Child Molesters: a Behavioral Analysis for Law Enforcement Officers Investigating Cases of Child Sexual Exploitation

Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis For Law Enforcement Officers Investigating Cases of Child Sexual Exploitation

In cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis

For Law Enforcement Officers Investigating Cases of Child Sexual Exploitation

December 1992 Third Edition

Kenneth V. Lanning Supervisory Special Agent

Behavioral Science Unit Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Academy Quantico, Virginia

Law enforcement investigations have verified tion of the Situational Child Molester. In the that pedophiles almost always collect child child pornography collected by Situational pornography or child erotica. Collection is the Child Molesters, the children might be dressed key word here. It does not mean that up (stockings, high heels, makeup) to look like pedophiles merely view pornography: They adults. The morally indiscriminate child mo- save it. It comes to represent their most cher- lester might collect pornography or erotica of ished sexual fantasies. They typically collect a predominately sadomasochistic theme but books, magazines, articles, newspapers, pho- probably will not save the same material year tographs, negatives, slides, movies, albums, after year. The sexually indiscriminate indi- drawings, audiotapes, videotapes and equip- vidual is most likely to have an extensive ment, personal letters, diaries, clothing, sexual collection; however, the vast majority of it will aids, souvenirs, toys, games, lists, paintings, not be child oriented. His material might ledgers, photographic equipment, etc.—all display a wide variety of sexual activity and relating to children in a sexual, scientific, or perversions, with child pornography being social way. Not all pedophiles collect all these only one small portion. The law enforcement items; their collections vary in size and scope. investigator should always consider the pos- Factors that seem to influence the size of a sibility that any child molester might collect pedophile’s collection include 1) socioeco- child pornography or erotica; however, it is nomic status, 2) living arrangements, and 3) almost a certainty with the Preferential type. age. Better educated and more affluent Because true child pornography is not easy to pedophiles tend to have larger collections. obtain, some pedophiles have only child erotica Pedophiles whose living or working arrange- in their collections. Because it represents his ments give them a high degree of privacy tend sexual fantasies (age and gender preferences, to have larger collections. Because collections desired sexual acts), the collection of any child are accumulated over a period of time, older molester should be carefully examined and pedophiles tend to have larger collections. evaluated. Pedophiles with the economic means are con- Previous research conducted with Carol verting more and more to videotape systems. R. Hartman and Ann W. Burgess identified They are even converting their books, maga- four kinds of collectors: 1) “closet,” 2) “iso- zines, photographs, and movies to videotape. lated,” 3) “cottage,” and 4) “commercial.” The For less than $1,000, a pedophile can have his “closet collector” keeps his collection a secret own video camera and two video recorders, and is not actively involved in molesting which give him the capability to produce and children. Materials are usually purchased duplicate child pornography and erotica with discreetly through commercial channels. The little fear of discovery. “isolated collector” is actively molesting chil- Situational Child Molesters might also col- dren as well as collecting child pornography lect pornography but not with the high degree or erotica. Fear of discovery overrides his of predictability of the Preferential Child Mo- need for active validation and causes him to lester. In addition, child pornography will keep his activity a secret between only himself comprise a small percentage of the total collec- and his victims. His collection may include

