This paper describes the experience of mitigation experts in first degree murder cases in the penalty phase of the trial. The first author, who is a sociologist, has worked in capital murder cases since 1988, as a mitigation expert in over 200 such cases. The second author assists in the mitigation process by analyzing mental health and…

Teaching parents and their young children about ways to avoid harm can be accomplished with much success in a group setting. Parents as Teachers of Safety (PaTS) is a multi-family educational group which instructs families on environmental and personal body safety rules, with an emphasis on improving knowledge and skills related to sexual abuse…

Undergraduates (N=1000) were surveyed concerning childhood sexual encounters. Forty-two percent of subjects reported a childhood sexual encounter with another child. High levels of coercion from the other child, homosexual encounters, and encounters with those other than friends predicted a more negative response by the child. (Author/DB)

Describes a seemingly sophisticated, but mostly contrived and often erroneous "false memory" defense, and compares it in a brief review to what the science says about the effect of trauma on memory. Each of 22 of the more commonly used components of this defense is described and discussed with respect to what the science says about them.…

Describes the prevalence of sexual abuse among adolescents (N=938) admitted to residential therapeutic communities for treatment of substance abuse and related disorders. Results indicate that approximately one-third of the sample reported histories of sexual abuse. Prevalence rates were significantly higher for girls than for boys. History of…

College women who did (n=33) and did not (n=56) label their sexual assault experience as rape provided written descriptions of their sexual assaults. From these descriptions we identified eight different sexual assault situations. Women who labeled their experience as rape were most likely to have been assaulted forcefully by an acquaintance,…

This paper compares psychometric test assessments of 39 men convicted of internet sex offences with 39 convicted of contact offences against a specific victim. Higher rates of socially desirable responding were identified in the internet group, as well as higher rates of emotional loneliness and under assertiveness, although the latter two…

This article reports, that in a growing number of districts, school leaders are ranking the threat of sex offenders-some of them the parents of enrolled students--as one of their chief student-safety concerns. That threat, they say, is a primary reason for investing thousands of dollars in a Web-based tracking system that tells school officials if…

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) has emerged as one of the most effective empirically based strategies for instructing individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Four ABA-based strategies that have been found effective are video modeling, visual strategies, social script fading, and task analysis. Individuals with ASD often struggle with…

The article describes a five-step group therapy program for 21 male adolescent sex offenders. Key elements were peer interaction and a system of incentives for therapy. (DB)

This article describes a program entitled "Staying Alive" to help teachers prevent molestation of elementary school children. Child molestation is defined, methods of coercion are described, and survival tips and relevant learning activities are suggested. (Author/MT)

Examines the criminal conviction of Robert Halsey for sexually abusing two young boys on his school-van route near Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Based on a comprehensive examination of the trial transcript, suggests that the credulous acceptance of the "false conviction" legend about Robert Halsey provides a case study in the techniques and tactics…

Describes work in Saint Anne Institute Juvenile Sex Offender Project, which uses alternative techniques in working with juvenile sex offenders in group modality. Discusses theoretical framework noted to be effective in working with juvenile sex offenders. Examines significant concepts such as power, anger, helplessness, and objectification of the…

Three cases of child sexual abuse by child perpetrators are presented showing that sexual abuse of a child by a child may result in the victim becoming a perpetrator. Sexual play between children requires attention to determine whether it is abusive, imitated from prior experience, and potentially transmissible to other children. (Author/DB)

Like other technologies, the Internet is vulnerable to misuse by hostile individuals (flamers), sexual predators, and pornographers. Schools can shield students from these negative influences by using LinQ, a new product that restricts access to certain inappropriate Internet areas. Technology codes of conduct and staff development are alternative…