Serial Child Molesters and Abductors (From Child Trauma I Issues and Research, P 443-457, 1992, Ann Wolbert Burgess, ed. -- See NCJ-137060)

• NCJ Number: 137077
• Author(s): A W Burgess; J Campbell; T A Delaney; R O Heck; R Knight; K V Lanning; R A Prentky; J B Rabun Jr; R K Ressler
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Garland Publishing, Inc.
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Based on an analysis of 157 child molesters treated at the Massachusetts Treatment Center, this study compares the personality characteristics of child molesters who abduct their victims and those who do not.

Abstract

When the place of encounter and offense differed on 50 percent or more occasions for all known offenses, the offender was coded as an abductor. Offenders were coded as nonabductors when the place of encounter and offense matched for all known offenses. Ninety-seven child molesters were classified as abductors, and 60 were classified as nonabductors. The child molesters were compared on social competence, sexual preoccupation with children, nonoffense contact with children, physical injury to child, and sadism. Child abductors, when compared to nonabducting child molesters, were found to be lower in social competence, lower in amount of nonoffense-related contact with children, and higher in the presence and use of weapons during offenses; they were not higher in amount of aggression nor victim injury, however. The study suggests that for some offenders, abduction may be a strategy for controlling the victims. The greater need to control the children through abduction and intimidation may stem from their poor interpersonal and social skills. Appended crime classification module and three case studies