Transaction Search Form: please type in any of the fields below.
Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 12:36 am
Time: 12:36 am
Results for sex crimes
40 results foundAuthor: Ward, Jeanne Title: The Shame of War: Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls in Conflict Summary: This book's primary focus is on sexual crimes in war, its impact on women's lives, and efforts to turn the tide against the practice of using women's bodies as battlegrounds Details: Nairobi, Kenya: United Nations OCHA/IRIN, 2007 Source: Integrated Regional Information Networks Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 105033 Keywords: JuvenilesRapeSex CrimesWomen |
Author: South African Law Reform Commission Title: Report on Stalking Summary: The South African Law Reform Commission’s investigation into stalking emphasizes the need to address the pressing and complex problems relating to stalking with a view to reforming the manner in which it is dealt with in terms of current law. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: 2006. 87p. Source: Internet Resource; Project 130 Year: 2006 Country: South Africa URL: Shelf Number: 119298 Keywords: Sex CrimesStalking |
Author: International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children Title: Child Pornography: Model Legislation & Global Review. Fifth Edition Summary: Research into national child pornography legislation began in November 2004. Primary sources of information included: LexisNexis; a survey of Member Countries previously conducted by Interpol regarding national child sexual exploitation legislation; government submissions to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography in conjunction with a U.N. report on child pornography on the Internet; and direct contact with in-country nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), law enforcement agencies and officers, and attorneys. Sadly, the end results continue to shock. Of the 187 Interpol Member Countries, only 29 have legislation sufficient to combat child pornography offenses (5 Member Countries meet all of the criteria set forth above and 24 Member Countries meet all but the last criteria, pertaining to ISP reporting); and 93 have no legislation at all that specifically addresses child pornography. Of the remaining Interpol Member Countries that do have legislation specifically addressing child pornography: 54 do not define child pornography in national legislation; 24 do not provide for computer-facilitated offenses; and 36 do not criminalize possession of child pornography, regardless of the intent to distribute. Fundamental topics addressed in the model legislation portion of this report include: Defining “child” for the purposes of child pornography as anyone under the age of 18, regardless of the age of sexual consent; Defining “child pornography,” and ensuring that the definition includes computer- and Internet-specific terminology; Creating offenses specific to child pornography in the national penal code, including criminalizing the possession of child pornography, regardless of one’s intent to distribute, and including provisions specific to downloading or viewing images on the Internet; Ensuring criminal penalties for parents or legal guardians who acquiesce to their child’s participation in child pornography; Penalizing those who make known to others where to find child pornography; Including grooming provisions; Punishing attempt crimes; Establishing mandatory reporting requirements for healthcare and social service professionals, teachers, law enforcement officers, photo developers, information technology (IT) professionals, ISPs, credit card companies, and banks; Addressing the criminal liability of children involved in pornography; and Enhancing penalties for repeat offenders, organized crime participants, and other aggravated factors considered upon sentencing. Details: Alexandria, VA: International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, 2008. 33p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 119545 Keywords: Child Pornography, Model LegislationChildren, Crimes AgainstInternet CrimesOrganized CrimeSex CrimesSex OffendersSexual Exploitation, Children |
Author: New South Wales. Parliament. Legislative Council. Standing Committee on Law and Justice Title: Spent Convictions for Juvenile Offenders Summary: This inquiry examined whether convictions for juvenile sex offenses should continue to be excluded from the spent convictions scheme. The inquiry concluded that the evidence does not warrant continuing to treat juvenile sexual offences differently from other juvenile offences for the purposes of the spent convictions scheme. It therefore recomended that juvenile sexual offences be included in the spent convictions scheme provided that they meet certain eligibility criteria. Details: Sydney: The Committee, 2010. 158p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 119550 Keywords: Criminal Records, ExpungementJuvenile Sex OffendersSex Crimes |
Author: National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA, UK) Title: Practice Advice on Investigating Stalking and Harassment Summary: Investigations relating to harassment can be linked to some of the most serious crimes that the police deal with including murder, sexual offences and domestic abuse. Effective police responses to crimes related to harassment can have a direct impact on improving public satisfaction and confidence in the criminal justice system and bringing offenders to justice. This document provides strategic and operational advice for reporting, responding to and investigating harassment. (Excerpts from Document) Details: Wyboston, UK: Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Policing Improvement Agency, 2009. 78p. Source: Interet Resource; Accessed August 14, 2010 at: http://www.npia.police.uk/en/docs/Stalking_and_Harassment.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.npia.police.uk/en/docs/Stalking_and_Harassment.pdf Shelf Number: 117751 Keywords: Criminal InvestigationsDomestic AbuseHarassmentSex CrimesSex OffendersSexual AssaultSexual ViolenceStalking |
Author: Livingstone, Sonia Title: Risks and Safety on the Internet: The Perspective of European Children. Initial Findings from the EU Kinds Online Survey of 9-16 Year Olds and Their Parents Summary: The study provides important new evidence regarding European children’s and parents’ experiences and practices regarding risky and safer use of the internet and new online technologies. It will inform the promotion of a safer online environment across Europe, and be of broad interest to parents, policy makers, teachers, and all others involved in the care and support of children. Key themes covered by the initial report include: Children’s online usage and activities; Children’s exposure to online risks, including cyberbullying, pornography, sending or receiving sexual messages, and going to offline meetings with people first met online; Children’s perceptions of harm caused by online experiences; and Children’s coping skills. Details: London: London School of Economics and Political Science, 2010. 125p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 26, 2010 at: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/media@lse/research/EUKidsOnline/Initial_findings_report.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/media@lse/research/EUKidsOnline/Initial_findings_report.pdf Shelf Number: 120092 Keywords: CyberbullyingInternet CrimesOnline SafetySex Crimes |
Author: Bhuller, Manudeep Title: Broadband Internet: An Information Superhighway to Sex Crime? Summary: Does internet use trigger sex crime? We use unique Norwegian data on crime and internet adoption to shed light on this question. A public program with limited funding rolled out broadband access points in 2000-2008, and provides plausibly exogenous variation in internet use. Our instrumental variables and fixed effect estimates show that internet use is associated with a substantial increase in reported incidences of rape and other sex crimes. We present a theoretical framework that highlights three mechanisms for how internet use may affect reported sex crime, namely a reporting effect, a matching effect on potential offenders and victims, and a direct effect on crime propensity. Our results indicate that the direct effect is non-negligible and positive, plausibly as a result of increased consumption of pornography. Details: Bonn: Institute for the Study of Labor, 2011. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: IZA Discussion Paper No. 5675: Accessed July 21, 2011 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp5675.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Norway URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp5675.pdf Shelf Number: 122136 Keywords: Computer CrimesInternet (Norway)PornographyRapeSex Crimes |
Author: Loots, Lizle Title: Global Review of National Prevention Policies Summary: This review involves an analysis of literature on risk factors and social dynamics underpinning rape and critique of best practice in rape prevention policy internationally. Over 140 National policies and action plans from 110 different countries are currently being reviewed to identify gaps in government prevention efforts. This review is being undertaken internally by the SVRI secretariat. This review will be used to identify and address the critical areas that need to be a focus of attention in developing evidence-based strategies and national policies. On completion of this review, a workshop will be convened with multi-sectoral invitees from Government, as well as researchers and representatives from non-governmental organisations. The review will be presented at the workshop and at least two other stakeholders in the field will be asked to present, including responding to the review and to discuss its policy implications. This review will ultimately contribute towards shifting the policy arena in the area and honing of the research agenda on preventing rape. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: Sexual Violence Research Initiative; South African Medical Research Council, 2011. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed Ocboer 6, 2011 at: http://www.svri.org/GlobalReview.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.svri.org/GlobalReview.pdf Shelf Number: 122997 Keywords: RapeSex CrimesSex OffendersSexual AssaultSexual Violence |
Author: South Carolina Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, Statistical Analysis Center Title: By Force and Without Consent: A Five Year Overview of Sexual Violence in South Carolina: 2005 - 2009 Summary: By Force and Without Consent: A Five Year Overview of Sexual Violence in South Carolina 2005 – 2009 is the second in a series of ongoing reports, designed to provide basic information about victims of sexual violence over a five year period. The information presented in the tables, graphs and charts in this publication is based on incident reports submitted to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) by state and local law enforcement agencies. These reports are edited and reviewed, corrected as needed and compiled to form the basis of the information presented in this report. It is important to note that the information in this report is only as complete and accurate as the information reported to local law enforcement and subsequently submitted to SLED. By their very nature, unreported crimes cannot be included in the report. While there are a variety of legal and social definitions of sexual violence, this report uses a broad definition of sexual violence, parsed into meaningful sub-categories, in order to provide as much useful information as possible. This report seeks to provide information concerning the scope and nature of sexual violence at the state level; however the overall emphasis of the report is to provide information concerning short term trends and county level information. The study found that nearly all the statewide indicators of sexual violence victimization trends demonstrated a decline from 2004 through 2008. Overall, the number of sexual violence victims decreased 10.7%, while the sexual violence victimization rate per 10,000 decreased 16.1% over the five year period. The invasive sexual violence victimization rate decreased (17.2%), the rape victimization rate decreased (11.9%), the forcible sodomy victimization rate decreased (37.5%); the sexual assault with an object victimization rate decreased (19.6%) as did the forcible fondling victimization rate (14.3%). Similarly, sexual violence victimization rates against children and adults decreased 19.1% and 6.8% respectively from 2004 through 2008. Following the same pattern over the five year time period, sexual violence victimization rates involving family victim/offender relationships decreased (6.8%), as did the sexual violence victimization rates involving marital victim/offender relationships (23.8%), sexual violence victimization involving victim/offender relationships where the victim and offender knew but did not have a family, marital or romantic relationship (17%), and sexual violence victimization involving strangers (18.1%). The lone exception to this pattern of decreasing sexual victimization rates was the sexual victimization rate involving romantic victim/offender relationships, which increased 5.6% from 2004 through 2008. It is important to note that romantic victim/offender relationships accounted for less than 4% of sexual violence victimization. Details: Blythewood, SC: South Carolina Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, 2011. 244p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 20, 2011 at: http://www.scdps.org/ojp/stats/SexualViolence/By%20Force%20and%20Without%20Consent%202005%20-%202009%20Final%20Version.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.scdps.org/ojp/stats/SexualViolence/By%20Force%20and%20Without%20Consent%202005%20-%202009%20Final%20Version.pdf Shelf Number: 123071 Keywords: Crime StatisticsSex CrimesSex OffendersSexual Assault (South Carolina)Sexual ViolenceVictimization |
