"This volume follows my recent book on pedophilia and sexual offending against children, also published by the American Psychological Association (Seto, 2008). After that endeavor, which took almost 3 years to complete, I thought I would take a break before assuming the (satisfying) challenge of writing another book. But after a plenary talk on online offending I gave at the 2009 Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) conference in Dallas, Texas, a colleague, Jean Proulx, asked me why I was not writing a book about this topic, given the demand for knowledge about this emerging problem. That was a good question. It was clear that there was a great deal of demand because of the increasing number of cases seen by law enforcement and by clinicians; it was also clear that there was a lack of research.

Online, the opportunity to commit a crime is never more than a few clicks away. Sex Offenders and the Internet explores the nature of online sex offenders in order to help practitioners understand and treat this new category of client. Kerry Sheldon and Dennis Howitt examine the research base by reviewing case studies and psychological profiles, with a particular focus on paedophilic Internet sex offenders. Issues covered include child pornography, the often overlooked ‘excuses’ for paedophilia, and how we can move forward. The result is a book that comprehensively details the nature of Internet sex offenders, bringing together the relevant research into one essential volume.

"This volume of readings provides an excellent source of information about sex offender laws and policies."--International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology "Sex Offender Laws...is a good source for balanced, objective, and thorough critique of our current sex offender policies as well as a source for accurate information about a very heterogeneous population...The message that sexual abuse is often a multifaceted and complex issue and that policy based on quick fixes or knee jerk reactions do not often work will be informative and enlightening to many readers." --Sex Roles "[T]his fine book by Richard Wright and his distinguished collaborators provides the evidence that wise policy-makers would want to consider. It covers every major field of research concerning sex offenders and sexual offenses and provides evidence of bad practices and policiesÖ.Intellectually honest politicians should read this book." --Michael Tonry, LL.B, Professor of Law and Public Policy University of Minnesota Law School (From the Foreword) In response to many high-profile cases of sexual assault, federal and state governments have placed a number of unique criminal sanctions on sex offenders. These include residency restrictions, exclusionary zones, electronic monitoring, and chemical castration. However, the majority of sex offender policies are not based on empirical evidence, nor have they demonstrated any significant reductions in offender recidivism. In fact, some of these policies have unintended consequences, which actually increase the likelihood of sexual offenses. In this book, Wright critically analyzes existing policies, and assesses the most effective approaches in preventing sex offender recidivism. This provocative and timely book draws from the fields of criminal justice, law, forensic psychology, and social work to examine how current laws and policies are enacted and what to-date is known about their efficacy. The team of expert contributors includes Karen Terry, author of Sexual Offenses and Offenders, and others who bring a wealth of insight to the field of sex offense. In response to the failed policies of sex offender laws, this book presents alternative models and approaches to sex offense laws and policies. Wright also explores critical, cutting-edge topics, such as internet sexual solicitation, the death penalty, and community responses to sex offense. Key Features: An introduction and overview of the history of sex offender laws Analyzes the role of the media in sex offense and sex offender policies Examines the political "untouchability" of sex offender laws and their adverse effects Features interviews with victims of sexual assault, investigating their points of views on what kinds of reforms need to be made to sex offender laws Thought-provoking and insightful, Sex Offender Laws serves as a vital resource for policy makers, researchers, and students of criminal justice, law, and social work.

This comprehensive reference by nationally recognized experts provides an interdisciplinary overview of existing knowledge about sex offenders. It provides in-depth coverage of the problem of identification, risk assessment and management, treatment, and legal solutions. It seeks to ensure public safety while at the same time maintaining medical integrity and respect for due process. The book is intended for psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and researchers who work with sex offenders, as well as attorneys, members of the judiciary, and policymakers.

Over the past quarter century Congress, state legislatures and the courts have radically reshaped America's laws dealing with sex offenders in an effort to reduce the prevalence of sex offenses. Most convicted sex offenders must now register with the authorities, who then make information about them available to the public. Possession of child pornography has been made an extremely serious crime often punishable by prison sentences that dwarf those meted out to child molesters, rapists, robbers, and even killers. Federal law now imposes a minimum sentence of ten years in prison for those convicted of using the internet to attempt to lure minors for sex. And the federal government and 20 states have "sexually violent predator" laws that allow the indefinite civil commitment of convicted sex offenders to secure institutions for treatment after they have served their full criminal sentences. All of these changes in sex offender law, as well as numerous others, have been based at least in part on input from psychology, psychiatry and the social sciences. Moreover, enforcement and administration of many of these laws relies to a large extent on the efforts of mental health professionals. However, many questions about this involvement remain largely unanswered. Are these laws supported by empirical evidence, or even by well-reasoned psychological theories? Do these laws actually work? Are mental health professionals capable of reliably determining an offender's future behavior, and how best to manage it? Finally, are experts capable of providing effective treatment for sex offenders -- i.e., treatment that actually reduces the likelihood that an identified sex offender will re-offend? In Justice Perverted, Charles Patrick Ewing poses these difficult questions and others that few in either law or psychology have asked, much less tried to answer. Drawing on research from across the social and behavioral sciences, he weighs the evidence for the spectrum of sex offense laws, to occasionally surprising results. A rational look at an intensely emotional subject, Justice Perverted is an essential book for anyone interested in the science behind public practice.

A comprehensive resource for practitioners working with sexual offenders. Discusses assessments and interventions, as well as providing a comprehensive literature review There are around 10,000 convictions or cautions for sexual offences in the UK each year; early evidence suggests that treatment programmes can halve re-conviction rates Edited by a University of Birmingham team who are world leaders in researching this area; the subject is of interest worldwide, with strong markets in Canada and New Zealand Includes material on managing offenders with developmental disabilities and those with Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder

From the amount of child pornography available in public channels on the Internet, it would be safe to assume that this is mirrored by an increase in the numbers of people accessing such material, but who have not been caught. This book discusses treatment approaches for users of on-line pornography, enabling more focused intervention with those who are seeking help as well as those who have committed offences. Topics covered include : sexual offences and the Internet; cognitive behaviour therapy approaches; and how these approaches might be applied to the specific population. Practitioners will be helped to : discriminate between different client presentations; assess the problem target; draw up an appropriate intervention programme; and evaluate the effects of the implemented programme.