Internet Offenders Research Articles

Clinical and criminal profile of internet offenders with ASD

Purpose Autism-specific characteristics have been associated with internet criminal activities. Internet and non-internet offenders differ on a series of demographic, psychological and offending variables. However, the clinical and criminal presentation of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in forensic secure care settings has been underexplored. This paper aims to explore the profiles of internet offenders with ASD admitted to a secure psychiatric unit. Design/methodology/approach This study provides the results of a service evaluation of individuals with ASD. The demographic, clinical and criminal characteristics of a small sample of internet offenders with ASD admitted to secure care are described and discussed. Findings Internet offenders present in secure care with high rates of comorbid disorders, histories of violence and traumatic experiences, mood disorders and difficulties with relationships. Of the 24 internet offenders discussed, 18 of them committed an offence of a sexual nature involving children. Originality/value This paper highlights the potential risks for individuals with ASD in using the internet and the possible difficulties associated with detecting this because of rapid advancements in technology.

Discipline as Prevention: Psychoeducational Strategies in Internet Sexual Offending Group Programs.

This paper analyzes a UK-based psychoeducational intervention for users of online child sexual exploitation material (CSEM). It is founded on 17 months of anthropological research in group programs with 81 participants and 15 staff. The article argues that group exercises help participants reframe knowledge about their offending, and ultimately reinforce the theoretical concept of discipline (Foucault) toward internal and external surveillance, normalization, and decreased risk. The paper first discusses factors participants believed contributed to offending. It then analyzes the program and participants' experiences, focusing on exercises about the mind (fantasy), Internet usage (disclosure and relationships), needs met by offending (Good Lives and true needs), and planning for the future (relapse prevention). Critical is that participants are encouraged to reengage offline lives and enact discipline on and to the online world. Thus, the article ends with an anthropologically-minded discussion about digital norms, online morality, and implications for Internet offender psychoeducational practice.

Understanding men who access sexualised images of children: exploratory interviews with offenders

ABSTRACTThe number of online users of child sexual abuse imagery is increasing but factors associated with internet offending and effective treatment remain unclear. This qualitative study aimed to understand what leads individuals to access sexually abusive images of children and to assist with treatment development. In-depth interviews with 12 adult men from prison or community offender treatment programmes were conducted and thematically analysed. Findings were that the men's development was characterised by difficulties in early family life, negative school experiences, difficult sexual development, and difficult intimate relationships. Precipitants to offending included stress, progression from legal material, loneliness and isolation. Maintaining factors included trying to cope with negative emotions through accessing abusive images, seeing it as an “addiction”, and denial (a “victimless” offence). Useful treatment included understanding their offending, working in a group, a safe therapeutic environment, and knowledgeable, non-judgemental therapists. Continued psychological support post-treatment was requested, and deterrent software monitoring.

Themes in participant feedback on a risk reduction programme for child sexual exploitation material offenders

ABSTRACTThe number of yearly Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM) convictions is escalating. Whilst some CSEM offenders receive custodial sentences, others are sentenced to a range of community disposals. There exist only a few community-based programmes designed specifically for CSEM offenders, despite an increasing need. Of the programmes that do exist, there is a paucity of research examining programme utility. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate a community-based psycho-educational programme, “Inform Plus”, utilising interviews from 13 male programme leavers, alongside interviews from 8 non-offending others associated with the programme leavers. Results were positive. After course completion, CSEM offenders reported feeling better able to manage their thoughts, feelings and behaviours which may be related to their internet offending. The programme was found to initiate a motivation for self-fuelled change, to facilitate communication within and beyond the group therapy setting, and to make accessible to the participants the possibility and goal of a desirable future away from offending. Non-offending others comprising the partners or parents of Inform Plus participants and other associated professionals independently validated these results.

Internet sexual offending from an anthropological perspective: analysing offender perceptions of online spaces

ABSTRACTThis paper is based on anthropological research focused on users of online child sexual exploitation material. The empirical foundations are 17 months of participant-observation in UK group programmes for offenders, and semi-structured interviews with group participants and programme staff. While explanations for offending often emphasise individual-psychological characteristics of offenders, I suggest attention should also be given to offender perceptions and constructions of online spaces. For many in the sample, decision-making and the choice to view material were influenced by perceived boundaries and associated altered features of social interaction, said to demarcate online environments from other contexts. Participants perceived online offending spaces as lacking the interaction and potential gaze of others that normally reinforce social norms. This resulted in a feeling of freedom to break norms of childhood and sexuality online, contrasting offline society where such norms are actively reinforced. The article therefore localises factors for Internet offending in social processes.