Author: Franklin, Cortney A. Title: Risk Factors Associated with Women’s Victimization Summary: The prevalence of victimization on college campuses has been the focus of study for decades. Research indicates that campus crime is relatively problematic, but that sexual assault risk is epidemic. Specifically, prevalence estimates have suggested that 25 percent of college women will experience attempted or completed rape during their college career.1 More recent work has reported incidents rates that range from 15 to 30 percent.2, 3, 4 This study focused on women’s routine activities and levels of self-control as they related to property, personal, and sexual assault victimization. The findings indicated that: • Decreases in self-control produced increases in victimization for college women • The risk of property victimization increased when women spent more time shopping and partying. Additionally, living off campus, participation in drug sales, and being in their early years of college increased property victimization risk among these University women • Personal victimization was not so much related to spending time away from home, but was related to living off campus and participating in drug sales behavior • The risk of sexual assault victimization increased with time spent on campus and time spent partying The results presented in this report provide important implications for crime prevention strategies on Texas college campuses. Details: Huntsville, TX: Crime Victims' Institute, Sam Houston State University, Criminal Justice Center, 2011. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 12, 2012 at: http://www.crimevictimsinstitute.org/documents/Risk%20Factors%20Final%20Print.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.crimevictimsinstitute.org/documents/Risk%20Factors%20Final%20Print.pdf Shelf Number: 123557 Keywords: Campus CrimeColleges and UniversitiesFemale VictimsSex CrimesSexual AssaultVictims of Crime |
Author: Roman, John Title: Post-Conviction DNA Testing and Wrongful Conviction Summary: This study analyzed the results of new DNA testing of old physical evidence from 634 sexual assault and homicide cases that took place in Virginia between 1973 and 1987 in the first study of the effects of DNA testing on wrongful conviction in a large and approximately random sample of serious crime convictions. The study found that in five percent of homicide and sexual assault cases DNA testing eliminated the convicted offender as the source of incriminating physical evidence. When sexual assault convictions were isolated, DNA testing eliminated between 8 and 15 percent of convicted offenders and supported exoneration. Past estimates generally put the rate of wrongful conviction at or less than three percent. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, Justice Policy Center, 2012. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 2, 2012 at: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/mgmedia/file/796/urban-institute-report/ Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/mgmedia/file/796/urban-institute-report/ Shelf Number: 125445 Keywords: DNA Typing (U.S.)HomicidesSex CrimesSexual AssaultWrongful Convictions |
Author: Siska, Tracy Title: Felony Sex Crime Case Processing: Report, Analysis & Recommendations - Chicago/Cook County, Illinois Summary: Criminal justice agencies play a very important role in assisting communities in securing their neighborhoods from crime and violence. The basis for how successful these agencies will be in this role depends greatly on the level of trust built up between each individual agency and community members, and this trust can only be established by empowering community members to become fully engaged partners with the agencies. This partnership relies heavily on the ability of community members to validate the actions of the agencies in order to establish that each agency is operating in the best interests of the public. This is impossible to do when community members are denied access to the data created by the agencies or are ill informed about how the data is collected and what is missing from the data released by the agencies. There is a gap between the system’s stakeholders’ (community members, crime victims, policy makers, advocates for victims, and academics) understanding of what data is collected in the responding to and processing of felony sex crime allegations, and each agency’s data related practices. This gap inhibits the ability of those stakeholders to hold the agencies accountable for poor practices related to felony sex crime allegations. In lieu of data access, the stakeholders are dependent on sporadic and superficial media coverage and press releases from the agencies. The Chicago Justic Project (CJP) seeks to close that gap with this report that specifically examines the data related practices of three agencies in the Chicago/Cook County criminal justice system: the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), the Chicago Police Department (CPD), and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO) in order to verify their data capturing, maintaining, and releasing practices related to allegations of felony sex crimes. It is of the utmost importance that communities validate these practices because these agencies help frame the public discussion regarding the prevalence and seriousness of felony sex crimes in our communities. The numbers captured by the agencies become the official record and challenging those figures is nearly impossible because of the restrictions on data. With the current level of restrictions on data it is impossible to judge the impact the practices of one agency is having on other agencies within the local criminal justice system. It is very likely that if, like the advocates assume, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is rejecting acquaintance rapes at a high level that the Chicago Police Department would bring less of those cases in the future to felony review. To what degree this impact plays in the real world can only be known by examining data from all the agencies involved. Details: Chicago, IL: The Chicago Justice Project, 2011. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2012 at http://www.chicagojustice.org/research/long-form-reports/felony-sex-crime-case-processing-report-analysis-recommendations/CJP_Felony_Sex_Crime_Case_Processing_Report_Analys.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.chicagojustice.org/research/long-form-reports/felony-sex-crime-case-processing-report-analysis-recommendations/CJP_Felony_Sex_Crime_Case_Processing_Report_Analys.pdf Shelf Number: 126526 Keywords: Crime StatisticsCriminal InvestigationsProsecutionsSex Crimes |
Author: Bluett-Boyd, Nicole Title: The Role of Emerging Communication Technologies in Experiences of Sexual Violence: A New Legal Frontier? Summary: This research study investigates how communication technologies facilitate sexual violence against young people and what challenges this presents for the Victorian criminal justice system. Based on interviews with young people and professionals working with young people, it examines the effects of technology on the lives of young people, the interface between emerging communication technologies and experiences of sexual violence, and the factors that enable or hinder appropriate legal responses. Communication technologies such as online social networking sites and mobile phones are considered, and their use in identifying and grooming potential victims, blackmail and intimation, sexting, harassment, and pornography. The key messages identified by the study included: - Young people's engagement with emerging communication technologies (such as social networking and mobile phone technology) is an essential method of socialisation. Given the constant accessibility offered by these technologies, and the blurring between online and offline social spheres, emerging communication technologies afford diverse opportunities for the perpetration of sexual violence. The study found that emerging communication technologies help facilitate sexually violent acts, before, during and after an offence. Specifically, technologies help to increase the accessibility of potential victims: Before a sexually violent act. Social networking in particular can provide a false sense of connection between offender and victim. For example, the act of 'friending' enhances the feeling of 'trust'. •During the act of sexual violence, technologies can be used to record non-consensual sexual activity. Threats to distribute this material can be used to further coerce and victimise. After an act of either consensual or non-consensual sexual activity, offenders can distribute images to cause further harm to victims. Technologies are also used post-assault to contact, threaten or abuse victims. - A lack of clarity on how a range of online behaviours should be conceptualised has hampered the development of appropriate and effective responses to the issue. While the law has a role to play in addressing such issues, appropriate conduct for using technologies is better addressed through a primary prevention approach to the promotion of personal ethics and respect. Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2013. 127p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report No. 23: Accessed February 28, 2013 at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/resreport23/index.html Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/resreport23/index.html Shelf Number: 127554 Keywords: Communication TechnologiesPornographySex CrimesSextingSexual HarassmentSexual Violence (Australia)Technology and Crime |
Author: Sonke Gender Justice Network Title: Gender Relations, Sexual Violence and the Effects of Conflict on Women and Men in North Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Preliminary Results from the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) Summary: In June 2012, Sonke Gender Justice Network, Promundo-US and the Institute for Mental Health of Goma implemented the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) in Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)1. A total of 708 men and 754 women between the ages of 18-59 were interviewed in: (1) rural areas outside Goma; (2) Goma proper; (3) an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp; and (4) a military base near Goma (with officers, enlisted men and wives of military personnel). Qualitative research consisted of eight focus group discussions (four with men and four with women totaling 40 men and 51 women) and 24 in-depth individual interviews (10 with men, 14 with women, respectively). This report presents preliminary findings from the study. Details: Cape Town, South Africa: Sonke Gender Justice Network, 2013?. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 3, 2013 at: http://www.genderjustice.org.za/resources/reports.html?view=docman Year: 2013 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.genderjustice.org.za/resources/reports.html?view=docman Shelf Number: 128197 Keywords: RapeSex CrimesSexual Violence (South Africa)Violence Against Women |
Author: Victoria Parliament. Law Reform Committee Title: Inquiry into Sexting Summary: During the course of the Inquiry the Committee received 60 written submissions and convened public hearings with 45 witnesses. The Committee also met with key individuals and organisations during overseas consultations. The report is the culmination of all of the evidence presented to the Committee. The report contains 14 recommendations that the Committee believes will protect people from the harms caused by non-consensual sexting. The report also recognises that some sexting between young people should not be treated as child pornography, and recommends that new defences to child pornography offences be introduced to Victorian legislation. Details: Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer, 2013. 252p. Source: Internet Resource: Parliamentary Paper No. 230, Session 2010-2013: Accessed June 1, 2013 at: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/lawrefrom/isexting/LRC_Sexting_Final_Report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/lawrefrom/isexting/LRC_Sexting_Final_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 128900 Keywords: Child PornographyComputer CrimesInternet CrimesSex CrimesSexting (Australia) |