23 pictures of his victims taken by him as well as Child pornography can be divided into material from other sources. The “cottage two subcategories: commercial and home- collector” shares his collection and sexual ac- made. Commercial child pornography is that tivity with other individuals. This is usually which is produced and intended for commer- done primarily to validate his behavior, and cial sale. Because of strict federal and state money or profit is not a significant factor. laws today, there is no place in the United Photographs, videotapes, and “war stories” States where commercial pornography is are swapped and traded with other child mo- knowingly openly sold. In the United States it lesters (and sometimes, unknowingly, with is primarily a cottage industry run by undercover investigators). The “commercial pedophiles and child molesters. The commer- collector” recognizes the monetary value of cial child pornography still being distributed his collection and sells his duplicates to other in the United States is smuggled in from for- collectors. Although profit is an important eign countries—primarily by pedophiles. The motive, these individuals are usually active risks are usually too high for the strictly com- sexual molesters themselves. mercial dealer. Because of their sexual and With the exception of technical child por- personal interests, however, pedophiles are nography (see discussion below), the primary more willing to take those risks. Their motive producers, distributors, and consumers of child goes beyond just profit. Commercial child pornography in the United States are child pornography is still assembled and is much molesters, pedophiles, and sexual deviants. more readily available in foreign countries. Child pornography is not a multi-billion dol- United States citizens, however, seem to be lar industry run by organized crime or satanic the main customers for this material. Some cults. offenders collect their commercial child pornography in ways (e.g., photographs of Child Pornography pictures in magazines, pictures cut up and mounted in photo albums, names and de- What the pedophile collects can be divided scriptive information written below, into two categories: child pornography and homemade labels on commercial videotapes) child erotica. Child pornography can be that make it appear to be homemade child behaviorally (not legally) defined as the pornography. If necessary highly experienced sexually explicit reproduction of a child’s investigators and forensic laboratories could image—including sexually explicit photo- be of assistance in making distinctions be- graphs, negatives, slides, magazines, movies, tween homemade and commercially produced videotapes, and computer disks. In essence, it child pornography. is the permanent record of the sexual abuse or Contrary to what its name implies, the exploitation of an actual child. In order to be quality of homemade child pornography can legally child pornography, it must be a visual be as good if not better than the quality of any depiction (not the written word), of a minor (as commercial pornography. The pedophile has defined by statute), which is sexually explicit a personal interest in the product. Homemade (not necessarily obscene, unless required by simply means it was not originally produced state law). Child pornography, by itself, rep- primarily for commercial sale. Although com- resents an act of sexual abuse or exploitation mercial child pornography is not openly sold of a child and, by itself, does harm to that anywhere in this country, homemade child child. pornography is continually produced,

24 swapped, and traded in almost every commu- tection Act of 1984 defines a child as anyone nity in America. Although rarely found in under the age of 18. Therefore, a sexually “adult” bookstores, child pornography is fre- explicit photograph of a 15-, 16-, or 17-year- quently found in the homes and offices of old girl or boy is technical child pornography. doctors, lawyers, teachers, ministers, and other Technical child pornography does not look apparent pillars of the community. There is, like child pornography, but it is. The produc- however, a connection between commercial tion, distribution, and, in some cases, the and homemade child pornography. Some- possession of this child pornography could times homemade child pornography is sold or and should be investigated under appropri- winds up in commercial child pornography ate child pornography statutes. Technical magazines, movies, or videos. The same pic- child pornography is an exception to much of tures are reproduced and circulated again and what we say about child pornography. It often again. With rapidly increasing frequency, is produced, distributed, and consumed by more and more of both commercial and home- individuals who are not child molesters or made child pornography is in the videotape pedophiles; it is openly sold around the United format. This actually increases the odds of States; and it more often portrays females than finding child pornography in any investiga- males. Because it looks like adult pornogra- tion. phy, it is more like adult pornography. It is important for the law enforcement On the other hand, sexually explicit photo- investigator to realize that most of the children graphs of 18-year-old or older males or in prepubescent child pornography were not females are not legally child pornography. abducted into sexual slavery. They were se- But if the person portrayed in such material is duced into posing for these pictures or videos young looking, dressed youthfully, or made by a pedophile they probably know. They up to look young, the material could be of were never missing children. The children in interest to pedophiles. This is simulated child child pornography are frequently smiling or pornography. Simulated child pornography have neutral expressions on their faces be- looks like child pornography, but it is not. It cause they have been seduced into the activity is designed to appeal to the pedophile but it is after having had their inhibitions lowered by not legally child pornography because the clever offenders. In some cases their own individuals portrayed are over 18. This il- parents took the pictures or made them avail- lustrates the importance and sometimes the able for others to take the pictures. Children in difficulty in proving the age of the child in the pubescent or technical child pornography, photographs or videotapes. Particularly diffi- however, are more likely to be missing chil- cult is pornography portraying underage dren—especially runaways or thrownaways children pretending to be overage models being exploited by morally indiscriminate pretending to be underage children. pimps or profiteers. In contrast to adult Unlike child erotica, child pornography pornography, but consistent with the gender requires a child to be victimized. A child had preference of most preferential child molest- to be sexually exploited to produce the ers, there are more boys than girls in child material. Children used in pornography are pornography. desensitized and conditioned to respond as In understanding the nature of child por- sexual objects. They are frequently ashamed nography, the law enforcement officer must of their portrayal in such material. They must recognize the distinction between technical and deal with the permanency, longevity, and cir- simulated child pornography. The Child Pro- culation of such a record of their sexual abuse.

