Citation

Endrass J, Urbaniok F, Hammermeister LC, Benz C, Elbert T, Laubacher A, Rossegger A. BMC Psychiatry 2009; 9(1): 43.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/1471-244X-9-43

PMID

19602221

PMCID

PMC2716325

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is an ongoing debate on whether consumers of child pornography pose a risk for hands-on sex offenses. Up until now, there have been very few studies which have analyzed the association between the consumption of child pornography and the subsequent perpetration of hands-on sex offenses. The aim of this study was to examine the recidivism rates for hands-on and hands-off sex offenses in a sample of child pornography users using a 6 year follow-up design. METHODS: The current study population consisted of 231 men, who were subsequently charged with consumption of illegal pornographic material after being detected by a special operation against Internet child pornography, conducted by the Swiss police in 2002. Criminal history, as well as recidivism, was assessed using the criminal records from 2008. RESULTS: 4.8% (n=11) of the study sample had a prior conviction for a sexual and/or violent offense, 1% (n=2) for a hands-on sex offense, involving child sexual abuse, 3.3% (n=8) for a hands-off sex offense and one for a nonsexual violent offense. When applying a broad definition of recidivism, which included ongoing investigations, charges and convictions, 3% (n=7) of the study sample recidivated with a violent and/or sex offense, 3.9% (n=9) with a hands-off sex offense and 0.8% (n=2) with a hands-on sex offense. CONCLUSIONS: Consuming child pornography alone is not a risk factor for committing hands-on sex offenses -- at least not for those subjects who had never committed a hands-on sex offense. The majority of the investigated consumers had no previous convictions for hands-on sex offenses. For those offenders, the prognosis for hands-on sex offenses, as well as for recidivism with child pornography, is favorable.

Language: en