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Created: May 22, 2003
Latest Update: May 22, 2003
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

Stealing Innocence: A Parole Agent's Perspective On Working With Sexual Predators

Site Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individual Authors, May 2003.
"Fair use" encouraged.

[*] Indicates something omitted. "repetitive" means removed because you already said it. Too wordy. jeanne

Preface.

This thesis represents the culmination of twenty-two years of law enforcement experience working with convicted sex offenders. [*repetitive] During the period that I have worked on this thesis, my research has forced me to look at convicted sex offenders in another way. I have obtained a different perspective and understanding on the nature of their potential for flexibility, which has afforded me . . . . [* repetitive]

Prior to my career in law enforcement, I viewed all sex offenders as, well, sex offenders, "the lowest of low" of criminal culture. Not only were they disliked by law enforcement and viewed as the "scum" of human kind, but also disliked by their peer criminals, especially other inmates.

The demands of reconciliation of my personal feelings for the sex offender and the mental and legal understanding of the subject has sometimes been overwhelming. However, my involvement has and continues to [*] prepare me for a more effective and sensitive understanding of my parolees.

The research for this project has forced me to see the sex offender from a perspective other than irredemptiion. Even if rehabilitation may not work in many cases, the need for human understanding and fitting the parolee as effectively as possible into the community at large is still important. On a personal level, I regard sex offenders as individuals who practice unexpected behavior that is unlawful by our society. As a parole officer, I have learned to focus on the "unlawful," and not to allow the labelling of "unexpected" to interfere in the interdependent relationships on which my work is based.

Most of my research has been driven by a need to explain why certain sex offenders commit certain sex crimes and attempt to explain why they do the things they do. Why? Who cares? Are you planning to rehabilitate them? What you actually seem to want is to understand the different types, either molesters by chance or pedophiles, so that you can better adapt you parole relationships. Yes?

I believe that I have managed to effectively correlate the law enforcement aspects with a positive personal outreach, while supervising and investigating sex offenders.

Chapter 1: Introduction

This paper will examine the history of sexual predators in today's society. The emphasis will focus on identifying and distinguishing the differences between a child molester and a pedophile. A history of the literature will be reviewed and, sex offender treatment will be explored.

If there were ever a term in the English language that could evoke strong emotional reactions, the word "child molester" would fit the description. Child molesters prey upon the most vulnerable members of our society. Several recent high profile cases, such as Samantha Runyon and Danielle Van Dam have heightened society's awareness of the dangers that child molester's pose. Society has reacted very strongly to the media's profile of sex offenders.

Dr. A. Nicholas Groth, (Hagans & Case, 1988) is one of the leading experts on sexual victimization of children. He classifies child molesters in two categories. Regressed molesters, usually capable of being helped by a community-based (unconfirmed) treatment program, are those individuals who clearly have a sexual orientation toward people near their own age. Their molestation of a child is a departure from their usual sexual patterns, often occurring under stress. Fixated molesters, who have a primary sex orientation toward children, prefer children for sex partners because they feel more comfortable with them. They often prefer prepubescent children (those who have not yet develop pubic hair, breasts, and other signs of adolescence). Often these people only respond to treatment when it is administered in a setting in which they are confined (Hagans & Case, 1988, p. 5 ).

This thesis will focus on a multiple perspective approach. The treatment of sex offenders varies from what clinical model is being ed. "Most therapists use a multiple perspective approach. They trace the origins of pedophilia to childhood. Patterns of childhood experiences etch a neurological map that determines the type of stimuli that arouse the individual. Why some child who are molested do not grow up to become molesters and why some do, may have a relationship to genetic predisposition, hormonal factor or some other unknown factor (Harwood, 2002)."

A multidisciplinary team approach should include monitoring from law enforcement agencies and parole agents. Mental health professionals can provide necessary treatment to individuals who require monitoring and therapy. Family support and neighborhood awareness are also key factors in keeping the ex-offenders from re-offending.

