISP the offender has. Top of the line computer equipment that includes scanners and digital cameras can indicate a serious cybersex offender. Other areas investigators should examine when confronted with a possible cybersex offender are the suspect’s online behaviors and other offline activities, such as extensive foreign travel or employment involving contact with children. Endnotes