Data on peer-on-peer child sexual demonstrates up to one-third of child sexual assaults perpetrated by other children and what the limited data suggest is that these rates are increasing. These alarming rates of sexual abuse take place alongside increased hyper-access to pornography, with the average first age of exposure at 11. Frontline workers who handle child sexual assault victims and perpetrators indicate that pornography creates a risk of sexual assault by and among children. Given that law enforcement officers will eventually see these same cases, what are their perceptions of pornography as a risk factor for peer-on-peer child sexual abuse? By interviewing law enforcement officers in the United States working directly on cases involving child sexual abuse, I examine law enforcement officer's perceptions of the connections between pornography and child sexual abuse. A sample of 11 law enforcement officers identify pornography to have a role in peer-on-peer child sexual abuse. Additionally, the sample distinguishes several differences between how pornography impacts peer-on-peer child sexual abuse versus adult-on-child sexual abuse. This study is essential given the confusion in the law and eventual prosecutions; law enforcement is struggling with legislation that does not fit the reality of the cases and results in prosecutorial issues. / Master of Science / This project explores the perceptions of law enforcement officers on pornography as a risk factor for peer-on-peer child sexual abuse. The data for this study originates from 11 semi-structured interviews with law enforcement officers with experience investigating child sexual abuse. This study identified that law enforcement officers do perceive pornography to be a risk factor for peer-on-peer child sexual abuse. The findings of this study indicate the importance for future research and attention to how law enforcement and the U.S. government approach pornography as a risk factor.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/115200 |
| Date | 25 May 2023 |
| Creators | Amabile, Gianna Sara |
| Contributors | Sociology, Johnson, Jennifer Ann, Dearden, Thomas E., Zare, Bonnie |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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