The treatment of pedophilias is "necessary if the behavior or fetish causes distress, relationship difficulties, legal problems, or hurts other individuals. Some professionals argue that no therapy short of castration works for some sex offenders (Harwood, 2002)." Behavior therapy is one of the most common treatment of pedophilias. The treatments for pedophilias will be explored in greater detail in chapter 5.

For law enforcement officers, the term child molester is more likely to conform to a legal definition of sexual molestation set forth in the penal code. For research purposes, a child molester is simply an individual who engages in illegal sexual activity with children. Although, the use of the term child molester is common, awareness concerning sexual abuse of children has resulted in the frequent use of the term "pedophile." The definition of a child molester is "one who injures or has questionable dealing with a child. The child molester who is a sexual deviant is termed a pedophile. The victim may be subject to rape, sodomy, indecent exposure, or murder" (Rush, 2000, p.94).

Just as someone can refer to another as being "paranoid" without implying a psychiatric diagnosis or assuming psychiatric expertise, a social worker, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer can refer to an individual who has sexually victimized a child as a pedophile. A good definition for pedophilia is as follows: "The use of a minor for sexual gratification by an adult. Sexual conduct between adult, females and non-adult males is known to occur, but persons convicted of the crime of pedophilia are, mostly without exception, males. They constitute a third of all institutionalized sex criminals, one of the largest classifications. Approximately two-thirds of the victims of pedophilic acts are prepubescent and adolescence girls in about equal numbers. The act itself is seldom more than fondling. Sexual intercourse is rarely attempted, and actual penetration occurs only in about 2 percent of known cases. Genital acts, such as anal, coitus and fellatio, occur more often when the pedophile's object is male" (Rush, 2000, p.251).

For the purposes of this research paper, a pedophile will be defined as a significantly older individual who prefers to have sex with individuals legally considered children. The pedophile is one whose sexual fantasies are erotic imagery focusing on children. The laws strictly define a child as anyone who is under 18 years old. The laws look at the age difference between the victim and predator when determining charges and sentencing. It is vital to realize the importance the law plays in all of this. Puberty can be the determinant factor of how a person (in this case, a child) is cared for if they have become a victim of molestation. What is the difference between a child molester and a pedophile? For many, the terms mean the same thing. The media frequently makes no distinction between the two and uses the terms as the same, but individuals do not necessarily focus on children, and these people are not pedophiles. Many child molesters are, in fact, pedophiles and many pedophiles are child molesters, but they are not necessarily one and the same (Howitt, 1995).

The law enforcement officer might argue that it is his job to arrest individuals who violate the law and that whether or not that offender is a pedophile is of no importance to him. Distinctions between the types of child molesters, however, can have important and valuable implications for law enforcement in the investigation of child abuse. the situations being described are different. Labeling all child molesters as pedophiles is, however, confusing. There are clear differences between the types of individuals who sexually abuse children. It is important that law enforcement agencies are aware of the differences.

Are all pedophiles child molesters? No. A person suffering from pedophilia can legally engage in it simply by fantasizing and masturbating. A child molester is an individual who sexually molests children. A person may have a sexual preference for children and might fantasize about having sex with them. That person is a pedophile. But if he does not act out, then he is not a child molester. Some pedophiles might act out their fantasies in legal ways by simply talking to or watching children and later masturbating. Some pedophiles might act out their fantasies in legal ways by engaging in sexual activity with adults who look , dress or act like children (i.e., small stature, flat chest, no body hair, immature, or baby talk). Others may act out child fantasy games with adult prostitutes (Howitt, 1995).

