Digital Commons Network^™

Updated Trends In Child Maltreatment, 2013., David Finkelhor, Kei Saito, Lisa M. Jones

Crimes Against Children Research Center

New national data for 2013 show continued declines in child maltreatment, after a one year discontinuity (2012) in which some rates briefly increased. But from 2012 to 2013, sexual abuse declined 4%, physical abuse declined 3%, child maltreatment fatalities declined 7% and overall substantiated child maltreatment declined 1%. Neglect by contrast rose 1%.

A Systematic Review Of Effective Youth Prevention Education: Implications For Internet Safety Education., Lisa M. Jones, Kimberly J. Mitchell, Wendy A. Walsh

Crimes Against Children Research Center

ABSTRACT: Over the past two decades, a wide array of internet safety education materials and programs have developed to increase positive youth behavior and safety online. Although it is a new area of prevention, programs should incorporate practices that prior prevention evaluation studies tell us work best. To inform internet safety education, 31 youth prevention education meta-analyses across a wide range of youth prevention (substance abuse, risky sex behavior, delinquency, etc.) were coded to identify prevention program characteristics shown by research to be most effective. The review identified that active, skill-based lessons, focused on research based causal and risk factors, …

A Content Analysis Of Youth Internet Safety Programs: Are Effective Prevention Strategies Being Used?, Lisa M. Jones, Kimberly J. Mitchell, Wendy A. Walsh

Crimes Against Children Research Center

ABSTRACT: Almost half of youth in the U.S. report receiving internet safety education (ISE) in their schools. Unfortunately, we know little about what educational messages make a difference in problems such as cyberbullying, sexting, or online predators. To consider directions for improving effectiveness, a content analysis was conducted on materials from four ISE programs. Results indicate that ISE programs are mostly not incorporating proven educational strategies. Common ISE messages have proliferated without a clear rationale for why they would be effective. It is recommended that program developers and other stakeholders reconsider ISE messages, improve educational strategies, and participate in evaluation. …

Understanding The Role Of Technology In The Commercial Sexual Exploitation Of Children: The Perspective Of Law Enforcement., Kimberly J. Mitchell, Dana Boyd

Crimes Against Children Research Center

This exploratory study was conducted to better assess how technology can be used in criminal investigations; it is important to get a better understanding of how technology is currently employed in child sex trafficking as well as the approaches and needs of law enforcement. 144 investigators from Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces and affiliate agencies responded to an online semi‐structured survey, including 45 investigators with experience conducting investigations of the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) that involved technology. Participants included investigators working in local, county, and state law enforcement agencies in the United States. The discussion suggested …

Trends In Bullying And Peer Victimization., David Finkelhor

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Increased attention to bullying in recent years has created the impression among some observers that the problem has been on the rise. But at the same time, crime and violence in general, and youth violence in particular, have been decreasing overall in the US. Could this decline apply to bullying and peer victimization?

In this bulletin, we will summarize the trends, from youth surveys that have tracked bullying specifically, and also those that have tracked closely related phenomena such as school assaults, school thefts, school fighting and school hate speech.

These surveys generally show declines in bullying and peer victimization, …

Trends In Unwanted Online Experiences And Sexting : Final Report, Kimberly J. Mitchell, Lisa M. Jones, David Finkelhor, Janis Wolak

Crimes Against Children Research Center

This bulletin summarizes findings from the Third Youth Internet Safety Survey (YISS‐3). Topics include youth reports of unwanted sexual solicitations, online harassment, unwanted exposure to sexual material, and “sexting.”

Internet-Facilitated Commercial Sexual Exploitation Of Children., Kimberly J. Mitchell, Lisa M. Jones

Crimes Against Children Research Center

This bulletin summarizes findings from the Internet‐Facilitated Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (IF‐CSEC) component of the 2006 Second National Juvenile Online Victimization study. Following are some key findings from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention‐sponsored study: • An estimated 569 arrests for IF‐CSEC were made in the United States in 2006; more than half of the arrests involved the offender marketing and selling child pornography. • Most offenders (83%) purchased child pornography or sex with a minor, but an important minority (17%) profited from the exploitation. Profiteers appeared to be more seasoned offenders who were involved in larger, …

Sex Trafficking Cases Involving Minors., Kimberly J. Mitchell, David Finkelhor, Janis Wolak

