Internet Child Pornography: Causes, Investigation, and Prevention(Global Crime and Justice)

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the problem of Internet child pornography that spotlights the connection between technology and behavior, presenting practical suggestions for reducing this pervasive problem. The role of the Internet in fueling the problem of child pornography is enormous. Prior to the Internet, child pornography was typically locally produced, of poor quality, expensive, and difficult to obtain. United States' law enforcement officials were able to boast in the late 1970s that the traffic in child pornography had virtually been eliminated. The advent of the Internet in the 1980s made vast quantities of child pornography instantly available in the privacy of the viewer's home. Today, child pornography largely exists because of the opportunities provided by the Internet. Internet Child Pornography provides a comprehensive overview of the issue by describing the problem of child pornography, examining the impact of the Internet, and presenting a profile of users. With this foundation in place, the authors then address responses to child pornography and shed light on the complexities of dealing with criminal activities that are perpetrated largely online—for example, the fact that people behave differently in online environments than they do in other areas of their lives. The book examines prevention efforts designed to reduce access to child pornography, law enforcement responses designed to catch known offenders, and treatment responses designed to reduce reoffending.

Table of Contents:
Series Foreword by Graeme R. Newman 1. Before the Internet 2. Enter the Internet 3. Who Are the Offenders? 4. Investigating Child Pornography 5. Impacts of Internet Child Pornography 6. Prevention: Offenders and Victims 7. Prevention: The Internet and Related Technologies 8. Conclusion References Index

About the Author :
Richard Wortley is director of the Jill Dando Institute of Security and Crime Science at University College, London, UK. Stephen Smallbone is professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.

Review :
Internet Child Pornography: Causes, Investigation, and Prevention may, at times, seem a curious cross between police procedural manual and clinical text. However, that mix ultimately provides a solid and accessible foundation for anyone interested in this challenging and often-bypassed forensic field. Written by two criminal justice and science experts, this book offers an in-depth study rich in statistical evidence on Internet child pornography (ICP), encompassing various regions including Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East. . . . The book's extensive references and statistics are useful for both researchers and practitioners. Its background sections elaborating on the history of child pornography both online and offline and the demographics of offenders and victims are helpful to undergraduate students. Summing Up: Recommended.