ICTs and child sexual offending: Exploitation through indecent images

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the currently available literature on IIOC offending, with a specific focus on offences associated with possession and downloading of this material. It starts by briefly outlining offence definitions and prevalence, before reviewing the available evidence about victim experiences and impacts. It then examines offender motivations and psychological characteristics, as well as the relationship between possession and potential escalation to contact offending. The final section considers the investigative utility of IIOC, offender collections and related digital forensic evidence. The overall aim of the chapter is to identify the current knowledge gaps and research challenges associated with this category of cybercrime, as well as the implications of the intersection between technology and this form of sexual offending for the criminal justice system.