Author: Heib, Sandra N. Title: Police Officers as Perpetrators of Crimes Against Women and Children Summary: Crimes committed by police officers are a national problem. When an officer commits a crime, either on- or off-duty, it negatively impacts the public trust and legitimacy of the police. Police work has primarily been a male-dominated profession and has had its own distinct culture; both of which are conducive to violent behavior against women and children. There is little literature regarding misconduct and violence perpetrated by police officers; the police culture encourages behavior problems to be dealt with internally and away from the public eye. A sixty day review of the Cato Institute’s Police Misconduct Newsfeed was conducted and all crimes against women and children were extracted and reviewed. There were a total of ninety-one crimes against women and children; ninety committed by men and one committed by a woman. There were twenty-eight cases of domestic violence, sixty cases of sex related crimes, and ten cases of child abuse; some cases involved a combination of crimes. The results of the sixty day review raise serious concerns regarding what is not being reported by the police department and calls for further research regarding police misconduct and departmental policies regarding misconduct. Details: Dominguez Hills, A: California State University, Dominguez Hills, 2013? 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2013 at: http://justicewomen.com/wjc-project-final.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://justicewomen.com/wjc-project-final.pdf Shelf Number: 129513 Keywords: Child AbuseDomestic ViolencePolice Misconduct (U.S.)RapeSex CrimesViolence Against Women |
Author: Wall, Liz Title: Issues in Evaluation of Complex Social Change Programs for Sexual Assault Prevention Summary: Preventing sexual violence before it occurs is known as primary prevention. Such prevention programs that aim for social change, as in sexual assault prevention, can challenge more traditional perceptions of program success and require consideration as to how success or failure is measured. Broader thinking is required to provide creative, solution-focused evaluation that can be incorporated into program design to enhance sexual assault prevention efforts. Key Messages: ◾The most valid, rigorous and reliable information for any evaluation is that which informs the stakeholders about what they need to know for prevention effectiveness. ◾The complexity of multi-level interventions for sexual assault primary prevention may require consideration of new techniques for evaluating. ◾Acceptance of innovative methods of evaluation is required at the policy and funding level to ensure progress towards effective assessment of primary prevention in sexual assault. ◾Evaluators should utilise an approach that best suits the evaluation question they are considering even if that requires innovative techniques. Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, May 2013. 20 p. Source: Internet Resource: ACSSA Issues No. 14: Accessed August 19, 2013 at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/issue/i14/ Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/issue/i14/ Shelf Number: 129658 Keywords: Sex CrimesSex OffendersSexual Assault Prevention (Australia)Sexual Violence |
Author: Mitchell, Kimberly J. Title: Trends in Unwanted Online Experiences and Sexting: Final Report Summary: 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." Details: Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, 2014. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2014 at: http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/Full%20Trends%20Report%20Feb%202014%20with%20tables.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/Full%20Trends%20Report%20Feb%202014%20with%20tables.pdf Shelf Number: 147747 Keywords: Internet CrimesInternet SafetyOnline CommunicationsPornographySex CrimesSextingSexual Harassment |
Author: Barnes, Helen Moewaka Title: Sexual Coercion, Resilience and Young Maori: A scoping review Summary: This report provides an overview of what is known in Aotearoa/New Zealand, particularly Maori perspectives, and internationally, on sexual coercion/violence, resilience and healthy relationships, particularly for indigenous peoples, with an overall focus on rangatahi and rangatahi wahine. The report provides a cohesive critique of the field, describes a recommended methodology for research with young people and outlines stakeholder engagement as a sound basis for future partnerships in research and prevention efforts. Details: Wellington, NZ: Ministry of Women's Affairs | Minitatanga Mo Nga Wahine, 2010. 134p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 25, 2014 at: http://mwa.govt.nz/sites/public_files/sexual-coercion-resilience-and-young-maori-a-scoping-review-pdf.pdf Year: 2010 Country: New Zealand URL: http://mwa.govt.nz/sites/public_files/sexual-coercion-resilience-and-young-maori-a-scoping-review-pdf.pdf Shelf Number: 132751 Keywords: AboriginalsIndigenous PeoplesRapeSex CrimesSexual Violence |
Author: Centre for Innovative Justice Title: Innovative Justice Responses to Sexual Offending: Pathways to better outcomes for victims, offenders and the community Summary: Sexual assault is complex, pervasive and insidious. The criminal justice system is expected to deliver a sense that justice has been done, yet its current response is inadequate for the large majority of sexual assault victims. Victims of sexual assault have historically been met with denial and disbelief, with society failing to develop an adequate response to a crime it did not fully recognise or understand, and to gendered assumptions it refused to relinquish. In recent decades, hard won improvements - called for by reformers and feminists, and implemented by well-intentioned governments - have seen sexual assault taken more seriously in legal and political arenas alike. Investigation, prosecution and court procedures have improved; specialisation has been encouraged; and victims have been provided with fairer treatment and additional support services. Despite this, however, sexual assault remains the most under-reported form of personal violence, while estimates suggest that the crucial evidentiary requirements and standards of proof demanded by the criminal process mean that the chance of a sexual assault incident resulting in a conviction is as low as, and potentially lower than, one in one hundred. Hard hitting policies of tougher penalties, longer sentences and stringent release practices, meanwhile, do little to address the majority of sexual offending, instead making offenders reluctant to take responsibility or their offending and choosing to contest the allegations. This in turn makes victims reluctant to pursue a prosecution, not wanting to be drawn into the protracted adversarial process. In other words, most victims of sexual assault do not report to the police, do not pursue a prosecution, or if they do, do not secure a conviction. This means that the conventional criminal justice system, with its single option of investigation by police and prosecution through the courts, is failing to provide an adequate response to the majority of victims of sexual assault. While the prosecution and collective denunciation of sexual offending should continue to be pursued, and while ongoing efforts to reform the conventional criminal justice system remain critical, alone they will not markedly change this state of affairs. Additional non-criminal law based avenues, meanwhile, such as the pursuit of statutory compensation or damages through the civil jurisdiction, have significant limitations attached. Clearly, victims need more choice in their pursuit of justice - a suite of options from which they can identify the path or paths that best suit their circumstances; options that provide them with the opportunity to tell their story, to have the harm acknowledged, to participate in the process and to have a say in the outcome. Some of these options may, to date, not have been pursued precisely because the area of sexual assault is so complex, yet may improve the justice system's response if implemented in the right way. Accordingly, this report argues that the justice system should be responsive, inclusive, flexible and fair - that justice processes should be designed in a way that make them accessible and a more realistic prospect to more victims of sexual assault, rather than reserved for a select few who happen to have cases which are able to meet high legal thresholds. This report by the Centre for Innovative Justice (CIJ) was commissioned by the Attorney-General's Department (Cth) as one of a series of reports identifying important innovations in the justice system. The CIJ's objective in this report is to identify innovative justice processes that have the potential to meet more of the needs of victims of sexual offending; to address public interest concerns; and to prevent reoffending in ways that the conventional justice system has limited capacity to achieve. In doing so, the report suggests that reform does not depend upon a choice between a 'tough' and a 'soft' response but, rather, upon providing an appropriate response - one that is able to meet the disparate needs of victims, while maintaining the integrity of the rights of offenders. As such, the report builds upon existing theoretical work and proposes a best practice, sexual offence restorative justice conferencing model and framework, influenced by national and international innovations, and which is able to be tailored and implemented in all Australian jurisdictions. Restorative justice conferencing involves a facilitated, safe and structured encounter between the victim and the offender, providing an opportunity to repair the harm caused by the offending. The report explains that, to date, restorative justice conferencing practices have tended to exist on the periphery of Australian criminal justice systems and have not been extended to sexual offending in the adult jurisdiction. This is primarily because of legitimate concerns about victims being re-victimised and sexual assault being re-privatised, rather than condemned in the public sphere. While these concerns must be heeded, the CIJ draws from a range of existing examples and concludes that - with comprehensive safeguards and a coordinated, properly resourced system - sexual offence restorative justice conferencing has the potential to meet more of the justice needs of those victims who are being failed by the existing system. In detailing a best practice restorative justice conferencing model for sexual offending, the report addresses such issues as: - The importance of legislation, overarching principles and operational guidelines - The importance of a restorative justice oversight body, incorporating a specialist gender violence team, to oversee and monitor the implementation of the model - The need for skilled and specialist restorative justice conference facilitators - The need for an expert assessment panel to determine the suitability of individual cases for restorative justice conferencing - The importance of basic eligibility criteria, including that all parties consent, and the need for offender and victim age limits - Pathways into and out of restorative justice conferencing, with appropriate police, prosecution and judicial oversight at different stages of the process - The need for protections around admissions made during a conference - The importance of consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and culturally and linguistically diverse communities around any innovative justice initiatives - The importance of restorative justice processes being responsive to the needs of victims and offenders with cognitive impairments, disabilities and mental illness - The potential outcome agreements and what to do in the event of breakdown - The importance of funded, accessible community based sexual offender treatment programs to complement a restorative justice approach, and - The balance required between victim autonomy and public policy considerations. Details: Melbourne: RMIT, Centre for Innovative Justice, 2014. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 28, 2014 at: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/qt1g6twlv0q3.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/qt1g6twlv0q3.pdf Shelf Number: 132790 Keywords: RapeRestorative JusticeSex CrimesSex Offenders (Australia)Sexual ViolenceVictims of Crime |