Are child molester's pedophiles? No. A pedophile is an individual who prefers to have sex with children. A person who prefers to have sex with an adult partner may, for any number of reasons, decide to have sex with a child. Such reasons might include simple availability, curiosity, or a desire to hurt a loved one of the molested child. The sexual fantasies of such [* section missing]

The situational child molester does not have a true sexual preference for children, but engages in sex with children for opportunistic reasons. For such a child molester, sex with children may range from a once-in-a-lifetime act to a long- term pattern of behavior. The more long term the pattern is, the harder it is to distinguish from preferential molesting. The situational child molester usually has fewer number of different child victims (Howitt, 1995). Other vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly, sick, or the disabled, may also be at risk of sexual victimization by him or her. For example, the situational child molester who sexually abuses children in a day care center might leave that job and begin to sexually abuse elderly people in a nursing home. It is the author's undocumented opinion that the number of situational child molesters is larger and increasing faster than that of preferential child molesters. Members of lower socioeconomic groups tend to be over represented between situational child molesters (Howitt, 1995).

There are several different types of pedophiles that are distinguished by:

• Personally Immature Pedophile: The personally immature pedophile who as never succeeded in developing interpersonal skills and is drawn to children because he feels in control. The sexual contact is not in control and there is often a "courtship that occurs before sexual activity actually happens.

• Regressed Pedophile: The regressed pedophile usually has developed strong heterosexual relationships without much difficulty. During childhood he developed a sense of sexual inadequacy, has difficulty with everyday stresses and alcohol and his pedophilia is likely to be impulsive and with strangers.

• Aggressive Pedophile: The aggressive pedophile is the least common, often has a history of anti-social behaviors and may feel a strong hostility to women. He is most likely to assault his victims and do great bodily harm, even murder (Harwood, 2002, p. 42).

[* This summary sounds like a behavioral objective and is unnescessary.]

Background of abuse with sex offenders

Although most victims don't become sex offenders, many who do become sex offenders have been sexually abused. It is well worth the investigator's time and effort to determine if a suspect had ever been the victim of sexual abuse and [*] the nature of the abuse (age it occurred, relationship with offender, acts performed, etc.). It is important to know this information because [* repetitive](Howitt, 1995).

But you've already said that most abuse victims don't become predators. So it seems to me that this information is important so that you can provide necessay counseling in the hope of healing some of the earlier pain and strengthening character to avoid future occurrences, even though the sexual preference may be irreversible.

Prevention/Signs/Warnings

Law enforcement and society as a whole tend to look at child molestation and crimes toward children as some of the worst in the area of crime. So many times children's minds are taken over simply because they lack the mental capacity to think of a way to maneuver their way out of a particularly dangerous and detrimental situation. Children can easily fall victim to sexual crimes, because children are not able to fully defend and protect themselves

Many parents teach their children at a very young age to respect and do as the adults say. When an adult child molester starts to use their authority as a guardian, counselor, or school volunteer to entice children to participate in sexual activities, the child feels helpless. There is an internal battle the child is constantly tormented with.

The need for attention and affection is probably the "most significant characteristic of children that makes them ideal victims, especially for the seduction acquaintance child molester" (http://www.crimelibrary.com.htm). Typically, the molester provides attention and affection, which the child may or may not receive in the home or in other areas of his or her life.

There are several preventative methods parents and guardians can do to minimize their children's risk of becoming a victim. Parents need to be aware of their children's behavior. Parents should notice any unusual behavior an adult or older child has towards younger children.

Does the adult or older child... - Insist on physical contact (i.e., kissing, hugging, sitting on one's lap) with child, even when the child rejects? - Buys child(ren) expensive gifts for no apparent reason? - Offer themselves to baby-sit different children for free on a regular basis? - Insists on time alone with a child with no interruptions? - Spends most of their time with children and has no real interest in spending time with people in their own age group?