Crimes Against Children Research Center

This bulletin summarizes findings from the National Juvenile Prostitution Study (N‐JPS). It describes the prevalence and types of sex trafficking cases that ended in arrests or detentions by U.S. law enforcement agencies in 2005 and explores the characteristics of youth involved in sex trafficking, the characteristics of the cases themselves, and how police view these juveniles—as victims or as delinquents. The bulletin also covers policy and practice implica‐ tions and recommends several next steps for advancing the handling of these cases. Some findings include the fol‐ lowing: • There were an estimated 1,450 arrests and detentions for sex trafficking crimes …

Children's Exposure To Violence And The Intersection Between Delinquency And Victimization., Carlos A. Cuevas, David Finkelhor, Anne M. Shattuck, Heather Turner, Sherry L. Hamby

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Presents survey results from the National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV) regarding the co-occurrence of victimization and delinquency among children who are exposed to violence. The survey confirms findings of earlier studies that identified three groups of youth: delinquent-victims, primarily delinquent youth, and primarily victim youth. The survey found that the youth identified as delinquent-victims had higher levels of both delinquency and victimization than youth who fell into the other two categories. In addition, youth who had higher levels of delinquency and victimization suffered more adversities, including more mental health symptoms, more inconsistent/harsh parenting and less parental supervision, …

Sexting: When Are State Prosecutors Deciding To Prosecute? The Third National Juvenile Online Victimization Study (Njov‐3), Wendy A. Walsh, Janis Wolak, David Finkelhor

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Abstract The majority of state prosecutors (62%) in the sample that had worked on technology facilitated crimes against children had handled a sexting case involving juveniles, and 36% of prosecutors in the sample reported that they had ever filed charges in these cases. When charges were filed, the majority charged child pornography production felonies and 16% of prosecutors had sexting cases that resulted in the defendant being sentenced to sex offender registration. Research needs to continue to help prosecutors develop tools and strategies to deal with these complex crimes.

Prosecution Dilemmas And Challenges For Child Pornography Crimes: Thethird National Juvenile Onlinevictimization Study (Njov‐3), Wendy A. Walsh, Janis Wolak, David Finkelhor

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Abstract

Results from the National Juvenile Online Victimization (N‐ JOV) Prosecutor Study indicate that prosecutors use a mix of strategies to handle defendants who possess large amounts of child pornography (CP). Prosecutors reported difficulties with computer forensics and the police investigation, but not so much with defense strategies. One‐quarter of prosecutors who dealt with CP cases had one that went in front of a jury in the past 2 years. Nearly half of prosecutors would like clearer guidelines about the types of CP cases accepted for federal prosecution.

Updated Trends In Child Maltreatment, 2011., David Finkelhor, Lisa M. Jones, Anne M. Shattuck

Crimes Against Children Research Center

National statistics from 2011 showed continuing small declines in child maltreatment from the previous year. Overall substantiated child maltreatment actually declined 2% from 2010 to 2011, including a 3% decline in sexual abuse and a 1% decline in physical abuse. Child maltreatment fatalities were largely unchanged, down 1% from 1538 to 1527.

Updated Trends In Child Maltreatment, 2012., David Finkelhor, Lisa M. Jones, Anne M. Shattuck, Kei Saito

Crimes Against Children Research Center

National statistics from 2012 showed increases in some forms of child maltreatment for the first time in many years. While overall substantiated child maltreatment was flat from 2011 to 2012, there was a 2% rise in sexual abuse and a 5% rise in physical abuse. Neglect declined 3%, but child maltreatment fatalities rose 4% from 1557 to 1620.

Have Sexual Abuse And Physicalabuse Declined Since The 1990s?, David Finkelhor, Lisa M. Jones

Crimes Against Children Research Center

This bulletin summarizes statistics on trends for sexual and physical abuse. A decline in sexual abuse since the early 1990s is a conclusion supported by 3 independent sources of agency data and 4 separate large victim surveys. The trend for physical abuse is less clear, since several of the data sources show conflicting patterns.

Sextrafficking Of Minors: How Many Juvenilesare Being Prostituted In The Us?, Michelle L. Stransky, David Finkelhor

Crimes Against Children Research Center

There have been many attempts to estimate the number of juveniles who are being prostituted (or trafficked) within the United States. These estimates range from 1,400 to 2.4 mil‐ lion, although most fall between 300,000 and 600,000. BUT PLEASE DO NOT CITE THESE NUMBERS. READ ON. A close look at these diverse estimates reveals that none are based on a strong scientific foundation. They are mostly educated guesses or extrapolations based on questionable assumptions. They do not have the substance of typically re‐ ported crime statistics, like the number of robberies or the number of child sexual abuse victims. The …