25 Some types of sexual activity can be repressed Incest Detective magazines and hidden from public knowledge; child Child prostitution “Men’s” magazines victims can imagine that some day the activity Missing children Nudism Investigative techniques Erotic novels will be over and they can make a fresh start. Legal aspects Catalogs Many children, especially adolescent boys, Access to children Brochures vehemently deny their involvement with a pedophile. But there is no denying or hiding Listing of foreign sex tours, guides to nude from a sexually explicit photograph or video- beaches, and material on sponsoring orphans tape. The child in a photograph or videotape or needy children provide them with infor- is young forever and the material can be used mation about access to children. Detective over and over again for years. Some children magazines saved by pedophiles usually con- have even committed crimes in attempts to tain stories about crimes against children. The retrieve or destroy the permanent records of “men’s” magazines collected may have ar- their molestation. ticles about sexual abuse of children. The use of adult pornography to lower inhibitions is Child Erotica (Pedophile Paraphernalia) discussed elsewhere in this book. Although the possession of information on missing Child erotica is a broader and more encompass- children should be carefully investigated to ing term than child pornography. It can be determine possible involvement in abduc- defined as any material, relating to children, tion, most pedophiles collect this material to that serves a sexual purpose for a given indi- help rationalize their behavior as child “lov- vidual. Some of the more common types of ers,” not abductors. Personal ads include child erotica include toys, games, drawings, those in “swinger” magazines, video maga- fantasy writings, diaries, souvenirs, sexual zines, and newspapers, and may mention aids, manuals, letters, books about children, “family fun,” “family activity,” “European psychological books on pedophilia, and ordi- material,” “youth training,” “unusual and bi- nary photographs of children. Child erotica zarre,” “better life,” and so on. Erotic novels might also be referred to as pedophile parapher- may contain stories about sex with children nalia. Generally, possession and distribution but without sexually explicit photographs. of these items does not constitute a violation of They may contain sketches or drawings. Ma- the law. terials concerning current or proposed laws For investigative purposes, child erotica dealing with sex abuse; arrested, convicted or can be divided into the categories below. acquitted child molesters; or investigative techniques used by law enforcement are common. Published Material Relating to Children Examples of this include books, magazines, Unpublished Material Relating to Chil- articles, or videotapes dealing with any of the dren Examples include items such as areas noted below. Personal letters Telephone and address books Child development Sexual disorders Audiotapes Pedophile manuals Sex education Pedophilia Diaries Newsletters and bulletins Child photography Man-boy love Fantasy writings Directories Sexual abuse of children Personal ads Manuscripts Adult pornography Financial records

26 Directories usually contain information on Jewelry and personal items where to locate children. Newsletters and bul- Audiotapes letins are distributed by pedophile support Letters and notes Charts and records groups, such as the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA), the Lewis Photographs collected by pedophiles are Carroll Collector’s Guild, and any other simi- often labeled or marked. Charts and records lar group. Manuscripts are writings of the might include astrology or biorhythm charts. pedophile in formats suitable for real or imag- Audiotapes, letters, and notes collected for ined publication. Ledgers and financial souvenir purposes are usually from past child records might include canceled checks used to victims and discuss what the two did together pay victims or purchase pornography or and how much the victims like the offender. erotica. Personal items could even include victims’ fingernails, hair, or underwear. Pictures, Photographs, and Videotapes of Children Examples include children found Miscellaneous This category can include items in used in courting children.

Photography, art, or sex education books Computers and peripheral equipment Photography albums and displays Sexual aids Candid shots Toys, games, and dolls Photocopies of photographs or pictures Costumes Drawings and tracings Child- or youth-oriented decorations Poster and paintings Video and photography equipment Advertisements Children’s television programs or videos Alcohol and drugs Cut-and-paste pictures Digitally encoded images on computer or Costumes include those worn by the of- CD-ROM disks fender and by the children.

