Offenders convicted of child sexual exploitation material offences: characteristics of offenders and an exploration of judicial censure

Larissa Christensen; George S Tsagaris

doi:10.1080/13218719.2020.1742240

Back

Offenders convicted of child sexual exploitation material offences: characteristics of offenders and an exploration of judicial censure

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Offenders convicted of child sexual exploitation material offences: characteristics of offenders and an exploration of judicial censure

Larissa Christensen and George S Tsagaris

Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, Vol.27(4), pp.647-664

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2020.1742240

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

Files and links (2)

pdf

Offenders convicted of child sexual exploitation material offences245.38 kBDownload View

Accepted Version Open Access

url

https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2020.1742240View

Published Version

Abstract

child abuse

child exploitation material

child pornography

child sex offender

conviction

judiciary

sentencing

sexual offending

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

Research on the discernments of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM), particularly delivered by judicial officers, is limited. Sentencing remarks can disseminate formal messages about the offender's character while censuring crime. This study aimed to: obtain a deeper understanding on the characteristics of CSEM offenders and explore the censure sentencing judiciary impart. An exploratory content analysis conducted on sentencing remarks of 29 offenders across a 10-year period in Australia found all offenders were male, mostly middle-aged, with diverse employment and education. Most possessed and/or accessed CSEM involving: children under three and the most severe category (sadism/bestiality). Characteristics and censure involved: offender's motivations and explanations for offending (sub-themes included poor mental health and substance abuse, downplay or denial, and addiction); CSEM offences are not victimless crimes; and disparities in the offender's public versus private life. This study's findings are valuable for law, psychology and social work disciplines across Australia and internationally.

Details

Title: Offenders convicted of child sexual exploitation material offences: characteristics of offenders and an exploration of judicial censure
Authors: Larissa Christensen (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
George S Tsagaris (Author) - Cleveland State University, United States
Publication details: Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, Vol.27(4), pp.647-664
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2020
DOI: 10.1080/13218719.2020.1742240
ISSN: 1321-8719; 1934-1687
Copyright note: Copyright (c) 2020. This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Psychiatry, Psychology and Law on 2020, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13218719.2020.1742240
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society; Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit; School of Law and Criminology - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450959502621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

5 File views/ downloads

68 Record Views

24 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Criminology & Penology; Law; Psychiatry; Psychology, Multidisciplinary

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites