Crimes against Children Research Center University of New Hampshire Janis Wolak Kimberly Mitchell

1. "Internet-initiated Sex Crimes against Minors: Implications for Prevention of Findings from a National Study." Crimes against Children Research Center University of New Hampshire • Janis Wolak • Kimberly Mitchell • David Finkelhor, CCRC Director

2. Research funded by The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children & US Department of Justice, OJJDP

3. Abducted by a Mouse

4. Internet Friend

5. Internet predators: The stereotype Predators are pedophiles who • Use the Internet to target grade school children • Lie about their identities, ages & motives • Trick children into divulging their names and addresses • Abduct and forcibly assault victims

6. National Juvenile Online Victimization Study A national survey of law enforcement arrests for Internet-related crimes with juvenile victims

7. Over 2500 LEAs sampled – 88% responded Number of agencies per state Number of Agencies 2 to 24 25 to 44 45 to 69 70 to 149 (Quartiles)

8. Follow-up telephone interviews

9. How can we best characterize and protect the children at risk?

10. Arrested Internet Offenders with Identified Juvenile Victims 998 arrested in one year period (2000-1) • half were Internet-initiated crimes • half were by family members and acquaintances, who used the Internet to facilitate All involved victims located and contacted by investigators Remaining slides concern Internet-initiated

11. Victims in Internet-initiated crimes were young teens

12. Most of the victims were girls

13. Most men met their victims in chatrooms • 76% of initial Internet meetings happened in chat rooms • 10% happened through Instant Messages • 5% through e-mail • 5% other ways • Phone chat lines, websites

14. Offenders were much older than victims

15. Youth knew the men were much older Deceptions about age by offenders • 5% claimed to be minors (under 18) • 25% shaved years off their ages, but still presented themselves as older adults • 70% did not lie about their ages

16. Youth knew the men wanted sex Most offenders openly solicited victims • Brought up sexual topics online– 80% • Engaged in cybersex with victims – 20% • Transmitted sexual pictures – 18% • Nude or sexual pictures of themselves – 8% • Adult pornography – 10% • Child pornography – 9%

17. Offenders lied to some extent About … • Physical appearance & other aspects of identity • Sexual motives • Of these, many were open about sexual motives; lies involved promises of love & romance A few offenders posed as “friends,” then assaulted their victims A few offenders devised ploys

18. However, most deceptions were not material • Little deceit about being a peer • Some deceit about being younger • Little deceit about sexual motives • Most offenders who were deceptive about age did not deceive about sexual motives

19. Men befriended and romanced youth • Online communications for a month or more • Telephone calls • Pictures • Gifts and money

20. Half of the victims felt love or close friendship for offenders Among girls • 59% felt love or close friendship Among boys • About one-quarter were close to or in love with offenders

21. Most cases involved face-to-face sexual encounters • 74% -- face-to-face meetings • 93% of the face-to-face meetings involved sexual contact between offenders and victims

22. Most youth who met men once, met them again In cases where offenders and victims met face-to-face • 73% met each other more than once • 13% -- 2 times • 40% -- 3 or more times • 20% -- Lived together for some period

23. A small number of cases involved violence or coercion 5% of cases involved violence • Forcible rape and attempted rape • Sadistic sex 16% involved coercion

24. Revise stereotypes used in publicity and training Because Internet-initiated offenders • Are rarely violent or aggressive • Do not rely primarily on deception • Do not target prepubescent victims • Are not pedophiles • Often operate locally • Rarely abduct • Are not strangers to victims • Exploit the willingness of young adolescent to contemplate sexual relationships with adults

25. Current prevention focus We tell adolescents: • Don’t go to meetings with strangers • Don’t give out personal information • Beware of deception • Tell an adult if someone makes you uncomfortable

26. What is missing? For teenagers: • Why having sexual relationships with older men is a bad idea For adults: • Why having sex with teenagers is a bad idea For parents • Why to have this conversation with your kids

27. Teens should know • This is a crime for adults; they’ll go to jail • The sense of being understood and appreciated may be a manipulation • Caring and responsible adults do not proposition kids • Victims feel betrayed • If you pose for sexual pictures, they may come back to haunt you • Don’t be a sucker

28. Revising stereotypes has implications for training • Counteract police and prosecutor prejudices about statutory/compliant victims • Psychology of statutory victims • Psychology of gay youth • Techniques for working with less cooperative teen victims • Vertical prosecution, advocates, peer support

29. Crimes against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire www.unh.edu/ccrc • Janis Wolak • Kimberly Mitchell • David Finkelhor, Director