Cut-and-paste involves creating new pic- Motivation for Collection tures by cutting and pasting parts of old ones. Seized videotapes should always be viewed It is difficult to know with certainty why or scanned in their entirety because a variety pedophiles collect child pornography and of material, including hard-core child pornog- erotica. There may be as many reasons as there raphy, could be on any one tape. Some are pedophiles. Collecting this material may pedophiles cut out pictures of children from help pedophiles satisfy, deal with, or re- magazines and put them in albums as if they inforce their compulsive, persistent sexual were photographs. Visual images of children fantasies about children. Some child erotica is can be on computer and CD-ROM disks (which collected as a substitute for preferred but un- resemble audio CDs). available child pornography. Collecting may also fulfill needs for Souvenirs and Trophies Examples may validation. Many pedophiles collect academic include the mementos of children listed be- and scientific books and articles on the nature low. of pedophilia in an effort to understand and justify their own behavior. For the same rea- Photographs son, pedophiles often collect and distribute Articles of clothing 27 articles and manuals written by pedophiles in The need to validate their behavior and which they attempt to justify and rationalize have souvenirs of their relationships are the their behavior. In this material pedophiles motivations most overlooked by investigators share techniques for finding and seducing when evaluating the significance of the por- children and avoiding or dealing with the nography and erotica collections of pedophiles. criminal justice system. Pedophiles get passive validation from the books and articles Use of Collection they read and collect. Pedophiles swap pornographic photo- Although the reasons why pedophiles collect graphs the way boys swap baseball cards. As child pornography and erotica are conjecture, they add to their collections, they get strong we can be more certain as to how this material reinforcement from each other for their behav- is used. Study and police investigations have ior. The collecting and trading process identified certain criminal uses of the mate- becomes a common bond. Pedophiles get rial. active validation from other pedophiles, some Child pornography and child erotica are victims, and occasionally from undercover used for the sexual arousal and gratification of law enforcement officers operating “sting” pedophiles. They use child pornography the operations. Fear of discovery or identification same way other people use adult pornogra- causes some pedophiles to settle only for phy—to feed sexual fantasies. Some passive validation. pedophiles only collect and fantasize about The need for validation may also partially the material without acting out the fantasies, explain why some pedophiles compulsively but in most cases the arousal and fantasy and systematically save the collected material. fueled by the pornography is only a prelude to It is almost as though each communication actual sexual activity with children. and photograph is evidence of the value and A second use of child pornography and legitimacy of their behavior. For example, erotica is to lower children’s inhibitions. A one pedophile sends another pedophile a let- child who is reluctant to engage in sexual ter, enclosing photographs and describing his activity with an adult or to pose for sexually sexual activities with children. At the letter’s explicit photos can sometimes be convinced conclusion he asks the receiver to destroy the by viewing other children having “fun” par- letter because it could be damaging evidence ticipating in the activity. Peer pressure can against him. Six months later police find the have a tremendous effect on children; if other letter—carefully filed as part of the pedophile’s children are involved, the child might be led organized collection. to believe that the activity is acceptable. When Some of the child pornography and erotica the pornography is used to lower inhibitions, collected by pedophiles is saved as a souvenir the children portrayed will usually appear to or trophy of the relationships with children. be having a good time. All child victims will grow up and become Books on human sexuality, sex education, sexually unattractive to the pedophile. In a and sex manuals are also used to lower inhibi- photograph, however, a 9-year-old child stays tions. Children accept what they see in books, young forever. This is one reason why many and many pedophiles have used sex educa- pedophiles date and label their pictures and tion books to prove to children that such sexual videotapes of children. behavior is acceptable. Adult pornography is also used, particularly with adolescent boy victims, to arouse them or to lower inhibitions. 28 A third major use of child pornography Characteristics of Collection collections is blackmail. If a pedophile al- ready has a relationship with a child, seducing Important The pedophile’s collection is usu- the child into sexual activity is only part of the ally one of the most important things in his plan. The pedophile must also ensure that the life. He is willing to spend considerable time child keep the secret. Children are most afraid and money on it. Most pedophiles make no of pictures being shown to their friends. profit from their collections. After release Pedophiles use many techniques to blackmail; from prison, many pedophiles attempt to get one of them is through photographs taken of their collections back from the police. The the child. If the child threatens to tell his or her new state and federal laws banning its mere parents or the authorities, the existence of possession will most likely prevent the return sexually explicit photographs can be an effec- of the child pornography. But unless denial is tive silencer. made a condition of treatment, probation, or A fourth use of child pornography and parole, the child erotica may have to be re- erotica is as a medium of exchange. Some turned. pedophiles exchange photographs of children for access to or phone numbers of other chil- Constant No matter how much the pedophile dren. The quality and theme of the material has, he never has enough; and he rarely throws determine its value as an exchange medium. anything away. If police have evidence that a Rather than paying cash for access to a child, pedophile had a collection five or ten years the pedophile may exchange a small part (usu- ago, chances are he still has the collection ally duplicates) of his collection. The younger now—only it is larger. This is a very signifi- the child and the more bizarre the acts, the cant characteristic to consider when greater the value of the pornography. evaluating the staleness of information used A fifth use of the collected material is profit. to obtain a search warrant. Some people involved in the sale and distribution of child pornography are not Organized The pedophile usually maintains pedophiles; they are profiteers. In contrast, detailed, neat, orderly records. There are most pedophiles seem to collect child erotica exceptions, but the collections of most and pornography for reasons other than profit. pedophiles are carefully organized and main- Some pedophiles may begin nonprofit trad- tained. As will be discussed, some pedophiles ing, which they pursue until they accumulate now use computers for this purpose. certain amounts or types of photographs, which are then sold to commercial dealers for Permanent The pedophile will try to find a reproduction in commercial child por- way to keep his collection. He might move, nography magazines. Others combine their hide, or give his collection to another pedo- pedophilic interests with their profit motive. phile if he believes the police are investigating Some collectors even have their own photo- him. Although he might, he is not likely to graphic reproduction equipment. Thus, the destroy the collection: It is his life’s work. In photograph of a child taken with or without some cases he might even prefer that the po- parental knowledge by a neighborhood pe- lice seize it and keep it intact in an evidence dophile in any American community can wind room where he might retrieve at least some of up in a commercial child pornography maga- it when released from prison. One offender is zine with worldwide distribution. known to have willed his collection to a fellow

