Internet Crimes Against Children
Internet Crimes Against Children - Luring/Enticement
By Dr. Frank Kardasz
The luring or enticement of minors by Internet sexual predators is a growing problem. One reason that the scope of the problem is difficult to measure is because current crime data collection methods do not satisfactorily differentiate between Internet sex crimes and other types of sex crimes. Many law enforcement agencies do not have separate categories in their crime analysis databases for Internet crimes against children.
Law enforcement officers are sometimes notified of Internet sexual predators by parents who report their children missing. Such a case occured in Milwaukee in 2005 when a boy there went off with a wanted Internet sexual predator from Phoenix. The man and boy were found in Phoenix several days after the boys mother made the report.
The luring or enticement of minors via the Internet is probably under-reported because some minor victims slip away surreptitiously for discreet sexual encounters and later return but never report the criminal acts. Minors who go away with Internet sexual predators and later return may also be reluctant to report criminal sexual activity because they feel guilty for engaging in conduct that in retrospect, they realize was wrongful and against the advice of their parents.
Children have been killed by Internet sexual predators. Cristina Long of Danbury Connecticut and Kasie Woody of Arkansas were both murdered in separate incidents by Internet sexual predators. We may never know how many of the thousands of children who are currently listed as missing are the victims of Internet sexual predators.
In some instances, law enforcement officers are notified by a wary parent who intercepts the childs activities before a sex act can occur. More parents should take an active role in monitoring the Internet behavior of their children.
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