If a parent suspects that their child is being sexually abused, the parent should immediately contact authorities. A psychologist and/or school counselor may be able to assist in making sure the child gets help if they have been a victim (http://www.stopitnow.com/warning.htm). Physical abuse from molestation can have a scarring effect on a child's mind as well as his or her body. Children show behavioral and physical signs of abuse and the warning signs can be subtle to acting-out behaviors. The following lists outline warning signs of abuse parents may see in a sexually abused child: Behavioral Signs: - Nightmares or other sleep disturbances. - Problems in school or with peers. - Sudden changes in attitude or behavior, e.g., from open to secretive, or happy to depressed. - Regressive behavior, e.g., returning to bed-wetting, thumb sucking, etc. - "Pseudo" mature behavior, e.g., tries to act older than age (shown through dress, make- up, activities, etc. - Secrecy about a new "friend." - Frequent unexplained absences from school. - Fear of a certain person or vehement objection to being left with someone or somewhere. - Truancy, running away, promiscuity, or prostitution (most common in adolescence). - Self-mutilation or addiction to drugs, alcohol or food (most common in adolescence). - Drawings, writings, or schoolwork of unusual or bizarre sexual themes -Excessive sexual curiosity or masturbation, especially with pre-school age children. (Natural curiosity and masturbation, are normal for children. It's a warning sign only when it occurs frequently). - Unusual or explicit knowledge about sex (shown through language or behavior). - Seductive behavior, sexual advances, or sex play towards peers or adults. (The child may be reenacting behavior exhibited towards him.) - Suicide attempts (Mach, 1994, p. 3-4). Physical Signs: - Unexplained headaches, stomach aches, vomiting, fainting, blackouts, etc. - Bed-wetting, soiling, or other related problems. - Loss of weight or appetite, or weight gain. - Problems such as itching, pain, or soreness in genital or anal areas. - Unexplained injury of vagina, rectal opening, penis, or genital areas. - Signs of physical abuse and neglect. -Torn, stained, or bloody underclothes. - Sexually transmitted disease, vaginal discharge, etc. - Pregnancy in a child (Mach , 1994, p. 4). If the child exhibits some of these signs or symptoms, the child should be taken to a doctor for follow-up. The physician can help alleviate physical pain or harm and will be able to refer parent and/or guardian to the proper legal authorities. Professionals will help refer the victim for a medical exam and treatment. Along with behavioral and physical signs of abuse, there can be emotional signs. Emotional signs can sometimes be harder to distinguish in children. Some emotional warning signs of abuse in children are the following: Emotional Signs: - Low self-esteem. - Depression or withdrawal. - Feeling hopeless or helpless. - Lack of trust. - Suicidal thoughts or intentions (Mach, 1994, p. 4). Parents should pay close attention to changes in their child's behavior, attire and attitude displayed. They should use the warning signs of abuse as a guideline. The child may be unconsciously attracting a child molester by acting or dressing older than they truly are. Although, in no way is the child responsible for the molester's actions. Parents and guardians have to be alert and conscious of their children's daily activities and whom their children are spending time with. Parents must have open lines of communication with their children. They should teach their children that if anyone touches their body or tries to make them do things that make them feel funny or uncomfortable, they should say "NO" to that individual and tell the parent. (Mach 1994). Age Breakdown Analysis Most of the time children are curious about sex. There is healthy sexuality in children at different age groups and communication must be open to discuss and answer questions about what children are feeling. For example, children 5 years and younger typically have sex language related to the different body parts. Showing and looking at private parts is common. Unusual behavior in this age group would be discussion of sexual activities and contact experience with other children. The following are lists of developmental stages in children: Early Childhood (Ages 2 to 5) - Boys do not ejaculate until puberty, but the other mechanisms still occur. - At this age children are of course curious about their bodies. Genital play often occurs alone or with peers. - Negative messages that a child gets regarding self-stimulating or curiosity is often the earliest causes of later sexual dysfunction. (Master & Johnson, 1970; Calderon, 1978; Money, 1980). - Children attending nursery school often are exposed to somewhat sexual situation - Children may try to kiss each other, including children of the same gender (which if a teacher reacts more distressed at that than at boys and girls kissing this can be the beginnings of internalized homophobia). Boys pull up girls' skirts