Cyber Predators And Its Effects On Children

“According to a recent study, rapist and child molesters are arrested once for every 30 offenses they commit” (Leo, 2). Scary thought for the human race, especially for parents with children under 18. How is a sexual predator defined? Once this has been identified then the need to examine why internet relationships are developed. What are the different characteristics of offenders and victims? Lastly, how do we protect our children from sexual predators and who has jurisdiction over the offenders? What steps, if any, should the government take to protect

Of the many problems faced by children and adolescents, few provoke such moral outrage as childhood sexual abuse. Many times, as on the television show “To Catch a Predator”, such abuse can be inflicted by strangers who may gradually become familiar with the child online. Sadly, however, often times the perpetrator of sexual abuse on children is someone much more familiar to the child- someone the child may even love.

Child sex abusers find the internet or mobile phones a convenient place to participate in a range of child sexual

One study found that over half of children with access the internet on a weekly basis have been exposed to online pornography and almost a third receive unwanted sexual comments via email, chat, instant message or text. (Livingstone, s and Bober M 2004). There is no one way that CSE is perpetrated (CEOP, 2011; Berelowitz et al. 2013). Grooming is common in some forms of CSE, but it is not always present (Beckett, 2011; Melrose, 2013). Online and offline exploitation can overlap (Fox and Kalkan, 2016). Although CSE can presented itself in different forms youth workers and educators should be clear that CSE is abuse and in whatever form it presents itself , it still is child abuse. One thing that is clear, definitions of CSE emphasises exchange and power imbalance. It is explicit about the power the perpetrator has over the young person or persons they are exploiting, either through forceful acts or through persuasive techniques that might convince a young person they are making a ‘choice’, it is therefore important that practitioners use language that reiterates the need to look beyond apparent consent, especially as young people may describe exploitative relationships as consensual or withdraw claims as a result of coercion (Green et al, 2014).

There are a vast number of issues concerning child exploitation from the actions of the offender and the victim. Child exploitation is a complex issue that does not have one simple solution; this crime is nothing new, but technology is allowing it to evolve. Child exploitation is moving from sending child pornography through the postal service and targeting only children an offender has close proximity to. Technology and the Internet have widened the opportunities for offenders and have allowed for potentially ay juvenile to become victimized. The recommendations will focus on targeting key issues presented in the Routine Activities Theory; limiting a motivated offender, making targets unsuitable, and creating capable guardians online.

Marcum, G. (2007). Interpreting the intentions of internet predators: An examination of online predatory behavior. 16(4), 99-115.

It is not uncommon for someone to exaggerate the truth or to leave out facts about themselves on the web. In fact, you may even find that the person you thought you knew on the internet is nothing like their profiles in real life. Whether it is to stand out in the crowd or to fool someone into thinking you are someone else entirely, you should not believe everything you see or read online. With photo enhancements, little white lies, and the scam termed catfishing, you just never really know who you are talking to or what their intentions are. Michele Fleming and Debra Rickwood, authors of “Teens in Cyberspace”, determine that parents and the public share the concern of teens encountering predators and pedophiles on the internet and could lead to inappropriate relationships on and off the web. The young generation typically communicates with peers and people close in age, however, Fleming and Rickwood advise “Even though many teens appear Net-savvy, they still need to be reminded of the potential dangers lurking online. There may be many friends in cyberspace but there are undoubtedly a number of

As time progresses on, more reports of child sexual abuse (CSA) have been documented. According to Colangelo and Cooperman, CSA is defined as “the use of a child under 18 years of age as an object of gratification for adult sexual needs and desires.” Another definition of CSA is “sexual abuse [that] occurs whenever one person dominates and exploits another by means of sexual activity or suggestion.” (Hall, M., & Hall, J., 2011) it is difficult to

With the creation of computers and Internet, high-tech crimes are occurring more frequently than few decades ago. According to a report made by the U.S. Department of Justice; “one in five children (10 to 17 years old) receives unwanted sexual solicitations online” (Knetzger & Muraski, 2008). One of this online sex-crime against children is known as child enticement. The Florida statute 847.0135 states that an individual is involved in online child enticement when “[…] utilizes a computer on-line service, Internet service, or […] to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, or attempt to […] a child or another person believed by a person to be a child to commit any illegal act […] relating to sexual battery […]” (Knetzger & Muraski, 2008). Therefore, online sex-crime investigators must use the appropriate protocols during an investigation to avoid a lawful criminal defense based on law enforcement entrapment.

It should be noted that statistics show that 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age 18; 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18; 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet (Darkness2light, 2009c). Also children who are ill, disabled, or otherwise perceived as different are more likely targets of abuse(Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 2009).

In the state of Indiana, there are specific regulations that prohibit activities that are predatory against children. This is taking place under Section IC 35-42-4 of the criminal code. The different provisions of the law that deal with these issues include: rape, criminal deviant conduct, child molestation, the exploitation of a minor, sexual conduct in the presence of a juvenile, solicitation, seduction, sexual battery, sexual misconduct with a minor, inappropriate communication, using the Internet to target children and it is providing guidelines for the registration of convicted sex offenders. These different elements are demonstrating how the state has strict guidelines that are designed to protect children. (Hall, 2012) (Scheb, 2008)

2008). Unfortunately, majority of youths who are targeted by the online predators and accept invitations to meet in person tend to acknowledge that they will likely be engage in sexual relationship(Wolak et al, 2008). Thus, these factors illustrates that children in Canada require great cares and protections from the online predators.

This is common in child sexual abuse as ”Such manipulation can include the process of "grooming" a child—giving gifts, affection, and other treats to a child to create a natural pathway to eventual sexual contact” (Minetor). This goes against the innocence of a child, as it teaches them at a young age, consequently embedding within them a connection with prostitution of oneself in order to get gifts and physical

Grooming is defined as the process by which the perpetrator (child sex offender) identifies his or her potential victim, gains their trust, and then breaks down their defenses and any resistance the victim may have to sexual advances. (National Center for Victims of Crime, n.d.) It is also described

According to W.L. Marshall, et al., (2015), Crime Pattern Theory proposes that most infringement happen in implied meeting settings; that is, spots frequented by both the blameworthy party and the victim, for instance, home or work(W.L. Marshall, et al., 2015). Right when victims’ spatiotemporal regions are facilitated with that of the liable party and 'when the potential criminal's excitement to execute a wrongdoing has been initiated'(W.L. Marshall et al., 2015), a crime will happen. Consolidating these two theories, we prescribe that men who have continued with supervisory access to youths may be at inspired threat. Under these circumstances, when the wrongdoer has lost a wellspring of sexual and closeness satisfaction, he will be arranged