Understanding Online Child Sexual Exploitation Offenses.
In the past three decades, there has been an exponential increase in the worldwide availability of Internet access and devices that are able to access online materials. This literature review investigated whether increased accessibility of Internet child pornography (CP) increases the risk of in-person child sexual exploitation. The current review found little to no evidence that availability of the Internet has increased the worldwide incidence or prevalence of in-person child sexual abuse. In fact, during the time period in which the Internet has flourished, international crime statistics have shown a steady decrease of in-person child sexual abuse. The only exception to this trend is an increase in Internet child pornography or luring offenses (e.g., Stats Can, 2014), which involves child abuse by definition. This article reviews the impact of the Internet on child sexual abuse. It also reviews the characteristics of online CP offenders. Treatment of these offenders and prevention of such offenses is also discussed.
Sexual Behaviours Clinic, Integrated Forensic Program, The Royal Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada.
Thanh
T
Ly
Sexual Behaviours Clinic, Integrated Forensic Program, The Royal Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada.
Lisa
L
Murphy
Sexual Behaviours Clinic, Integrated Forensic Program, The Royal Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada. paul.fedoroff@gmail.com.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. paul.fedoroff@gmail.com.
J Paul
JP
Fedoroff
D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000628:therapy; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004882:Erotica / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male
Child pornography; Child sexual abuse; Internet sex offenses; Online child sexual exploitation; Online sex offenders