Joining Forces Against Child Sexual Exploitation: Models for a Multijurisdictional Team Approach

• NCJ Number: 169605
• Author(s): D Whitcomb; J Eastin
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 59 pages
• Grant Number(s): 93-MU-MU-K005
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP); Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
• Corporate Author: Education Development Ctr
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/NCJRS; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

New technology and its criminal use to sexually exploit children have renewed public interest in the problem of child sexual abuse, and multijurisdictional teams are proposed as a way of dealing with the sexual exploitation of children.

Abstract

Children who are thought to be safely learning the use of computers may in fact be exposed to graphic displays of sexual activities. Although the mechanisms for seducing children in a technological world may be different than those used earlier, the dynamics are the same. The new challenge of investigators, prosecutors, and victim advocates is to apply their knowledge and expertise in the context of cyberspace. While the advent of computers has provoked intense interest in threats to children from pornography and on-line seduction, the involvement of children in prostitution has received far less attention. The phenomenon of prostitution is thought to be primarily linked to the population of runaway and homeless youth, yet there are no documented cases of children who are trafficked for sexual purposes. New and recurring challenges in investigating and prosecuting child prostitution cases focus on access to closed venues such as massage parlors and escort services, the enforcement of laws prohibiting interstate and international trafficking, and the encouragement of reluctant victims to testify against adult pimps. In addition, there may be a need for new legislation since some States do not criminalize the possession of child pornography and the age of consent for sexual activity is as young as 13 years of age in certain jurisdictions. Other challenges concern prevention and the need for criminal justice interventions in child sexual exploitation cases to be congruent with community policing initiatives. The Sexual Assault and Exploitation Felony Enforcement Team in California and other models of multijurisdictional teams focused on child sexual abuse are described. A Canadian perspective on juvenile prostitution is presented, and issues associated with the replication of multijurisdictional teams are identified. Appendixes contain contacts for multijurisdictional teams and a list of additional resources.