NCJ Number
199403
Journal
SIECUS Report Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Dated: October/November 2000 Pages: 47-49
Date Published
October 2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the STOP IT NOW! Campaign, in which adult sexual offenders and their friends and family are challenged to become a part of the solution by recognizing the early signs of predatory sexual behavior and stopping them before they manifest into abusive behavior.
Abstract
The author describes the use of social marketing to get out the message of STOP IT NOW! Social marketing is the use of marketing techniques to essentially sell ideas rather than products. The goal of this child sexual abuse prevention campaign, which is operating in Vermont, is to teach offenders, their friends, families, and other adults to recognize the warning signs of sexual predators who target children. Such signs include the behavior of “grooming,” in which child sexual abusers gain the trust of children or family members before the abuse begins. “Grooming” may consist of such acts as hanging out in public places where children are typically alone or bringing children to family or friendly gatherings rather than adult friends. The STOP IT NOW! Campaign focuses on three main goals: to put a human face on sexual abusers, to spread a message of hope to those affected by sexual abuse, and to use the model as a means of educating the public on how to discuss sexual abuse. Future goals of the campaign include marketing it as a national campaign and to bring this message to an online virtual site on the Internet.