Online Child Sexual Exploitation

This review provides an overview of current knowledge and understanding of the process of sexual grooming and exploitation of children via the Internet. Specifically, the prevalence of online sexual grooming and exploitation is explored as well as associated challenges relating to the identification of its occurrence. This is complemented by a detailed outline and discussion of the process, both online and in the physical world, and legal responses to this phenomenon. A number of factors are examined to provide an explanation of the facilitating and contributing role they may play in offense processes online. Finally, current typologies are discussed in relation to characteristics of Internet offenders in general and “groomers”/chat room offenders specifically. This review concludes by offering suggestions for future research.

Low self-control and cybercrime: Exploring the utility of the general theory of crime beyond digital piracy

While technological innovations over the last thirty years have markedly improved the ways in which people communicate and gather information, these advances have also led to computer crimes and related deviance becoming permanent fixtures in our society. In an effort to curtail internet offending, it is important for academics and practitioners alike to better understand why some individuals engage in cybercriminality. Criminologists have utilized several theories to investigate this type of deviance, including low self-control theory. However, the vast majority of this prior research has focused on a narrow scope of offending, namely digital piracy. The current study utilizes a sample of 488 undergraduate students to evaluate the theory’s generality hypothesis by examining the extent to which low self-control predicts online deviance in general and beyond digital piracy more specifically. Study results support the generality hypothesis in that low self-control is related to non-digital piracy online deviance. Specific findings, policy implications, and directions for future research are discussed.

Internet Child Sex Offenders' Concerns about Online Security and their Use of Identity Protection Technologies: A Review

The purpose of this article is to review what is known about the technologies that internet child sex offenders use to abuse or exploit children, offenders' attitudes towards online security and surveillance risk, and their use of identity protection tactics and technologies. The peer‐reviewed literature on internet sex offenders published between 2000 and 2011 was surveyed. Internet child sex offenders use a mixture of new and old technologies to abuse children. Offenders' awareness of internet‐related risk appears to exist along a continuum. A number of psychological and demographic factors may influence offenders' perceptions of online security risk and their willingness to take security precautions. A surprisingly large number of apprehended offenders in the time period examined by this review did not seem to use any technologies to disguise their identities. A major research programme into internet offenders' use of identity protection technologies, and their use of technologies in general, is needed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.‘Internet child sex offenders use a mixture of new and old technologies to abuse children.’Key Practitioner Messages: Internet child sex offenders use a variety of commonly available technologies, such as social networking sites and peer‐to‐peer platforms, to abuse children. Offenders are a diverse group when it comes to how they perceive risk and act on those perceptions. The risk perceptions and risk management behaviours of individual offenders can be dynamic. In the period surveyed by this review (2000–11), some studies found that surprisingly few offenders used technological measures to protect their identities. ‘Surprisingly few offenders used technological measures to protect their identities.’

Demographic and offence characteristics: a comparison of sex offenders convicted of possessing indecent images of children, committing contact sex offences or both offences

This paper reports the findings of a study evaluating demographic and offence characteristics of 230 offenders who had been convicted either of possessing indecent images (Internet offenders n = 74) or committing actual direct abuse of children (contact offenders n = 118) or committing both offences (Internet-contact offenders n = 38). All data were collected in the Greater London Offender Management Service. The group of Internet-contact offenders exhibited more diverse characteristics than the Internet and contact sex offenders and they were more likely to have been accused of a prior contact offence without being charged. The majority of the Internet offenders were white male, younger than the contact child sex offenders, more likely to be single and to have never been married, were better educated and more likely to have stable employment. They were also less likely to have had previous convictions. Contact offenders were more likely to report childhood difficulties including sexual abuse; there were no group differences in mental health contact or history of substance abuse. Future research should take into account the heterogeneity of Internet sex offenders to enable the development and delivery of appropriate services for this group so that preventative and therapeutic approaches can be developed.

