NCJ Number
164745
Journal
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1996) Pages: 267-271
Date Published
1996
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article addresses ethical and legal challenges to the use of nude pictures of children for stimuli in the plethysmographic assessments of sexual offenders.
Abstract
Those who oppose this technique on ethical grounds argue that children cannot give permission for their nude pictures to be used; therefore, any use of nude child images constitutes exploitation of children, so their pictures should not be used. The authors argue that if offender treatment specialists accept the accusation that they cannot use child images morally, they would appear to be acceding to the perception that they are less professional and less moral than practitioners who use the same type of image for other medical purposes. Regarding the use of nude child images in plethysmography from a legal perspective, Federal law has three tests to determine legal culpability for possession of nude child images: the manner in which the image is obtained, the legal right of the individual to have and use the materials, and the actual use to which the images are put. Specialists have the resources to produce visual stimuli that would satisfy the first two legal requirements, but the third legal requirement -- no use of nude child images to produce sexual arousal -- prevents any further progress. The treatment community must make its legitimate clinical needs known and advocate legislative changes at the State level that would make an exception to legitimize the use of nude pictures of children in the assessment and treatment of offenders.