NCJ Number
210701
Date Published
2005
Length
64 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings from the National Juvenile Online Victimization (N-JOV) Study describing arrests and characteristics of offenses and offenders for Internet-related sex crimes committed against minors.
Abstract
While the possession and distribution of child pornography is illegal in all 50 States, estimates suggest that this type of crime is on the rise, mainly due to growing Internet use. The current report tracks the prevalence of child pornography cases in the criminal justice system and describes their characteristics. The analysis was based on a mailed survey of 2,574 local, county, and State law enforcement agencies who responded with information about the Internet-related child pornography or sexual exploitation cases they handled between July 1, 2000 and June 30, 2001. Telephone interviews (N=612) were also conducted regarding a sample of the cases reported on in the mailed questionnaire. Key findings showed that nationally, law enforcement agencies made approximately 1,713 arrests for Internet-related crimes involving child pornography during the 12-month study period. Offenders tended to be male, White, and older than 25 years of age. Forty percent of offenders were dual offenders who both sexually victimized children and possessed child pornography. Of the 1,713 cases, 53 percent involved child pornography possession or distribution, 31 percent involved child sexual victimization, and 16 percent involved Internet solicitations to undercover investigators. In 57 percent of the cases, law enforcement was alerted via complaints from individuals outside of law enforcement. A full 96 percent of arrested child pornography arrestees were convicted or plead guilty and 56 percent were incarcerated. Recommendations include the need for aggressive law enforcement action, especially given the finding that many child pornography possessors also sexually abuse children. Tables, figures, boxes, footnotes, appendix, references