Internet Sexual Offending: Overview of Potential Contributing Factors and Intervention Strategies

As Internet accessibility and use increase dramatically, more and more people are turning to it for sexual purposes. This growing use of the Internet for sexual purposes indicates that the proportion of Internet sexual offences also will continue to rise dramatically. This article examines the impact of Internet problematic behaviours on the potential for recidivism among online sexual offenders. It argues for specialised treatment for these offenders whilst providing an overview of approaches that are currently used in other areas to treat problematic behaviours and how they could be used in the treatment of Internet sexual offenders.

Brief Interventions: Solving the ‘Internet Sex Offender Paradox’

The common judicial practice of restricting Internet sex offenders’ access to the Internet for the length of their sentence gives rise to an interesting paradox. On the one hand, studies show there is a strong correlation between prevalence of behaviours and increased access to the activity, in which case such restrictions would reduce the likelihood of sexual recidivism. On the other hand, cognitive-behavioural therapy shows that skills practice in the natural environment followed by reinforcement from therapy is a crucial step in the consolidation of newly acquired skills, decreasing the likelihood of relapse. This paradox – reduced likelihood of recidivism due to restrictions to Internet access in the face of increased likelihood of recidivism due to prevention of hands-on skills practice during therapy – is considered in the context of therapeutic treatment. The authors advocate the use of post-therapy brief online interventions to assist Internet offenders to put into practice in the online environment skills acquired during therapy.

The Experiences of Registered Sex Offenders With Internet Offender Registries in Three States

For over two decades, U.S. state and federal governments have enacted broad legislation in an effort to keep communities aware about and safe from sex offenders living nearby. The current study qualitatively analyzes unsolicited responses from sex offenders regarding their feelings, attitudes, and experiences living under the auspices of such legislation. A total of 60 survey responses from offenders in three states were reviewed. Several key themes emerged, including legal issues, hopelessness and despair, collateral consequences, and lack of effectiveness of registration and notification. Policy and research implications are discussed.

A review of online grooming: Characteristics and concerns

The process of online grooming facilitates child abuse and is a threat to young people across the world. This literature review explores the research surrounding how young people are targeted by offenders on the internet. Definitions, prevalence, and characteristics of online grooming are addressed in addition to consideration of child sexual abuse theories and internet behaviors. There are a variety of techniques used by internet groomers to manipulate young people (e.g., flattery, bribes, and threats) and different ways that young people engage in risk taking behavior on the internet (e.g., communicating with strangers online and sharing personal information). While models and typologies can aid professionals in understanding the crime, it is important to acknowledge that internet offenders, victims, and the dynamics between the two are often unique and varied. This is fundamental to the development of effective preventative education for online grooming and abuse. The review concludes that research concerning the online grooming of young people is limited, and calls for further study in this field.

The Psychological Profiles of Internet, Contact, and Mixed Internet/Contact Sex Offenders

A sample of 526 contact offenders, 459 internet offenders, and 143 mixed contact/internet offenders was compared on a range of self-report psychological measures assessing offense-supportive beliefs, socioaffective functioning, emotional management, and socially desirable responding. A multivariate general linear model found a mixed offender profile that was similar to internet offenders rather than contact offenders. The contact group demonstrated lower victim empathy, a greater level of pro-offending attitudes, an externalized locus of control, more assertiveness, a diminished ability to relate to fictional characters, and greater impulsivity than the internet and mixed offender groups. The mixed offender group demonstrated a higher level of empathic concern than the other two groups. The mixed offender group could also be distinguished from the internet group by increased personal distress and perspective-taking ability. A discriminant function analysis highlighted the key linear factor distinguishing between the groups to be one relating to offense-supportive attitudes and identification with fictional characters. A second factor was related to higher levels of empathic concern and poor self-management. These findings are discussed in the context of the potential pathways between internet and contact sexual offenses.