Author: Bileski, Matthew Title: The Reporting of Sexual Assault in Arizona, CY 2002-2011 Summary: Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) - 41-2406, which became law in July 2005, requires the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) to compile information obtained from disposition reporting forms submitted to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) on sexual assault (A.R.S. - 13-1406) and the false reporting of sexual assault involving a spouse (A.R.S. - 13-2907.03). Utilizing DPS disposition data, ACJC is mandated to provide an annual report briefing the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Secretary of State, and the Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records on sexual assault in Arizona. The data used to complete this report were extracted from the Arizona Computerized Criminal History (ACCH) records system and provided to ACJC by DPS in January 2013. By statute, local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the courts are required to submit to the ACCH repository information on all arrests and subsequent case disposition information for felonies, sexual offenses, driving under the influence offenses, and domestic violence offenses. This report focuses on data from calendar years (CY) 2002 to 2011 and updates data reported in the CY2001-2010 report. The ACJC is required to report the law enforcement reporting, filings, and subsequent case disposition findings and sentencing of A.R.S. - 13-1406 sexual assault charges. The following summarizes some of the findings of the research on sexual assault arrest and disposition charges across Arizona: - The total number of arrests involving sexual assault increased from 265 arrests in CY 2002 to 275 in CY 2011, an increase of 3.8 percent. The total number of sexual assault charges increased by 23.1 percent from 442 in CY 2002 to 544 in CY - More than 98 percent of arrestees from CY 2002 to CY 2011 were male, and the proportion that was White ranged between 75.8 percent and 81.8 percent of the total number of sexual assault arrestees. - Convictions for sexual assault increased from 30.8 percent of all disposition findings for sexual assault in CY 2002 to 43.9 percent in CY 2011. - The percentage of convictions that resulted in a sentence of probation ranged from a high of 88.9 percent in CY 2007 to a low of 67.4 percent in CY 2009. The percentage of convictions that resulted in a sentence to prison fell from 62.6 percent in CY 2002 to 54.0 percent in CY 2011, and sentences to jail fell from 5.7 percent to 2.7 percent over the same period. One of the reporting requirements of A.R.S. - 41-2406.C is to identify sexual assault charges involving a spouse. In August 2005, the sexual assault involving a spouse statute (specifically A.R.S. - 13-1406.01) was repealed from the state statutes by Senate Bill 1040. Despite the repeal of A.R.S. - 13-1406.01 as a criminal code, three charges of sexual assault of a spouse were reported beyond CY 2005, two in CY 2007 and one in CY 2008. The following highlights the findings of A.R.S. - 13-1406.01 arrest and disposition charges: - From CY 2002 to CY 2005, the number of arrest charges increased from 17 to 24 charges. - Arrestees for sexual assault involving a spouse were male, more than 84 percent were white/Caucasian, and except in CY 2004, the greatest percentage was between the ages of 25 and 34. - The number of sexual assault involving a spouse finalized disposition charges was 12 in CY 2002 and increased to 18 in CY 2004 before dropping to two in CY 2008. From CY 2002 to CY 2008, the number of convictions ranged from five in CY 2003 down to zero in CY 2007 and CY 2008. - At least 50 percent of convictions for sexual assault involving a spouse resulted in a probation sentence from CY 2002 to CY 2006. The percentage of convictions resulting in a prison sentence ranged from 0.0 percent in CY 2002 and CY 2004 to 60.0 percent in CY 2003, and jail sentencing ranged from 0.0 to 100.0 percent. A.R.S. - 41-2406.C mandates that ACJC report whether the victim and offender were estranged at the time of the offense. Except for a general indication of domestic violence, there is no field on the disposition reporting form that describes the relationship between the victim and the offender or the status of the relationship at the time of the offense. Instead, arrest and disposition information for all sexual assault-related2 charges flagged for domestic violence is reported separately in the report. In order to more comprehensively understand sexual assault in Arizona, this report includes data on violent sexual assault (A.R.S. - 13-1423). Details: Phoenix: Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, Statistical Analysis Center, 2013. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 28, 2014 at: http://www.azcjc.gov/ACJC.Web/Pubs/Home/2013%20ARS%2041-2406%20Report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.azcjc.gov/ACJC.Web/Pubs/Home/2013%20ARS%2041-2406%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 132791 Keywords: Crime StatisticsRapeSex CrimesSex OffendersSexual Assault (Arizona)Sexual Violence |
Author: Henderson, Emily Title: Expert Witnesses Under Examination in the New Zealand Criminal and Family Courts Summary: This is a qualitative empirical research project examining the experiences of experts who testify in both the criminal and Family Courts in New Zealand regarding child abuse and neglect and sexual assault generally. The study considers whether there is truth in the anecdotal accounts of widespread reluctance amongst experts and it also examines lawyers' and judges' suspicions of bias amongst experts. It considers the areas of the court process which experts find most difficult and proposes a number of solutions. The study group was limited to experts in the field of child abuse and neglect and of sexual assault generally. However, we believe that our findings will be relevant to other areas of expert evidence. This report is divided into three parts: the remainder of this chapter summarises the literature on expert witnesses to date, describing, first, the problems various researchers and commentators have found with expert evidence and, second, outlining the main reform proposals those same writers have put forward. This is not a discussion of the law pertaining to expert evidence, as many legal analyses already exist. The second section contains the empirical part of this project: Chapter Two sets out the project's methodology; Chapter Three describes the findings of the interviews with expert witnesses; Chapter Four describes the smaller companion study of lawyers' opinions. The final chapter recaps the findings of the previous chapters and sets out a number of recommendations for reform. Details: Auckland, NZ: School of Psychology, University of Auckland and New Zealand Law Foundation, 2013. 169p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 4, 2014 at: http://www.lawfoundation.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Final-Research-Report-Henderson-Seymour-Expert-Witnesses-Under-Examination.pdf Year: 2013 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.lawfoundation.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Final-Research-Report-Henderson-Seymour-Expert-Witnesses-Under-Examination.pdf Shelf Number: 132874 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseCriminal CourtsExpert Witnesses (New Zealand)Family CourtsSex CrimesSex OffendersSexual Assault |
Author: Internet Watch Foundation Title: Emerging Patterns and Trends Report #1. Youth-Produced Sexual Content Summary: This Paper introduces the key findings of a quantitative study of youth-produced sexual content online ('the Study'). The Study took place over a three month period between September and November 2014 and used a combination of proactively sourced content from search engines, historic IWF data and leads from public reports to locate "youth-produced sexual content" depicting "young people". Where the content was assessed as meeting these criteria the content was analysed in accordance with IWF's standard procedures for actioning child sexual abuse content, capturing data about each image/video including image category, site type, commerciality, hosting location, device used to create the content and the assessed age and gender of the individuals depicted. During the course of the Study, 3,803 images and videos were assessed as meeting the research criteria. The key findings of the Study were as follows: - 17.5% of content depicted children aged 15 years or younger. - 85.9% of content depicting children aged 15 or younger was created using a webcam. - 93.1% of the content depicting children aged 15 or younger featured girls. - 46.9% of content depicting children aged 15 years or younger was Category A or B5 compared to 27.6% of content in the 16-20 years age range. - 89.9% of the total images and videos assessed as part of the Study had been harvested from the original upload location and were being redistributed on third party websites. The Study was carried out by Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) in partnership with Microsoft and was initially designed to expand upon an earlier study carried out by IWF in 2012 which provided a snapshot of the availability of self-generated sexual content featuring young people online and the extent to which control over that content is lost once it has appeared online. However, on analysis of the data it became apparent that the scope of the 2012 study and the definition of "self-generated sexual content" as used therein was inadequate in describing the observed trends. This was particularly the case in relation to methods of creation of the content and age of many of the individuals depicted. What emerged from the data in this Study is an increasing trend for the distribution of sexually explicit content produced by younger children using laptop webcams which, due to the nature of the technology used, they are aware is being shared with at least one other party. To reflect this finding, we instead propose a new definition of "youth-produced sexual content" as: "Nude or semi-nude images or videos produced by a young person of themselves engaging in erotic or sexual activity and intentionally shared by any electronic means." Details: Cambridge, UK: Internet Watch Foundation, 2015. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2015 at: https://www.iwf.org.uk/assets/media/resources/Emerging%20Patterns%20and%20Trends%20Report%201%20-%20Youth-Produced%20Sexual%20Content.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.iwf.org.uk/assets/media/resources/Emerging%20Patterns%20and%20Trends%20Report%201%20-%20Youth-Produced%20Sexual%20Content.pdf Shelf Number: 135150 Keywords: Child PornographyComputer CrimesInternet CrimesInternet PornographySex CrimesSexting |
Author: University of Memphis. Center for Research on Women Title: Nowhere to Hide: A Look at the Pervasive Atmosphere of Sexual Harassment in Memphis Area Middle and High Schools Summary: According to the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (2001), "Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment of a student can deny or limit, on the basis of sex, the student's ability to participate in or to receive benefits, services, or opportunities in the school's program. Sexual harassment of students is, therefore, a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX under the circumstances described in this guidance." In two national surveys, the American Association of University Women (AAUW, 1993, 2001) found that approximately 81% of middle and high school students in public schools experienced harassment from peers or school personnel. Our Study CROW designed a study to examine the extent to which students were being sexually harassed in local schools, and how this might be affecting their academic, psychological and social well being. Sexual harassment was defined and measured by grouping specific behaviors into four categories: gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, sexual coercion, and sexual assault. Participants included 590 adolescents in Memphis area middle and high schools, recruited through several local agencies, organizations, and church youth groups that serve adolescents. - 70.4% girls, 29.6% boys - 71.9% African‐American , 23.7% White - 89.5% public schools, 10.5% private/ parochial schools - Average age 15, Range 11 to 19 Results How prevalent is sexual harassment in our schools? - Student‐to‐student sexual harassment, particularly gender harassment, is pervasive in Memphis area middle and high schools with over 90% of students in this study reported being sexually harassed at least once while in their current school. - This pattern holds in both public and private schools. 91.3% of public school students and 85.5% of private school students reported being sexually harassed by a student at least once while in their current school. Details: Memphis: Center for Research on Women, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 13, 2015 at: http://memphis.edu/crow/pdfs/Sexual_Harassment_Report_2009_REV_CROW.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://memphis.edu/crow/pdfs/Sexual_Harassment_Report_2009_REV_CROW.pdf Shelf Number: 135628 Keywords: School CrimeSchool SecuritySex CrimesSex DiscriminationSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentStudents, Crimes Against |
