Hmmm,That reminds me of something...
x Respect a child’s “no”. Do not force a child to hug or shake handsSEX OFFENDER BEHAVIORS
Not all sex offenders share all of the following characteristics, and the absence of a particular
characteristic does not mean the individual is not a sex offender (English 1996).
Secrecy and dishonesty is a major component of sex offending behavior. Sex crimes flourish
in deception and silence.
Sex offenders typically have developed complicated and persistent psychological and social
systems constructed to assist them in denying and minimizing the harm they inflict on
others, and often they are very accomplished at presenting others a façade designed to
conceal the truth about themselves (English 1996).
x Cognitive distortions allow the sex offender to justify, rationalize, and minimize the
impact of their deviant behavior
x Power play-“It is my way or the highway.” “I will dominate and control others.”
x Entitlement- “The world owes me.” “I am superior.”
x Hop Over-“I do not answer questions when I know the answer is unpleasant.”
x Blaming- “I blame others so I can avoid responsibility for my actions.”
x Minimizing- “I only fondled the child.” “It wasn’t intrinsically harmful.”
x Secretiveness-“I use secrecy to control others and continue being deviant.”
x Sex offenders are highly manipulative and will triangulate/split those around them.
The skills used to manipulate victims are employed to manipulate family members,
friends, co-workers, supervision officers, treatment providers, and case managers. x Grooming activities are not solely for potential victims. Offenders will groom
parents to obtain access to their children.
x Grooming is well-organized and can be long term.
x The longer a sex offender knows an individual the better they are at “zeroing in”
their grooming (“I can read people like a book. I know what others need and I am
available to help out”.)
x The longer a sex offender is on supervision the higher the probability staff will lose
their objectivity.
x Sex offenders are generally personable and seek to “befriend” those around them
(“My smile is my entrée”. “I ‘m like a salesman but I’m never off work”.)
x Sex offenders will continually test boundaries (personal/professional space). x Sex offenders exploit relationships and social norms to test boundaries. x Sex offenders seek professions that allow them access to victims. . Cognitive distortions are :
thoughts and attitudes that allow offenders to justify, rationalize, and minimize the
impact of their deviant behavior. Cognitive distortions allow the adult sex offenders
to overcome prohibitions and progress from fantasy to behavior.
These distorted thoughts provide the adult sex offenders with an excuse to engage in deviant
sexual behavior, and serve to reduce guilt and responsibility.
Dr. Matthew Ferrara in “Lifestyle Enhancement and Development (2000)” describes deviant
sexual behavior as behavior that meets one or more of the subsequent criteria:
Sexual contact with a person under the legal age of consent (17 years old); sexual
contact with a person who is unable to give consent; sexual contact that is forced,
aggressive, causes physical harm, is coerced, uses intimidation or deceit,
or sexual contact that is harmful or degrading.
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RISK REDUCTION TIPS FOR PARENTS
x Think safety first.
x Be informed and know your local resources.
x Be active in your community. Get to know your neighbors.
x Never assume your child could not be molested, missing, or abducted.
x Build your child’s self-esteem. A child who has low self-esteem is more easily lured.
x Teach and practice decision making with your child.
x Build support systems. Children need to know where to go for help.
x Carefully interview, screen, and check caregivers.
x Teach age appropriate information regarding physical and sexual abuse.
x Use age appropriate role-playing with children. Play “what if” games.
x Develop a family code for emergency situations.
x Respect a child’s “no”. Do not force a child to hug or shake hands.
x Never leave young children unattended.
x Establish ground rules for your child when answering the telephone.
x Teach and have emergency contact numbers easily accessible.
x Teach your child to screen telephone calls through the answering machine or caller
ID.
x Monitor all computer use. Use parental controls.
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Council on Sex Offender Treatment
1100 West 49th street
Austin, Texas 78756-3183
Phone: (512) 834-4530 Fax: (512) 834-4511
Email:
http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/hcqs/plc/csot.htmREFERENCES:
Andrews, D., Bonta, J., & Hoge, R.D. (1990) “Classification for effective rehabilitation:
Rediscovering psychology”. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 17, 19-52
Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (2003) Practice Standards and Guidelines
for the Members of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers
Bonta, J., (1997-2001), “Offender Rehabilitation: From research to practice”, Ministry of the
Solicitor General of Canada