29 pedophile. Another offender knowing he Use of Computers There is a modern inven- would never get his child pornography back, tion that is of invaluable assistance to the still went to the prosecutor’s office to put his pedophile: the computer. It could be a large magazines in covers and dividers so it would computer system at his place of business or a not be damaged. small personal computer at his home. It is simply a matter of modern technology catch- Concealed Because of the hidden or illegal ing up with long-known personality traits. nature of the pedophile’s activity, he is con- The computer helps fill their need for organi- cerned about the security of his collection. But zation, validation, souvenir records, and to this must always be weighed against his ac- find victims. cess to the collection. It does him no good if he Law enforcement investigation has deter- cannot get to it. mined that pedophiles use computers to Where pedophiles hide their collections organize their collections and correspondence. often depends on their living arrangements. If Many pedophiles seem to be compulsive living alone or with someone aware of his record keepers. A computer makes it much preference for children, the collection will be easier to store and retrieve names and less well concealed. It might be in a trunk, box, addresses of victims and other pedophiles. cabinet, bookcase, or out in the open. The Innumerable characteristics of victims and child pornography might be better hidden sexual acts can be easily recorded and ana- than the erotica. If living with family mem- lyzed. An extensive pornography collection bers or others not aware of his activity, it will can be cataloged by subject matter. Even fan- be better concealed. The collection might be tasy writings and other narrative descriptions found behind a false panel, in the duct work, can be stored and retrieved for future use. under insulation, and so on. The collection is Many pedophiles communicate with other usually in the pedophile’s home, but it could pedophiles. Now, instead of putting a stamp be in an automobile or a camper, at his place of on a letter or package, they can use their business, in a safety deposit box, or in a rented computer to exchange information. Pedophiles storage locker. The most difficult location to can use their computers to locate individuals find is a secret place in a remote rural area. with similar interests. The computer may The investigator should search any area that is enable them to obtain active validation with under the control of the offender. less risk of identification or discovery. Like advertisements in “swinger magazines,” elec- Shared The pedophile frequently has a need tronic bulletin boards are used to identify or desire to show and tell others about his individuals of mutual interest concerning age, collection. He is seeking validation for all his gender, and sexual preference. For instance, efforts. The investigator can use this need to in the December 1983 issue of the North Ameri- his advantage by showing interest in the col- can Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) lection during any interview of a pedophile. bulletin, a member from Michigan proposed The offender might appreciate the opportu- that NAMBLA establish its own electronic nity to brag about how much time, effort, and bulletin board. The pedophile may use an skill went into his collection. electronic bulletin board to which he has au-