Author: Cox, Peta Title: Sexual assault and domestic violence in the context of co-occurrence and re-victimisation: State of knowledge paper Summary: This state of knowledge paper examines the intersection between sexual assault and domestic violence, focusing on two forms of concurrent victimisation: re-victimisation (when a woman, over her lifetime, experiences both sexual assault and domestic violence) and intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV). The paper looks at the complexity of these experiences to identify the common impacts of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to critically examine how re-victimisation and IPSV can shift the ways in which we think about, and provide services for, women affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Key findings include: - The lack of longitudinal studies of re-victimisation reduces our ability to make conclusions about causal factors or the nature of victimisation over time. - Much of the available research on IPSV and re-victimisation is unable to be extrapolated to findings about the general population, as it focuses on non-representative groups such women who were attending psychology clinics. - Research indicates that women who experience child sexual abuse (CSA) are more likely to experience IPSV than women who have not experienced CSA. Similarly, women who have experienced CSA are more likely to experience DV (not limited to sexual violence) in their adult relationships. - IPSV generally occurs in the context of other forms of violence and was often part of a larger pattern of coercive control in a relationship. IPSV should be considered a tactic of DV, and not a separate phenomenon. - Heteronormative beliefs and conservative gender norms were associated with acceptance and experience of sexual coercion for both men and women. - IPSV victims are less likely to seek help than victims of other forms of DV. - Drug and alcohol use may be a precursor, consequence or risk factor associated with IPSV and re-victimisation. Similarly, emotional distress and psychiatric conditions may increase a person's vulnerability to violence, place them in high risk contexts and/or may be a consequence of violence. - A wide range of communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women with a disability, have discrete patterns of victimisation, including distinct behaviours and norms that may increase the risk of victimisation. - Normative understandings of what constitutes "real rape" affect how victims, perpetrators and bystanders interpret experiences of sexual assault. These norms particularly affect interpretations of IPSV incidents. - Both IPSV and re-victimisation had significant physical and mental health consequences. Details: Sydney: ANROWS, 2015. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: State of Knowledge Paper, Issue 13: Accessed November 24, 2015 at: http://anrows.org.au/publications/landscapes/co-occurrence-and-re-victimisation Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://anrows.org.au/publications/landscapes/co-occurrence-and-re-victimisation Shelf Number: 137316 Keywords: Family ViolenceRepeat VictimizationSex CrimesSexual AbuseSexual AssaultSexual ViolenceVictims of ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Cho, Seo-Young Title: Does Prostitution Constrain Sex Crimes? Micro-Evidence from Korea Summary: This paper investigates empirically whether prostitution reduces sex crimes. Theoretical predictions suggest two contradicting effects: substituting or complementing. By using survey data of sex offenders in Korea, I find that prostitution increases the probability of one committing sex crimes. Also, the experience of buying sex with a minor exacerbates the severity of sex crimes. These results indicate that prostitution intensifies one's propensities for more violent sexual behaviors, suggesting a complementary relationship between prostitution and sex crimes. The main findings do not alter after accounting for the endogeneity of the model. Details: Marburg, Germany: University Marburg, 2015. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: MAGKS DP No. 21-2015: Accessed February 17, 2016 at: http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb02/makro/forschung/magkspapers/paper_2015/21-2015_cho.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Asia URL: http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb02/makro/forschung/magkspapers/paper_2015/21-2015_cho.pdf Shelf Number: 137870 Keywords: ProstitutionSex CrimesSex Offenders |
Author: McIntyre, Susan Title: Under the Radar: The Sexual Exploitation of Young Man. Manitoba Edition Summary: In December of 2002, Strolling Away was released. Strolling Away represented a longitudinal retrospective study that examined young people from the sexual exploitation trade in 1991-1992 and then again in 2001-2002. The opportunity to interview individuals 10 years later was valuable. One of its major findings was that we know very little about young men involved in the sexual exploitation trade. The young men I interviewed commented on how my questions were "chick questions". It was clear that we have traditionally looked at this issue through a female lens. It became evident through this study that more research was required in order to understand young men in the sexual exploitation trade. Interviews for Under the Radar: The Sexual Exploitation of Young Men - Manitoba Edition began in March 2006 and wrapped up in January 2007. Forty young men were interviewed in total. All forty interviews occurred in Winnipeg. Characteristics of Respondents - 67% of this population are of Aboriginal heritage - 55% had involvement with the Child Welfare System - Just over 30% had completed high school - 77% had a history of running away - 80% had a history prior to the street of being sexually violated - 87% had been physically violated and witnessed aggression while growing up - 70% entered the sexual exploitation trade under the age of 18 - 15% entered the sexual exploitation trade over the age of 20 - Males entered the sexual exploitation trade younger and stayed longer than young women - Close to 70% experienced staying in shelters - Almost everyone felt no one should do this type of work - The fear of gay-bashing exists - Drug use is extensive - Exiting the sexual exploitation trade is a long process, and is usually attempted more than once - Almost everyone has, and does, access HIV / STD testing Details: Calgary, Alberta: The Hindsight Group, 2008. 130p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 10, 2016 at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/traciastrust/pubs/under_the_radar.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Canada URL: http://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/traciastrust/pubs/under_the_radar.pdf Shelf Number: 139359 Keywords: Child ProstitutionMale Sex WorkersMale Sexual Abuse VictimsProstitutionSex CrimesSex WorkersSexual Exploitation |
Author: Bileski, Matthew Title: The Reporting of Sexual Assault in Arizona, CY 2003-2012 Summary: Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) - 41-2406, which became law in July 2005, requires the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) to compile information obtained from all Arizona disposition reporting forms on sexual assault (A.R.S. - 13-1406) and the false reporting of sexual assault involving a spouse (A.R.S. - 13-2907.03). The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides the ACJC with the necessary records to meet the requirement. Utilizing DPS arrest and disposition data, ACJC is mandated to provide an annual sexual assault report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of State, and the Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records. The data used to complete this report are extracted by DPS from the Arizona Computerized Criminal History (ACCH) records system and provided to ACJC in January on an annual basis. By statute, local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the courts are required to submit to the ACCH repository information on all arrests and subsequent case disposition information for felonies, sexual offenses, driving under the influence offenses, and domestic violence-related offenses. This report focuses on data from calendar years (CY) 2003 to 2012 and updates data reported in the CY2002 to 2011 report. The ACJC is required to report on law enforcement reporting, charge filings, and subsequent case disposition findings (specifically convictions) and sentencing of A.R.S. - 13-1406 sexual assault charges, A.R.S. - 13-1406.01 sexual assault involving a spouse charges, and - 13-2907.03 false reporting of sexual assault of a spouse charges. In addition to the mandatory sexual assault statutes, data in the report include A.R.S. - 13-1423 violent sexual assault arrest and disposition information reported to ACCH. The following summarizes some of the latest findings in year-over-year change from CY 2011 to CY 2012 for all sexual assault-related2 arrest and disposition information available in the ACCH: - The total number of arrests involving sexual assault increased from 277 in CY 2011 to 306 in CY 2012, and arrest charges also increased from 562 to 584 over the same period. A total of two arrests were made involving violent sexual assault in CY 2012, accounting for 14 violent sexual assault charges. - Over 99 percent of sexual assault-related arrestees in CY 2012 were male, an increase from 98.1 percent reported in CY 2011. The majority of arrestees continued to be white/Caucasian and under the age of 25. - Sexual assault-related arrests flagged for domestic violence increased from 33 arrests in CY 2011 to 42 arrests in CY 2012. - Convictions for sexual assault-related charges decreased from 219 in CY 2011 to 126 in CY 2012. Also in CY 2012, court dismissals outnumbered convictions at 132. - Convictions for sexual assault charges involving domestic violence remained unchanged at eight in CY 2011 and CY 2012; however, court dismissals rose from 10 to 28 during the same period. No convictions were reported for violent sexual assault and sexual assault involving a spouse charges in CY 2011 and CY 2012. - The percentage of sexual assault convictions that resulted in a sentence of probation fell from 85.4 percent in CY 2011 to 73.8 percent in CY 2012. The percentage of convictions that resulted in a sentence to prison fell from 51.1 percent in CY 2011 to 50.8 percent in CY 2012, and sentences to jail fell from 3.7 percent to 2.4 percent over the same period. Further, sentences were all, or in part, suspended for 45.2 percent of convictions in both CY 2011 and CY 2012. Details: Phoenix: Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, 2014. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 30, 2016 at: http://www.azcjc.gov/ACJC.Web/Pubs/Home/2014%20ARS%2041-2406%20Report%20Final.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.azcjc.gov/ACJC.Web/Pubs/Home/2014%20ARS%2041-2406%20Report%20Final.pdf Shelf Number: 140089 Keywords: Crime StatisticsRapeSex CrimesSex OffendersSexual AssaultsSexual Violence |
Author: Wittes, Benjamin Title: Sextortion: Cybersecurity, teenagers, and remote sexual assault Summary: This paper represents an effort to our knowledge the first to study in depth and across jurisdictions the problems of sextortion. In it, we look at the methods used by perpetrators and the prosecutorial tools authorities have used to bring offenders to justice. We hope that by highlighting the scale and scope of the problem, and the brutality of these cases for the many victims they affect, to spur a close look at both state and federal laws under which these cases get prosecuted. Our key findings include: - Sextortion is dramatically understudied. While it's an acknowledged problem both within law enforcement and among private advocates, no government agency publishes data on its prevalence; no private advocacy group does either. The subject lacks an academic literature. Aside from a few prosecutors and investigators who have devoted significant energy to the problem over time, and a few journalists who have written-often excellently- about individual cases, the problem has been largely ignored. - Yet sextortion is surprisingly common. We identified 78 cases that met our definition of the crime-and a larger number that contained significant elements of the crime but that, for one reason or another, did not fully satisfy our criteria. These cases were prosecuted in 29 states and territories of the United States and three foreign jurisdictions. - Sextortionists, like other perpetrators of sex crimes, tend to be prolific repeat players. Among the cases we studied, authorities identified at least 10 victims in 25 cases. In 13 cases, moreover, there were at least 20 identified victims. And in four cases, investigators identified more than 100 victims. The numbers get far worse if you consider prosecutorial estimates of the number of additional victims in each case, rather than the number of specifically identified victims. In 13 cases, prosecutors estimated that there were more than 100 victims; in two, prosecutors estimated that there had been "hundreds, if not thousands" of victims. - Sextortion perpetrators are, in the cases we have seen, uniformly male. Victims, by contrast, vary. Virtually all of the adult victims in these cases are female, and adult sextortion therefore appears to be a species of violence against women. On the other hand, most sextortion victims in this sample are children, and a sizable percentage of the child victims turn out to be boys. - There is no consistency in the prosecution of sextortion cases. Because no crime of sextortion exists, the cases proceed under a hodgepodge of state and federal laws. Some are prosecuted as child pornography cases. Some are prosecuted as hacking cases. Some are prosecuted as extortions. Some are prosecuted as stalkings. Conduct that seems remarkably similar to an outside observer produces actions under the most dimly-related of statutes. - These cases thus also produce wild, and in in our judgment indefensible, disparities in sentencing. Many sextortionists, particularly those who prey on minors, receive lengthy sen - tences under child pornography laws. On the other hand, others-like Mijangos-receive sentences dramatically lighter than they would get for multiple physical attacks on even a fraction of the number of people they are accused of victimizing. In our sample, one perpetrator received only three years in prison for victimizing up to 22 young boys. 36 Another received only 30 months for a case in which federal prosecutors identified 15 separate victims. 