Child And Youth Victimization Known To Police, School, And Medical Authorities., David Finkelhor, Richard Ormrod, Heather Turner, Sherry L. Hamby

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Presents the survey results from the National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV) regarding authorities' knowledge of victimization incidents involving children and youth, particularly police, school, and medical authorities. Compared with a similar study in the early 1990s, the survey found that authorities were more likely to know about NatSCEV survey participants' exposure to violence, which may reflect efforts by authorities, criminal justice and child protection agencies, and advocates to promote disclosure. This increase in disclosure is also consistent with the decrease in child victimizations during the last two decades. The survey found that 46 percent of children who …

Trends In Law Enforcement Responses Totechnology‐Facilitated Child Sexual Exploitation Crimes: Thethird National Juvenile Onlinevictimization Study (Njov‐3), Janis Wolak, David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Abstract

Overall arrests for technology‐facilitated child sexual exploita‐ tion crimes did not continue to increase from 2006 to 2009 as they had earlier in the decade. However, arrests for child por‐ nography possession increased by about 50% from 2006 to 2009. In addition, arrests for technology‐facilitated sex crimes with identified victims doubled, but the increase was in cases where offenders knew their victims in person, not cases in which they met online. Arrests of offenders who solicited undercover police posing as minors declined between 2006 and 2009, after rising earlier in the decade. The decline may be because of shifts …

Trends In Arrests For Child Pornography Possession: Thethird National Juvenile Onlinevictimization Study (Njov‐3), Janis Wolak, David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Abstract

Arrests for the possession of child pornography (CP) increased between 2006 and 2009 by one‐third, continuing an increase that also occurred between 2000 and 2006. In 2009, a substantial proportion of arrested CP offenders used peer‐to‐peer (P2P) file sharing technology to access contraband images. These arrests may reflect the enhanced ability of law enforcement to monitor file sharing sites. CP possessors who used P2P technology tended to have more extreme images than other CP possessors, which may reflect police investigative methods. However, compared to 2006 arrests, those in 2009 turned up a somewhat smaller pro‐ portion of “dual offenders,” …

Trends In Arrests For Child Pornography Production: The Third National Juvenile Online Victimization Study (Njov‐3), Janis Wolak, David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Arrests for child pornography (CP) production more than dou‐ bled between 2006 and 2009. This rise was driven largely by a dramatic increase in cases involving “youth‐produced” sexual images – pictures taken by minors, usually of themselves, which met legal definitions of child pornography. In most of these cases, an adult offender who solicited images from a minor was the person arrested. Reflecting this trend, there were also in‐ creases in the proportion of adolescent victims and of cases in which victims and offenders were face‐to‐face acquaintances.

Youth Internet Safety Study (Yiss): Methodology Report., Kimberly J. Mitchell, Lisa M. Jones

Crimes Against Children Research Center

The Youth Internet Safety Surveys (YISS‐1, YISS‐2, and YISS‐3) were conducted in order to quantify and detail youth experiences with unwanted or problematic Internet experiences including sexual solicitations, harassment, and unwanted exposure to pornography on the Internet. YISS‐3 collected additional information about youth produced sexual images (YPSI) or “sexting.” The YISS‐1, YISS‐2 and YISS‐3 studies were conducted in 2000, 2005 and 2010, respectively, providing important comparative information on changes in the numbers of youth reporting unwanted or problematic Internet experiences at 5‐year intervals since 2000. This is a critical timeframe for observation given the sharp rise in the use of …

Polyvictimization: Children's Exposure To Multiple Types Of Violence, Crime, And Abuse., David Finkelhor, Heather Turner, Sherry L. Hamby, Richard Ormrod

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Presents the findings of the National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV) regarding children's direct exposure to multiple types of violence, crime, and abuse, also known as polyvictimization. Children and youth who are exposed to multiple types of violence are at particularly high risk for lasting physical, mental, and emotional harm, even compared with children who experience repeated exposures to a single type of violence. Among the key findings: 8 percent of all youth in the nationally representative NatSCEV sample had seven or more different kinds of exposures to violence, crime, and abuse in the past year. These youth …

Children's Exposure To Intimate Partner Violence And Other Family Violence., Sherry L. Hamby, David Finkelhor, Heather Turner, Richard Ormrod

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Explores in depth the survey results from the National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV) regarding exposure to family violence among children in the United States, including exposure to intimate partner violence, assaults by parents on siblings of children surveyed, and other assaults involving teen and adult household members. These results confirm that children are exposed to unacceptable rates of violence in the home. The bulletin presents information regarding the types of exposure to family violence, the gender of the perpetrator, the relationship of the child witness to the perpetrator, and youth's reactions to the incident. It also discusses …

