nl_e17

Online Sex Abuse Cases Not Characterized By Deception, Abduction And Force, Research Shows
emphasize the dangers of deception, “the data suggests that a major challenge for prevention
is the population of young teens who are willing to enter into voluntary sexual relationships
with adults whom they meet online. This is a reality that people may be reluctant to confront,
but effective prevention requires public and private acknowledgment of what actually happens
in these cases,” according to the researchers. They add that teenagers may benefit from
being told directly about why such relationships are a bad idea and made to understand that
adults who care about their well-being would not propose sexual relationships or involve them
in risky encounters.
The authors also urge prevention efforts to focus special attention on the most vulnerable
populations for Internet-initiated sex crimes against minors. These include adolescents who
have poor relationships with their parents, those who are lonely or depressed, or gay
teenagers or those questioning their sexual orientation who turn to others on the Internet for
support or information.
The authors also recommend training for law enforcement since some of the targeted youth
may not initially see themselves as victims and may require sensitive interviewing in order to
cooperate with investigators. The research was funded jointly by the National Center on
Missing and Exploited Children and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention, and will be published online in the November issue of the
Journal of Adolescent Health.
Presentation: “Online Victimization: Investigators’ Experiences With Internet Sex Crimes
Against Minors," Kimberly J. Mitchell, Ph.D., Janis Wolak, M.A., J.D., and David Finkelhor,
Ph.D., Crimes Against Children Research Center, Durham, NH; Session 5120, 11:00 - 11:50
AM, Sunday, August 1, Hawaii Convention Center, Level 3 – Meeting Rooms, Meeting Room
302B.
Full text of this article is available from the APA Public Affairs Office.
Reporters: Kimberly Mitchell, Ph.D., can be reached at (603) 862-4533 or by Email. Janis
Wolak, M.A., J.D., can be reached at (603) 862-4691 or by Email. David Finkelhor, Ph.D.,
can be reached at (603) 862-2761 or by Email.
The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific
and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s
largest association of psychologists. APA’s membership includes more than 150,000
researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 53
subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial
associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a
means of promoting health, education and human welfare.
© 2005 American Psychological Association
Office of Public Affairs
750 First Street, N.E. • Washington, DC • 20002-4242
Phone: 202-336-5700 • TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123
Fax: 202-336-5708 • E-mail
PsychNET® | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
# # #
http://www.apa.org/releases/online_sexabuse.html (2 of 2) [6/5/2005 8:39:28 PM]