37 - Sentencing is particularly light in one of two key circumstances: (1) when all victims are adults and federal pros - ecutors thus do not have recourse to the child pornography statutes, or (2) in cases prosecuted at the state level. - Sextortion is brutal. This is not a matter of playful consensual sexting-a subject that has received ample attention from a shocked press. Sextortion, rather, is a form of sexual exploitation, coercion, and violence, often but not always of children. In many cases, the perpetrators seem to take pleasure in their victims' pleading and protes - tations that they are scared and underage. In multiple cases we have reviewed, victims contemplate, threaten, or even attempt suicide-sometimes to the apparent pleasure of their tormentors. 38 At least two cases involve either a father or stepfather tormenting children living in his house. 39 Some of the victims are very young. And the impacts on victims can be severe and likely lasting. Many cases result, after all, in images permanently on the Internet on multiple child pornography sites following extended periods of coercion. - Certain jurisdictions have seen a disproportionate number of sextortion cases. This almost certainly reflects devoted investigators and prosecutors in those locales, and not a higher incidence of the offense. Rather, our data suggest that sextortion is taking place anywhere social media penetration is ubiquitous. The paper proceeds in several distinct parts. We begin with a literature review of the limited existing scholarship and data on sextortion. We then outline our methodology for collecting and analyzing data for the present study. We then offer a working definition of sextortion. In the subsequent section, we provide a sketch of the aggregate sta - tistics revealed by our data concerning the scope of the sextortion problem, and we examine the statutes used and sentences delivered in federal and state sextortion cases. We then turn to detailing several specific case studies in sextortion. In our last empirical section, we look briefly at the victim impact of these crimes. Finally, we offer several recommendations for policymakers, law enforcement, parents, teachers, and victims. Details: Washington, DC: Center for Technology Innovation, Brookings Institution, 2016. 47p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 3, 2016 at: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/sextortion1-1.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/sextortion1-1.pdf Shelf Number: 140158 Keywords: Child PornographyComputer CrimeCybersecurityOnline VictimizationSex CrimesSextingSextortion |
Author: Clark, T.C. Title: Sexual and reproductive health and sexual violence among New Zealand secondary school students. Findings from the Youth'12 national youth health and wellbeing survey Summary: This report presents findings from Youth'12, the third national health and well-being survey of secondary school students in New Zealand. This is New Zealand's largest and most comprehensive survey of the health and well-being of New Zealand's young people in secondary schools. Included in the survey are a range of factors that impact on the healthy development of young people, including family/whanau, community, education and social environments. This report focuses on reporting the sexual violence experiences and the sexual and reproductive health of students in secondary schools. The information in this report was provided by a representative sample of 8,500 students from secondary schools throughout New Zealand in 2012. There are three parts to this report: (1) Experience of unwanted sexual contact, (2) Sexual and reproductive health and (3) Ethnic specific information for Maori and Pacific students. Also reported are selected time trends from the 2001, 2007 and 2012 surveys. Details: Auckland, NZ: University of Auckland, Adolescent Health Research Group, 2016. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Youth2000Survey Series: Accessed September 7, 2016 at: https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/assets/fmhs/faculty/ahrg/docs/Sexual%20Health%20Report%20Final%209%206%2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: New Zealand URL: https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/assets/fmhs/faculty/ahrg/docs/Sexual%20Health%20Report%20Final%209%206%2016.pdf Shelf Number: 147892 Keywords: Adolescent HealthAdolescentsSex CrimesSexual Violence |
Author: Wittes, Benjamin Title: Closing the sextortion sentencing gap: A legislative proposal Summary: On the surface, at least, the sextortion case of Joseph Simone seems far more egregious than does that of Joshua Blankenship. Simone was a wrestling coach at a prestigious preparatory high school in Providence, Rhode Island. He was charged with sextorting "numerous" minor males; prosecutors estimated that he had exploited at least 22 young boys through a social media manipulation scheme, pretending to be a young girl when soliciting initial nude images, and then threatening to release those initial images on Facebook if the boys did not perform more sex acts. Blankenship also ran a social media manipulation scheme - but in this instance, against a single minor female in Maryland, convincing her that she had broken the law herself by sending out a nude photo, and demanding more images in exchange for not telling the police. But Blankenship was sentenced in federal court, whereas Simone faced trial in state court in Rhode Island, specifically in the Providence Superior Court. The result? The man with at least 22 victims was sentenced to one year in prison and two more in home confinement. By contrast, Blankenship, who had only one victim, received 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal child exploitation charges. What sort of sentence does conduct like Simone's get a man in federal court? Another sextortionist, William T. Koch, was convicted in a federal court in Ohio on charges that he too extorted 20 minor males, with one victim as young as 11-years-old. Koch was sentenced to 20 years in prison on federal charges of extortion, exploitation of a minor, and receipt and distribution of child pornography. Sextortionists dont get to decide which jurisdiction prosecutes them. They do, however, get to choose their victims. And it matters a great deal which ones they choose. Mark Reynolds was sentenced to 14 years in prison on one federal charge of possession of child pornography for sextorting one minor female using a social media manipulation scheme. Contrast that with Adam Paul Savader, who sextorted between 15 and 45 adult women and received a paltry sentence of two-and-a-half years in federal prison. Savader was convicted on charges of interstate extortion and stalking. Reynolds received eleven-and-a-half years more in prison than did Savader, even though Savader potentially had up to 44 more victims. Federal law seems to care a great deal more about children than it does about adult women. Details: Washington, DC: Center for Technology Innovation, Brookings Institution, 2016. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2016 at: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/sextortion2.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/sextortion2.pdf Shelf Number: 147931 Keywords: Child Pornography Computer Crime Cybersecurity Online Victimization Sex Crimes Sexting SextortionSexual Violence |
Author: Allnock, Debbie Title: Mapping the therapeutic services for sexual abuse in the UK in 2015 Summary: About the mapping exercise 1. The International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking and Violence at the University of Bedfordshire was commissioned by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) to undertake a mapping exercise – across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - of therapeutic services for children and young people who have experienced any form of child sexual abuse (CSA), including child sexual exploitation (CSE). This mapping exercise was intended to be an update, and facilitate a comparative analysis with the 2007 audit. However, different samples and the more limited nature of the exercise means that it is inadvisable to make direct comparisons. However, the current mapping exercise has revealed new insights about a broader range of services than were included in the previous 2007 audit. 2. The current mapping exercise consisted of: 1) identification of generalist and specialist services in the four nations providing therapeutic support for any form of child sexual abuse, including child sexual exploitation (n=750); 2) an online questionnaire distributed to all identified services; 3) a small number of followup telephone interviews with service providers and 4) a small number of telephone interviews with service commissioners. A total of 130 respondents provided data in the questionnaire on 149 services, giving a service response rate of 20%. Key findings There were a range of findings across funding and commissioning experiences of services, provision for children and young people, current service use and met and unmet need among the sample. Key findings include: Obtaining full and accurate data on current service use is complex and difficult, and the task has not improved since the 2007 audit where similar difficulties were encountered. A key recommendation in that report was an improvement in the recording of data, particularly by services such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHs) but the evidence suggests this has not been addressed. This makes it incredibly difficult to establish solid evidence about the need/demand for services and whether or not current provision is adequately meeting the demand. Some of the generalist services in the current mapping exercise were unable to provide referral figures on CSA/CSE because they do not tend to disaggregate their figures on this particular issue. The referral data provided in the current mapping exercise shows an overall gap (a 12% current gap and an anticipated gap of 17% in future) in provision across the services in this sample to children and young people who have experienced child sexual abuse / exploitation. While some children may be referred to other services, there are likely to be some children who do not receive a service, or do not receive a timely service. The mapping exercise revealed a large number of services across the UK comprised of both specialist and generalist services which exist across statutory, voluntary and private sectors and in some case comprise multiagency initiatives. Whilst specialist services have been identified by some commentators to be more responsive and tailored to victims of sexual violence, it is clear that in the current climate of increasing awareness and demand, generalist services are identifying and supporting children and young people who have experienced CSA / CSE. Despite variation in the needs and support required between younger children and older children who have experienced CSA/ CSE, some services are supporting both groups. What is less clear is whether these services are effectively equipped to provide specialised support to meet the needs of children and young people experiencing different forms of CSA. SARCs have been an important development in provision of streamlined support for victims of sexual violence, although a key finding identified both in the literature and within this mapping exercise is a lack of emotional support within these services for children and young people who have experienced child sexual abuse / exploitation. Since the 2007 audit, there appears to have been little change in the funding environment for CSA. Greater awareness of CSE means that it is possible that there has been more attention given to funding specialist services in this area at the expense of services dedicated to other forms of CSA. Across specialist services, funding continues to be provided through insecure and short-term funding cycles which are at odds with the nature of the provision required to adequately support children and young people with these experiences. Services continue to devote an enormous amount of time and energy to chasing new funding streams, which, they say diverts energy and time away from delivering