Investigators using the Internet to apprehend sex offenders: Findings from the Second National Juvenile Online Victimization Study.

Authors

Kimberly J. Mitchell, University of New Hampshire - Main CampusFollow
Janis Wolak, University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
David Finkelhor, University of New Hampshire - Main CampusFollow
Lisa M. Jones, University of New Hampshire - Main CampusFollow

Abstract

Abstract

This paper discusses the types of undercover investigations conducted on the Internet. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted with police about 544 undercover cases ending in arrest for an Internet-related sex crime against a minor in 2006. The two most common types of undercover investigations involved police posing online as minors (76%) and undercover police investigations of child pornography (20%). Additionally, a few investigators were posing as adults having access to minors to sell or wanting to purchase sex with a minor (4%). The findings of this paper are a first step in understanding the efficacy of various types of investigations.

Department

Psychology

Publication Date

6-2012

Journal Title

Police Practice and Research: An International Journal

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1080/15614263.2011.627746

Document Type

Article

Recommended Citation

Mitchell, K.J., Wolak, J., Finkelhor, D., Jones, L. Investigators using the Internet to apprehend sex offenders: Findings from the Second National Juvenile Online Victimization Study. (2012) Police Practice and Research, 13 (3), pp. 267-281.

Rights

© 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.