NCJ Number
43076
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
CHILD MOLESTERS ARE AMONG THE LEAST UNDERSTOOD AND MOST FEARED CRIMINALS. THIS FILM OFFERS A FRANK OVERVIEW OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILD MOLESTERS WHILE DESCRIBING MEANS OF PREVENTION.
Abstract
THROUGH THE PORTRAYAL OF AN INCIDENT OF CHILD MOLESTATION AND THE POLICE INVESTIGATION FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT, THE FILM PROVIDES INFORMATION ON ALL ASPECTS OF CHILD MOLESTATION--CAUSES, POLICE INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES, COMMUNITY RESPONSES, OFFENDER TYPES, AND PREVENTION. IN THE INCIDENT PORTRAYED IN THIS FILM, A YOUNG GIRL IS MOLESTED WHILE AT THE LOCAL PLAYGROUND. POLICE INVESTIGATORS CHECK OUT POTENTIAL SUSPECTS, BEGINNING WITH PERSONS KNOWN TO THE VICTIM AND SUSPICIOUS PERSONS SEEN AROUND THE AREA. IT IS NOTED THAT IN MOST CASES THE VICTIM AND ASSAILANT ARE KNOWN TO EACH OTHER. THE MOTIVATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SEVERAL TYPES OF PEDOPHILES ARE DESCRIBED, INCLUDING THE HOMOSEXUAL MOLESTER, THE OLDER CHILD MOLESTER, THE MENTALLY DEFECTIVE OFFENDER, AND THE 'NORMAL' OFFENDER. THE FILM THEN TURNS TO THE POLICE INTERVIEW WITH THE MOLESTED CHILD WHERE THE OFFICERS OBTAIN A DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSAILANT AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE CRIME. AS THE POLICE SEARCH THROUGH THEIR FILES, SEVERAL CHILD MOLESTATION PATTERNS ARE EXAMINED, SHOWING THE METHODS THAT OFFENDERS MAY USE TO APPROACH THEIR VICTIMS. AFTER THE MOLESTER ATTEMPTS TO ASSAULT ANOTHER YOUNG GIRL, THE POLICE ARE ABLE TO TRACE HIS IDENTITY AND APPREHEND HIM. VIEWERS ARE ADVISED THAT ALTHOUGH THE PEDOPHILE MAY COMMIT SERIOUS CRIMES, HE IS IN REALITY A VERY SICK PERSON UNABLE TO CONTROL HIS IMPULSES. THE FILM CONCLUDES WITH A WARNING TO ALL PARENTS THAT CHILDREN MUST BE TAUGHT TO AVOID SITUATIONS THAT MIGHT LEAD TO CHILD MOLESTATION.