quality services to children and young people. Service providers and commissioners have noted how complex and confusing the commissioning environment is, creating more stress and insecurity for providers. Service providers feel confident that they will continue to be funded but this confidence derives primarily from an optimism about their reputations and the current high priority of CSA/CSE rather than having actually secured future funding. Some referral sources for services are more developed than others; only 50% of services are seeing/accepting referrals from the police, for example and fewer from youth justice and youth services. CAMHs remain difficult to access and the situation appears to be declining in some areas in the face of funding cuts in recent years. Providers view CAMHs as largely difficult to access, a finding which has been identified in other studies and reviews of services. Almost all services, however, set eligibility criteria to restrict access. Age is one of the more common criteria and the mapping exercise has shown that, at least among the current sample, services for younger children are scarce while services for older children and adolescents are in somewhat greater supply. Although there is significant variability in the quality and amount of referral data received, the patterns of service provision suggest that it is White British girls without disabilities who comprise the largest group receiving services. Creative therapies remain a common approach in working with children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse. The ‘therapeutic relationship’ is also very common across services which focus on child sexual exploitation as well as other forms of child sexual abuse. Services are largely only accessible during the hours of 9 to 5 during the weekdays. For children and young people who may want and need support outside of these hours, provision is scarce. Children and young people with eating disorders, substance abuse problems, additional mental health needs and young offenders are most likely to be referred onwards to another service for help. Details: University of Bedfordshire, The International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking and Violence, 2015. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 7, 2016 at: https://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/504283/mapping-therapeutic-services-sexual-abuse-uk-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/504283/mapping-therapeutic-services-sexual-abuse-uk-2015.pdf Shelf Number: 147941 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationMental Health ServicesSex CrimesSexual AbuseSexual ViolenceVictim Services |
Author: Great Britain. House of Commons. Women and Equalities Committee Title: Sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools Summary: The Committee urges the Government to act now to protect and empower a generation of children and young people. Key recommendations are: The Government must use the new Education Bill to ensure every school takes appropriate action to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and sexual violence. Schools will need support from Government to achieve this, including clear national guidance. Ofsted and the Independent Schools Inspectorate must assess schools on how well they are recording, monitoring, preventing and responding to incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence. Every child at primary and secondary school must have access to high quality, age-appropriate relationships and sex education delivered by well-trained individuals. This can only be achieved by making sex and relationships education (SRE) a statutory subject; investing in teacher training; and investing in local third sector specialist support. Details: London: House of Commons, 2016. 66p.; Government Responnse (17p.) Source: Internet Resource: Third Report of Session 2016-17: Accessed December 9, 2016 at: https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/women-and-equalities-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/inquiry1/ Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/women-and-equalities-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/inquiry1/ Shelf Number: 140371 Keywords: School Crimes Sex CrimesSexual Harassment Sexual Violence |
Author: International Centre for Missing & Exploited Chidlren Title: Child Pornography: Model Legislation & Global Review. 7th edition Summary: Since this report was first released by the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) in April 2006, ICMEC has continued to update its research into the child pornography legislation currently in place in the nations of the world to gain a better understanding of existing legislation and to gauge where the issue stands on national political agendas.1 In particular, we are looking to see if national legislation: (1) exists with specific regard to child pornography; (2) provides a definition of child pornography; (3) criminalizes computer‐facilitated offenses; (4) criminalizes the knowing possession of child pornography, regardless of the intent to distribute; and (5) requires Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to report suspected child pornography to law enforcement or to some other mandated agency. In the summer of 2009, ICMEC conducted a thorough update of our research on existing child pornography legislation, expanding our review beyond the 187 Interpol member countries to include 196 countries. Our work included independent research as well as direct contact with Embassies in Washington, D.C. to ensure the accuracy of the report. A new review of the 196 countries began in the Spring of 2011. The process remained much the same; reviewing the existing legislation of each country in search of laws specifically focused on child pornography offenses and verifying the information through the Embassies in Washington, D.C., U.N. Permanent Missions in New York, and in‐country law enforcement contacts. However, the 7th edition report also contains several new sections including expanded information on online grooming, information on the new EU Directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, a review of data retention and preservation policies, and a discussion of implementation. Results The 1st edition, published in 2006, returned shocking results: -- only 27 had legislation sufficient to combat child pornography offenses (5 countries met all of the criteria set forth above and 22 countries met all but the last criteria, pertaining to ISP reporting); and -- 95 Countries had no legislation at all that specifically addresses child pornography. Of the remaining 62 Countries that did have legislation specifically addressing child pornography:-- 54 Countries did not define child pornography in national legislation;-- 27 Countries did not provide for computer‐facilitated offenses; and-- 41 Countries did not criminalize possession of child pornography, regardless of the intent to distribute. The 6th edition, published in late 2010, revealed progress. Of the 196 countries reviewed:-- 45 Countries had legislation sufficient to combat child pornography offenses (8 countries met all of the criteria set forth above and 37 countries met all but the last criteria, pertaining to ISP reporting); and-- 89 Countries still had no legislation at all that specifically addresses child pornography. Of the remaining 62 countries that did have legislation specifically addressing child pornography:-- 52 did not define child pornography in national legislation;-- 18 did not provide for computer‐facilitated offenses; and-- 33 did not criminalize the knowing possession of child pornography, regardless of the intent to distribute. Forward movement continues to be visible in this edition, though much remains to be done. Our updated research shows that of the 196 countries reviewed:-- 69 Countries have legislation sufficient to combat child pornography offenses (11 countries met all of the criteria set forth above and 58 countries meet all but the last criteria, pertaining to ISP reporting); and-- 53 Countries still have no legislation at all that specifically addresses child pornography. Of the remaining 74 countries that do have legislation specifically addressing child pornography:-- 60 do not define child pornography in national legislation;-- 21 do not provide for computer‐facilitated offenses; and-- 47 do not criminalize the knowing possession of child pornography, regardless of the intent to distribute. Details: Alexandria, VA: The Centre, 2012. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2017 at: http://www.icmec.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/7th-Edition-EN.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.icmec.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/7th-Edition-EN.pdf Shelf Number: 131374 Keywords: Child PornographyChild Sexual ExploitationChildren, Crimes AgainstInternet CrimesOnline GroomingOrganized CrimeSex CrimesSex Offenders |
Author: Milnes, Kate Title: Sexual bullying in young people across five European countries Research report for the Addressing Sexual Bullying Across Europe (ASBAE) project Summary: Our understanding of sexual bullying refers to unwanted sexual behaviour or conduct, and bullying or harassment due to a person's actual/perceived sexual (in)experience, interests or orientation, or due to their gender-related appearance, identity or practices. Sexual bullying often takes place online via smartphones, instant messaging and social networks. It is a growing problem among young people, and can have a serious impact on the person being bullied, including reduced self-esteem, anxiety and depression, and sometimes, suicidal behaviour. Research to date has been limited in terms of methods (mainly survey-based), geographical location (USA; Western Europe), and focus (typically on a single problem, e.g. homophobic bullying). Consequently, our aim was to design a predominantly qualitative research project that was young-people centred and encompassed the full repertoire of sexual bullying practices in under-researched countries. The research -- The ASBAE (Addressing Sexual Bullying Across Europe) project was funded by the European Commission's Daphne III programme, which aims to protect children, young people and women against all forms of violence. The focus of the project was the programme's funding priority of 'empowerment work at grassroots level'. The project was led by Leeds Beckett University in the UK and included partners from NGOs in Bulgaria (Demetra), Italy (Pepita), Latvia (MARTA Centre), Slovenia (Papilot) and the UK (Leap). Over the five countries, 253 young people (aged 13-18) and 37 professionals in child education and protection participated in focus group discussions and completed questionnaires. The voices of young people were prioritised throughout the project, assisted by a Young People's Advisory Group (YPAG) in each country. Our analysis of this dataset helped to inform the development of our peer-to-peer intervention on sexual bullying. Details: West Yorkshire, UK: Leeds Beckett University, 2015. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 31, 2018 at: ttps://ec.europa.eu Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: ttps://ec.europa.eu Shelf Number: 148937 Keywords: BullyingSex CrimesSexual Harassment |
Author: Hales, Gavin Title: A 'Sexting' Surge or a Conceptual Muddle? The challenges of analogue law and ambiguous crime recording Summary: 'Sexting' - the sending and receiving by children and young people of 'youth produced sexual imagery'1 - has emerged as a growing phenomenon in recent years, facilitated by the advent of near universal smart phone ownership.2 While it may often take place within the confines of consensual sexual relationships, in some cases 'sexting' has been associated with bullying, threats or exploitation, with significant consequences for the subjects of the images, particularly where those images are widely circulated without their consent. At times the police have been called on to act, whether by victims or for example their parents or schools. The response of police forces and the wider criminal justice system has periodically been called into question with allegations that children have been unduly criminalised, particularly following publicity given to individual cases (eg BBC, 2015). The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) recently published new data on the nature of 'sexting' by children (under 18), as recorded by police forces in England and Wales, under the headline 'Police dealing with rising number [of] 'sexting' cases involving children' (NPCC, 2017). They reported that there has been a 'surge in children sharing or possessing sexual images of themselves or others' with recorded offences more than doubling in three years; that girls are recorded as victims three times as often as boys; and that girls and boys are equally likely to be recorded as suspects or perpetrators. This paper discusses whether a meaningful line can be drawn from the NPCC data to the nature and underlying social issues associated with 'sexting', including who is involved, how 'sexting' is changing over time, and how the police service is responding. In addressing those questions this paper identifies a conceptual muddle at the intersection of four factors that will be examined in some detail: - Antiquated law that did not anticipate digital technology, including children taking and distributing indecent images of themselves. - Complex and ambiguous police crime recording and counting rules and practices. - Attempts to avoid unnecessarily 'criminalising' children. - Crime data published with limited detail and without caveats. It concludes by asking if the law on 'indecent images of children' needs updating with some specific exemptions for children, to reflect the world as it is today and avoid logically counterproductive consequences, including the risk that children may be deterred from reporting victimisation. Details: London: Police Foundations, 2018. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Perspectives on Policing: Paper 4: Accessed February 2, 2018 at: http://www.police-foundation.org.uk/2017/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/perspectives_on_policing_sexting_FINAL.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.police-foundation.org.uk/2017/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/perspectives_on_policing_sexting_FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 148976 Keywords: Child PornographyChild Sexual ExploitationInternet CrimesSex CrimesSextingSocial Media |