Patterns of federal Internet offenders: A pilot study

Internet-facilitated sexual offending is receiving increased forensic and clinical attention. Two issues confront this field. First, studies are equivocal as to whether (or not) the possession of Internet pornography can escalate to contact sexual offenses against a child, and second, federal judges have been questioning the length of sentences for users only of child pornography. The findings of this pilot study of 101 federal Internet offenders revealed over half of the men at the time of arrest were employed, educated, were in (or had been in) a relationship, had children, and did not have a prior criminal offense, suggesting a changing profile of a convicted sex offender. Forensic and psychiatric nurses who evaluate users of child pornography contraband need to be knowledgeable of Internet file transfer technology and the various types of contraband viewed specifically for the age of the preferred child, extreme acts to the child (e.g., bondage, S&M), and whether the user prefers images of adults with children or images of children only.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Social Phobia, and Loneliness in Incarcerated Internet Child Pornography Offenders

The present report offers a brief review of studies that have attempted to identify the features that distinguish offenders convicted of using the Internet to download or distribute sexual images of children. Most of these studies have simply examined child pornography Internet offenders (CPOs) and described their features while some, but few, studies have compared them with offenders who have directly contacted children for sexual purposes (CCMs). Overall existing research has suggested that, among other issues, CPOs appear to be socially anxious and emotionally lonely, and to also display obsessive and compulsive features. We report the early data from an ongoing study comparing CPOs and CCMs on these 3 features. The tentative results suggest that CPOs are more lonely and obsessive-compulsive than are CCMs, and that while social anxiety does not distinguish the two groups, the CPOs score in the range that meets diagnostic criteria for this problem.

What we know about men who download child abuse images

PurposeThis review aims to focus on men who access, download, and circulate child abuse images across the internet as the most frequently occurring type of internet sex offender.Design/methodology/approachSome of the misconceptions associated with this behaviour are outlined and the extent to which internet offenders display some of the criminogenic factors thought to be associated with the multi‐factorial theories of sexual offending are reviewed.FindingsOne conclusion from this is paper is the general impression that internet offenders show many of the characteristics of paedophiles. Their theoretical importance is that they appear to be “desisters” from acting out their sexual interest in children by hands‐on offending.Originality/valueIt is argued that there is a need for more research to stimulate our understanding of this type of offender. Furthermore, what of those who both download material and offend directly against children? They present a dilemma for the literature as some research would suggest that they are not entirely like the internet or the contact sexual offenders in their psychological make‐up; they are the group most in need of reappraisal.

Critically Evaluating Typologies of Internet Sex Offenders: A Psychological Perspective

Understanding why indecent images of children are produced and collected involves issues beyond the legal definition of child pornography. An over-emphasis on a legal approach will not necessarily assist in the development of preventative and control strategies. This article provides a brief overview of the way in which the Internet can be misused for sexual gratification and has identified some of the issues that seem to be significant in understanding the nature and dimensions of Internet sexual offending. The main descriptive typologies that underpin research relating to Internet child sex offenders have been reviewed and critically evaluated. As discussed throughout this article, one of the most challenging issues continues to be the difficulty in placing Internet sex offenders into categories. The foregoing discussion indicates that Internet sex offenders comprise a heterogeneous population and that there appears to be a lack of a coherent and agreed framework for defining their activity.

Are Internet offenders emotionally avoidant?

Internet child sexual offending through the use of images of child sexual abuse is a prevalent problem. Defining the characteristics of this group has become a research focus, with emotional avoidance having been investigated as one potential precipitating psychological feature. There are grounds, therefore, for investigating emotional avoidance in this group. This study investigated emotional avoidance in Internet child sexual offenders. Four groups of men recruited from the community were compared: Internet child sexual offenders; contact child sexual offenders; non-sexual offenders; and non-offenders. Self-report assessments of emotional avoidance; and measures of potential confounds (e.g. psychological distress and socioeconomic status) were used. Analyses showed that non-sexual offenders were most emotionally avoidant. Several covariates correlated with the dependent variables. Mostly not reaching statistical significance, the findings did not support current views that Internet child sexual offenders have particular difficulties with emotional avoidance. This has implications for clinical work based on such assumptions.

The use of online technology in the modus operandi of female sex offenders

In this review we examine the methods by which female sexual offenders may use communications technologies such as the internet in their offending behaviours. We outline the context of sexual abuse of children both by female perpetrators and by those using the internet. The topic is examined based on three criminogenic areas highlighted by Lambert and O'Halloran: (1) interpersonal/socialization deficits; (2) deviant sexual arousal; and (3) cognitive distortions and recognition barriers. We include elements drawn from anonymized clinical cases of female-perpetrated sexual abuse of children involving online technology. We present the argument that the characteristics of this population are likely to suggest that clinicians assessing cases of this nature may find it more useful to refer to the literature on female sexual offenders rather than that of male internet offenders.