2024/01/15 by Caridade, Sónia Maria Martins, e Silva, Teresa Raquel Pinto, Cunha, Olga +2
#Effectiveness #Internet-child sex offender #Intervention #Social and Behavioral Sciences #online child exploitation
paper · doi:10.17605/osf.io/tevn2
In the contemporary era of rapid technological advances, accessibility to information and interpersonal communication has significantly improved. However, this evolution has unfortunately also facilitated the access of individuals involved in sexual crimes, especially those targeting vulnerable children. Internet Child Sex Offenders (I-CSO) exploit the internet for various forms of child sexual exploitation, including online sexual solicitation, grooming, as well as the possession, creation, and distribution of child pornography (Babchishin et al., 2018; Gottfried et al., 2020; Paquette et al., 2020). Online sexual solicitation, often referred to as grooming, involves sexual correspondence between adults and children or adolescents through digital platforms (Babchishin et al., 2018; Gottfried et al., 2020; Paquette et al., 2020). While numerous research studies explore the characteristics and risk factors associated with I-CSO (Babchishin et al., 2014; Henshaw et al., 2017; Ly et al., 2018; Middleton, 2008; Perkins et al., 2018), the same attention has not been given to the intervention sphere (Henshaw et al., 2017; Middleton, 2008; Perkins et al., 2018). Despite various reviews and meta-analyses on interventions or the effectiveness of interventions with contact sex offenders (Gopalakrishnan et al., 2020; Losel & Schmucker, 2005; Rocha & Valença, 2023; Sousa et al., 2023), the same is not true for I-CSO. To the best of our knowledge, in this area, there exists only a scoping review and gap analysis, shedding light on available interventions applicable to this population (Perkins et al., 2018). However, it is crucial to underscore that the majority of these interventions are not specifically directed at I-CSO. This systematic review aims to bridge this gap by critically examining and synthesizing the existing literature on the effectiveness of interventions tailored explicitly for internet child sex offenders. Through this comprehensive analysis, we seek to inform and guide future interventions, contributing to the ongoing efforts to combat and rehabilitate individuals engaged in online child exploitation. Therefore, the present study aimed to systematically review the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of existing intervention programs used with I-CSO. As far as we know, this is the first review that attempts to systematize this information.