Author: Australian Human Rights Commission Title: Everyone's business: Fourth national survey on sexual harassment in Australian workplaces Summary: Between April and June 2018, the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) conducted a national survey to investigate the prevalence, nature and reporting of sexual harassment in Australian workplaces and the community more broadly. The Commission has conducted and reported on similar sexual harassment surveys in 2003, 2008 and 2012. The 2018 National workplace sexual harassment survey (2018 National Survey) was designed to collect data about: - the prevalence and nature of sexual harassment experienced by Australians aged 15 years and older across their lifetime (at any time or anywhere) - the prevalence and nature of sexual harassment experienced by Australians aged 15 years and older in the workplace - the perpetrators of workplace sexual harassment - characteristics of workplaces where harassment occurs - the industries where harassment occurs - the reporting of workplace sexual harassment and the outcomes of complaints - the impacts of workplace sexual harassment on those who experience it - the responses of people who witnessed or heard about sexual harassment in their workplaces, and - Australians' levels of awareness of where they can access information about sexual harassment. The 2018 National Survey was conducted both online and by telephone with a sample of over 10,000 Australians. The survey measured people's experiences of sexual harassment over the course of their lifetimes and within the last five years. Details: Sydney: AHRC, 2018. 288p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 27, 2018 at: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/AHRC_WORKPLACE_SH_2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/AHRC_WORKPLACE_SH_2018.pdf Shelf Number: 151707 Keywords: Sex CrimesSexual Harassment Workplace Crime Workplace Safety |
Author: Norton, Emma Title: Military Justice: Second-Rate Justice. Criminal justice, complaints and human rights myths in the armed forces Summary: Liberty has today published a comprehensive report on the military justice system, revealing that UK service men and women continue to be badly failed by the Armed Forces' in-house policing and legal systems, especially where rape and other serious offences are concerned. The new report has led Liberty to today launch the first-ever Armed Forces Human Rights Helpline, designed to offer free, independent legal advice to all current and former serving men and women and their families. CRIMINAL JUSTICE The report, "Second-Rate Justice", details significant flaws in the way the Armed Forces deal with some of the most sensitive and serious criminal cases involving service personnel. It damningly highlights the military's deep-rooted preference for its own internal and inadequate Service Justice System (SJS) - which includes the Service Police, the military's own police forces consisting of the Royal Military Police, Royal Naval Police and the RAF Police - and its hostility to outside scrutiny from more experienced civilian police and prosecutors. Despite the fact that the civilian justice system should take priority over the military system, the report demonstrates that this is not happening and paints a picture of a 'boys' club' approach to justice in the Armed Forces that prevents the impartial and effective investigation of some of the most serious cases. It details how: The Service Police are taking charge of investigations into alleged sexual offences including rapes, even though the legal presumption is that these should be dealt with by civilian police. In 2017 alone, 123 investigations were carried out by the Royal Military Police. Liberty believes that the majority of these should have been dealt with by the civilian police because they happened in the UK. Shockingly, a previous recommendation from Liberty that allegations of rape should always be investigated by civilian police has still not been acted upon. Some offences appear to be being downgraded to less serious offences, so that they can be dealt with internally and not go to court at all. For example, an allegation of sexual assault - which must be referred to the Service Police - may be reduced to battery which a Commanding Officer can deal with him/herself without referring it to the police at all. This practice must stop. The Ministry of Defence's inadequate methods of recording sexual crimes, and the downgrading of serious crimes to lesser offences, mean that the real scale of sexual offending in the Armed Forces is likely to be significantly higher than MoD statistics indicate. For example, the government department continues to refuse to record or publish any data at all about such serious sexual offences as creating or possessing indecent images of children, possession of extreme pornographic images, revenge porn offences, sexual communications with a child or criminal harassment offences. For the sake of accuracy, transparency and public confidence, data on the prevalence of these offences ought to be recorded and published. Conviction rates for rape in the military are even lower than civilian rates - which are already far too low. In 2017, just two of the 48 rape cases that made it to Court Martial resulted in a conviction. The new report makes 21 important recommendations which would ensure service personnel enjoy the same rights and protections as civilians. They include: Ensuring all serious criminal offences in the UK are investigated by civilian, not Service Police. Combining the three branches of the Service Police into a single force and embed them in civilian forces so that, when they must deploy abroad, they are sufficiently experienced, trained and supervised. Bringing the Service Police under the oversight of an independent expert supervisory body. Ensuring the independent Service Complaints Ombudsman is involved in serious cases of bullying, sexual harassment or racial or other discrimination at an early stage with her own fully-funded independent powers of investigation. Details: London: Liberty, 2019. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 6, 2019 at: https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/sites/default/files/LIB%2010%20Military%20Justice%20Report%2020_01_19.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/sites/default/files/LIB%2010%20Military%20Justice%20Report%2020_01_19.pdf Shelf Number: 154829 Keywords: Armed ForcesHuman Rights AbusesMilitary JusticeSex CrimesSexual Assault |
Author: International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children Title: Child Pornography: Model Legislation & Global Review. 9th ed. Summary: As global accessibility to technology platforms and the Internet has increased, so too has children's online presence. According to UNICEF, one in three Internet users worldwide is a child. And while the digital world offers countless benefits and opportunities, it also vastly multiplies the risks to children. As ICMEC enters its 20th year, we still believe that protecting children is a global imperative. We recognize the continued need for ever stronger laws, policies, and mechanisms; increased coordination across sectors; and the value of sharing ideas, perspectives, and best practices to positively influence child protection responses. We also celebrate the progress of recent years as organizations and institutions around the world have come together in collaborative initiatives such as the WePROTECT Global Alliance, utilizing tools like the Model National Response and the World Health Organization's INSPIRE Strategies to fulfill the UN Sustainable Development Goals and enhance support for children on all fronts. We are particularly excited that adoption of our Model Legislation has been included as a key recommendation of the recent Child Dignity Alliance Technology Working Group Report. Twelve years ago, in an effort to better understand the global legislative landscape as it related to child sexual abuse material (then referred to as "child pornography"), ICMEC launched an initiative that some have called our "Rule of Law" project. We developed model legislation, after careful consideration and consultation, to increase global understanding and concern, and enable governments around the world to adopt and enact appropriate legislation necessary to combat this crime and better protect children. Since we first published the Model Legislation report in 2006, 150 countries have refined or implemented new legislation combating child sexual abuse material. We have seen tremendous progress during the 9th Edition review period, nearly the most we have seen to date. This does not, however, mean that there is nothing left to do - rather, this is the time to be diligent, to persist and push forward to help bring the remaining countries into the fold. As always, it is important to note that the legislative review accompanying our model legislation is not a scorecard or a scold, but an effort to assess the current state and awareness of the problem. Realizing the importance of taking into consideration varying cultural, religious, socio-economic, and political norms, our model legislation continues to resemble a menu of concepts that can be applied universally, as opposed to actual statutory language. With this latest edition, we continue our efforts to improve the legislative landscape and strengthen child protection efforts by introducing new and updated sections in the model law, incorporating additional international and regional legal instruments, and featuring new initiatives related to implementation. Details: Alexandria, VA: The Centre, 2018. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 18, 2019 at: https://www.icmec.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CSAM-Model-Law-9th-Ed-FINAL-12-3-18.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.icmec.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CSAM-Model-Law-9th-Ed-FINAL-12-3-18.pdf Shelf Number: 155029 Keywords: Child PornographyChild Sexual ExploitationChildren, Crimes AgainstInternet CrimesOnline GroomingOrganized CrimeSex CrimesSex Offenders |
Author: Mouser, Meredith Title: An Analysis of Sex Offenses in Oklahoma Using Incident-Based Reporting Data Summary: The Oklahoma Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) conducted an analysis of sex offenses reported by local law enforcement to the Oklahoma State Incident-Based Reporting System (SIBRS) in 2015. The statewide analysis included four sex offenses: forcible rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling. Researchers analyzed 1,315 reports that included 1,489 separate offenses (some reports included multiple offenses). The reports included 1,423 unique victims of a sex offense and 1,440 offenders. Key findings: - In 2015, 199 law enforcement agencies submitted reports through SIBRS containing at least one sex offense; - June had the largest (127) number of sex offenses reported, while February had the least (93); - In the majority of reports (82%), the victim(s) were known to the offender(s); - The majority of offenses (75.9%) took place in a residence; - The most frequently used weapons reported were personal weapons (hands, feet, fists, ect.). Details: Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Statistical Analysis Center, 2017. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 24, 2019 at: https://osbi.ok.gov/sites/g/files/gmc476/f/publications/2018/09/An_Analysis_of_Sex_Offenses_Using_SIBRS_-_Final.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://osbi.ok.gov/sites/g/files/gmc476/f/publications/2018/09/An_Analysis_of_Sex_Offenses_Using_SIBRS_-_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 156619 Keywords: Crime StatisticsSex CrimesSex OffencesSex Offenders |