and children are also interested in bathroom etiquette. This is also the time when kids may be trying out dirty words ( Harwood, 2002, p. 8). Working With Sexual Predators 11 School Age (Pre-Adolescent) Sexuality - By six or seven most children understand the anatomical differences between boys and girls. Sexual experimentation has started with children of the same and opposite sexes. This is a way to understand "how others are different from me" and "how others are the same as me." - Harm can come from harsh parental responses. - By the ages of eight or nine, children have awareness of the eroticism of sexuality. - Masturbation in private and in groups is common. Attempts at vaginal, oral and anal intercourse may happen. - Peer sexuality is often between two males though some females may engage in this behavior with males as well. - If the child felt coerced, forced, ashamed and / or got injured he or she may have repercussions throughout adulthood. - Because there is a sexual double standard and girls are often cautioned against sexual play or exploration, early consensual activity may be more common in males. (Harwood, 2002, p. 9). Sibling Sex - Sex between siblings is also not an uncommon phenomenon. While this activity may be incest, sometimes it simply involves the "look-see" behaviors. - Studies find the 17% of a college student sample of 526 reported having a sexual experience with a sibling before the age of thirteen. The average age when sexual activity occurred was eight and parents were aware only 18% of the time. They found no evidence that pre-adolescent activity was harmful. They found a low rate of coercion took place (2% involved force and6% involved a threat). - Other studies have found there was more force involved (25%) and that at least one quarter (25%) involved siblings who were at least five years apart. (Harwood, 2002, p. 9). Sexual exploration among children is not uncommon. However, parents must be able to be aware of age-appropriate behavior versus inappropriate sexual behavior. Parents are strongly encouraged to establish rules and teach safety to their children. The following are guidelines parents can teach their children to prevent sexual abuse or other types of abuse: Working With Sexual Predators 12 Teaching Safety - Establish family rules for what to do in an emergency. - Let your child know who would take care of her in an emergency. - Teach your child her phone number and address. - Know your child whereabouts. - Let your child know your whereabouts and how you can be reached. - Know your child's friends, associates, and employers. - Check references and get background information on people to whom you entrust your child: babysitters, youth-group leaders, coaches, etc. - Never leave a young child alone at home, tell older children not to open the door to anyone. - Never leave your child with someone you don't know or trust. - Don't leave your children alone in a car or in any public place. - Have a "buddy system" so your child is with someone else while walking home from school, going to the store, etc. - Teach your child how to handle phone calls: never say she's alone, and hang up immediately if the call is obscene or frightening. - Teach your child emergency phone numbers and keep them by the phone. - Teach your child to avoid strangers, deserted areas, or places with few exits, such as alleys or stairways. - Teach your child to walk near the curb, facing traffic. - Tell your child that if a car approaches to walk away in a direction opposite to the car, and to go somewhere safe. - Establish a neighborhood system of "safe houses" (of people you know and trust) where children can go if scared or approached by someone. - Emphasize that your child and her safety are more important than property. - Teach your child that you'd rather have her "overreact" and be embarrassed, than "under react" and get hurt. - Teach your child to listen to her own feelings and judgments about a person or situation, especially when she's frightened or uneasy. - Avoid having your child's name, age, address, or picture together where anyone can see it, such as a newspaper, community directory, or on clothing (Mach, 1994, p. 63-64). When a child molestation case is uncovered and an offender is identified, there are certain fairly predictable reactions by the child molester. This is especially true of the preferential child molester (pedophile). Knowledge and anticipation of these reactions will help the investigation and prosecution of such difficult cases. It is important to understand how the Working With Sexual Predators 13 It is important to understand how the pedophile might react when he is charged with a sex crime. Knowing what to expect will help the investigation process. The pedophile will probably deny or minimize his actions, when he is initially charged with a sexual crime. Pedophile Defense Denial is usually the first reaction of a child molester. The offender may act shocked, surprised, or even indignant about an allegation of sexual activity with children. He may claim to know nothing about it