NCJ Number
116955
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (1989) Pages: 77-87
Date Published
1989
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Inmates at Ohio's Chillicothe Correctional Institute (CCI) agreed to be surveyed about methods they employed in child sexual abuse and how they would prevent such abuse.
Abstract
All 72 subjects were enrolled in the Polaris Program at CCI or had completed the program. The Polaris Program provides intensive milieu counseling to inmates serving sentences for sex offenses or who have a history of sex offenses and accept responsibility for their sexual behavior. The survey collected information on victim age and sex, number of victims, perpetrator knowledge of victim, risk factors, perpetrator approaches, methods of gaining cooperation, and how perpetrators prevented children from reporting sexual abuse. Inmates described the ideal victim and methods they used to involve children. Inmates indicated what topics in child sexual abuse prevention programs they believed were effective and what topics would have little value in preventing abuse. Responses of incestuous and nonincestuous abusers were compared. Inmates reported their victimization as children and its continuing effect on their lives constituted an incentive to help end the sexual victimization of children. Inmates further indicated that parents could prevent child abuse and that they must be involved if programs are to be effective. Study findings demonstrated that information from inmates can be used to develop a curriculum for child sexual abuse prevention programs. 15 references, 1 table, 5 figures. (Author abstract modified)