NCJ Number
187873
Date Published
2001
Length
240 pages
Annotation
This book describes behavior and events that typically precede child sexual abuse, behavior that molesters often exhibit when trying to gain access to children.
Abstract
The book seeks to identify those who might molest and to describe what to do when encountering a potential molester. The book uses five case studies to lay the foundation for understanding how the community can so often be naive regarding the behaviors that should make it wary. It provides clear definitions of what constitutes child sexual abuse, and examines the many ways that child sexual abuse affects society. It addresses the prevalence of child sexual abuse, which occurs with such epidemic frequency that more than one-quarter of the population is directly affected. The book summarizes the characteristics of child molesters, to dispel the mistaken notion that they may be identified by looks, clothes, or social class. The protocol child molesters use to access and groom victims seems to follow a set procedure, which the book discusses. It also reviews the tools for intervening and stopping contact before opportunities for abuse occur. The book discusses the social and cultural attitudes that inadvertently foster and support child sexual abuse. Finally, it provides the framework to help identify potential molesters and to stop potential molesters from obtaining opportunities to abuse. Note, appendix, references, resources, index