or, that he does not remember. He might admit to an act, but deny the intent as sexual gratification: "Is it a crime to hug a child? He may imply that his actions were misunderstood, and a mistake has been made. Relatives, friends, neighbors, and coworkers may aid his denial. These associates may be uncooperative and may even hinder police investigation of the offender. In any case, the investigator should anticipate and not be thrown off by strong initial denial by a suspect (Howitt, 2002). In any situation, humans naturally or by learned behavior do not want to take responsibility for wrongdoing. The molester attempts to minimize the sexual act, that way he or she doesn't have to take responsibility. The following section will focus on the history and classification of these offend Definition of Terms Child Abuse: Regular assault inflicted on a young child, often by parents, endangering the child's life, health, and welfare. Excessive psychological mistreatment can also be considered child abuse (Dressler, 2002, p. 1693). Child Molestation: Any sexual solicitation, contact, or intercourse of an adult with a child; usually refers to children below the age of puberty. Child molestation can be heterosexual Working With Sexual Predators 14 or homosexual (Dressler, 2002, p. 1693). Child Molester: One who injures or has questionable dealing with a child. The child molester who is a sexual deviate is termed a pedophile. The victim may be subject to rape, sodomy, indecent exposure, or murder (Rush, 2000, p. 94). Conditions of Parole: The author of this thesis defines this term as an inmate who is released from a California prison, who will undergo supervised parole for a term of three years. This time can be extended for an additional year, depending on the case. Corrections: All rules and regulations, agencies, facilities, programs, procedures, techniques and their underlying philosophical foundation, concerned with the supervision and treatment of alleged or adjudicated offenders as delinquents (Dressler, 2002, p. 1693). Incest: Illegal sexual activity between two persons closely related by blood or marriage. Various societies have determined that specific relationships are forbidden and incestuous. These almost invariably include parent-child and sibling relationships, and sometimes uncle-niece, aunt-nephew, and grandparent-grandchild relationships, as well as those with a brother-in-law, sister-in-law, mother-in-law, or father-in-law (Dressler, 2002, p. 1701). Megan's Law: A control strategy named after 7 year-old Megan Kanka of Hamilton Town-Ship, N.J, who was murdered in 1994. A convicted sex offender who lived across the street from the Kanka family was accused of the crime. In response to her parents outrage that no one had warned them about their neighbor's past, New Jersey passed a law mandating notification to a community when a convicted sex offender moves in, with different levels of notification required for different levels of offense. On July 1, 1996, a New Jersey Federal District judge upheld the central aspects of Megan's Law. A 1994 Federal law included Working With Sexual Predators 15 provisions allowing for, but not requiring, similar notification when a sex offender is released from prison. Forty-seven states have laws requiring registration of convicted child molesters; 30 have programs to warn communities when offenders to move in, and 15 states require community notification. In 1997, California had about 63, 000 registered sex offenders; 1 of every 190 adult males in the state is a convicted and registered sex offender (Rush, 2000, p. 176). Offender: One who has been convicted of criminal offense; unless specifically stated otherwise, he or she is presumed to be an adult (Dressler, 2002, p. 1707). Parole: The status of an offender conditionally released from a correctional institution before completion of his maximum prison sentence. A paroled offender is placed under supervision of an authorized agency and subjected to restrictions, violation of which may result in revocation of parole (Dressler, 2002, p. 1707). Pedophile: One who indulges in pedophilia (Rush, 2000, p. 251). Pedophila: The use of a minor for sexual gratification by an adult (Rush, 2000, p. 251). Parole Agent: (or parole officer) - An employee of a parole agency whose primary duties are the supervision of parolees and pre-parole investigation or planning (Rush, 2000, p. 243). Penal Code: The criminal code of jurisdiction. It defines criminal conduct and defenses there to and determines the punishment to be imposed (Dressler, 2002, p. 1708). Sex Crime: (sex offense) Prohibited and legally punishable behavior such as rape, sodomy, or carnal abuse of children (Dressler, 2002, p. 1714). 290 Registrant: The author of this thesis defines this term as a sex offender (per Working With Sexual Predators 16 Megan's Law) who is required to register with local law enforcement agencies within 5 days of release from custody, change of address, and birthday for life, per Section 290 of the California Penal Code. (West's California Codes, Penal Code, 1998).