Sexting: A Typology., Janis Wolak, David Finkelhor

Crimes Against Children Research Center

This bulletin presents a typology of sexting episodes based on a review of over 550 cases obtained from a national sur‐ vey of law enforcement agencies. The cases all involved “youth‐produced sexual images,” defined as images of minors created by minors that could qualify as child pornography under applicable criminal statutes. The episodes could be broadly divided into two categories, which we termed ‘Aggravated’ and ‘Experimental’. Aggravated incidents involved criminal or abusive elements beyond the creation, sending or possession of youth‐produced sexual images. These addi‐ tional elements included 1) adult involvement; or 2) criminal or abusive behavior by minors such …

The True Prevalence Of “Sexting”., Kaitlin Lounsbury, Kimberly J. Mitchell, David Finkelhor

Crimes Against Children Research Center

This factsheet presents and critiques the findings of recent studies estimating the prevalence of youth “sexting.” The authors contend that research findings to date have been inconsistent and many widely‐publicized studies have been flawed in their design. It is difficult to compare findings and draw clear conclusions due to inconsistent terminology between studies and the inclusion of material not of primary concern to the public and law enforcement, such as text‐only messages, images of adults, or images of youth that do not constitute child pornography under legal statutes. These findings are then often reported in distorted or exaggerated ways by …

Increasing Youth Safety And Responsible Behavior Online: Putting In Place Programs That Work., Lisa M. Jones, David Finkelhor

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Hundreds of programs are being developed to promote safe and responsible online behavior among youth. They are being successfully marketed and eagerly adopted because of their appealing content, exciting graphics, engaging games, catchy phrases and cool characters. But that is not enough. The bottom line for everyone to remember -- funders, program developers, communities, schools, and families -- is that these programs need to actually work. They need to change youth attitudes and inspire youth to make smart and ethical choices about how they behave online. If programs are not doing this, then no matter how beautiful the graphics or …

Updated Trends In Child Maltreatment, 2010., David Finkelhor, Lisa M. Jones, Anne M. Shattuck

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Even in the midst of continuing difficult economic times, 2010 national statistics showed no increase in child maltreatment. Overall substantiated child maltreatment actually declined 1% from 2009 to 2010, including a 3% decline in sexual abuse and a 2% decline in physical abuse. Child maltreatment fatalities also declined 8%, but some known administrative changes af‐ fected the rates.

The National Juvenile Online Victimization Study: Methodology Report., Kimberly J. Mitchell, Janis Wolak, David Finkelhor

Crimes Against Children Research Center

The National Juvenile Online Victimization Study (N‐JOV) was conducted by the Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. Wave 1 of this study was funded by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice. Wave 2 of this study was funded through grants from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice.

Researchers collected information from a national sample of law enforcement agencies about the prevalence of arrests for, and characteristics of, Internet sex crimes against minors in the …

Updated Trends In Child Maltreatment, 2007., Lisa M. Jones, David Finkelhor

Crimes Against Children Research Center

New data released by the federal government about reported child maltreatment for 2007 show a mixed and ambiguous pic‐ ture about recent trends, with overall substantiated cases flat or declining , but child maltreatment fatalities increasing. The data for the tables and graphs included in this report are de‐ rived from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), which aggregates and publishes statistics from state child protection agencies. The most recent data from NCANDS were released in April, 2009 and concern cases of child mal‐ treatment investigated in 2007. (See http://www.acf.hhs.gov/ programs/cb/pubs/cm07/index.htm for more information.)

Updated Trends In Child Maltreatment, 2008., David Finkelhor, Lisa M. Jones, Anne M. Shattuck

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Recently released national child maltreatment data for 2008 show a generally encouraging situation during the first year of the serious recession that began in late 2007. Overall substantiated child maltreatment declined 3% from the previous year, including a 6% decline in sexual abuse. Child maltreatment fatalities stayed stable.

Juveniles Who Commit Sex Offenses Against Minors., David Finkelhor, Richard Ormrod, Mark Chaffin

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Presents population-based epidemiological information about the characteristics of juvenile offenders who commit sex offenses against minors. The authors analyzed data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and provided topical statistics highlighting the fact that juveniles account for more than one-third (35.6 percent) of this type of offender. Findings may support the development of research-based interventions and policies to reduce sexual assault and child molestation as perpetrated by juvenile offenders.