The consumption of Internet child pornography and violent and sex offending

Jérôme Endrass,Astrid Rossegger,Frank Urbaniok,Christian Benz,Lea C Hammermeister,Arja Laubacher,Thomas Elbert

doi:10.1186/1471-244x-9-43

Abstract

BackgroundThere is an ongoing debate on whether consumers of child pornography pose a risk for hands-on sex offenses. Up until now, there have been very few studies which have analyzed the association between the consumption of child pornography and the subsequent perpetration of hands-on sex offenses. The aim of this study was to examine the recidivism rates for hands-on and hands-off sex offenses in a sample of child pornography users using a 6 year follow-up design.MethodsThe current study population consisted of 231 men, who were subsequently charged with consumption of illegal pornographic material after being detected by a special operation against Internet child pornography, conducted by the Swiss police in 2002. Criminal history, as well as recidivism, was assessed using the criminal records from 2008.Results4.8% (n = 11) of the study sample had a prior conviction for a sexual and/or violent offense, 1% (n = 2) for a hands-on sex offense, involving child sexual abuse, 3.3% (n = 8) for a hands-off sex offense and one for a nonsexual violent offense. When applying a broad definition of recidivism, which included ongoing investigations, charges and convictions, 3% (n = 7) of the study sample recidivated with a violent and/or sex offense, 3.9% (n = 9) with a hands-off sex offense and 0.8% (n = 2) with a hands-on sex offense.ConclusionConsuming child pornography alone is not a risk factor for committing hands-on sex offenses – at least not for those subjects who had never committed a hands-on sex offense. The majority of the investigated consumers had no previous convictions for hands-on sex offenses. For those offenders, the prognosis for hands-on sex offenses, as well as for recidivism with child pornography, is favorable.

Highlights

There is an ongoing debate on whether consumers of child pornography pose a risk for hands-on sex offenses
The majority of the investigated consumers had no previous convictions for hands-on sex offenses
When investigating the prevalence of Internet child pornography consumption, an important practical question is whether consumers of child pornography pose a risk for hands-on sex offenses

Summary

Introduction

There is an ongoing debate on whether consumers of child pornography pose a risk for hands-on sex offenses. There have been very few studies which have analyzed the association between the consumption of child pornography and the subsequent perpetration of hands-on sex offenses. Some criminal codes penalize only the production and distribution of illegal pornography, while others criminalize the possession as well. In April 2002, a new article was introduced into Swiss penal law stating that the possession of pornographic material depicting sexual acts with children, excrement, animals, as well as violent sexual intercourse, is illegal Before April 2002, only the trade and production of child pornography was against the law, not its possession. Swiss penal law neither specifies the age which discriminates children from adults, nor does it state the exact characteristics of pornography. Judicial practice defines children younger than 16 as juveniles, which is the appointed age of consent [4,5]

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Conclusion