Patterns of Grooming Among Registered Child Sex Offenders

Abstract

Abstract The practice of grooming among the child sex offending population has been studied for decades, with a major gap in knowledge regarding basic relationships between grooming strategies and characteristics of the offender and the victim, relationship status, and offense characteristics. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between individual and relational characteristics of child sex offenders, their associated victims, and the presence of environmental and victim grooming. Research has consistently lacked a standard definition of what grooming constitutes, and this has been a point of concern throughout studies. For this dissertation, an expanded conceptualization of grooming, amalgamated with existing theoretical and conceptual frameworks was used, to highlight that the concept of grooming does not need to be hindered by the parameters that a definition might impose. Grooming types were broken into two categories, environmental and victim. The conceptualization was synthesized using the Precondition Model, an existing theoretical model by Finkelhor (1984), along with the conceptualizations of grooming derived from Craven, Brown and Gilchrest (2006), and Leberg (1997). Data were obtained from the State of Minnesota’s publicly accessible predatory offender database. This dissertation looked at whether or not significant relationships existed between types of environmental and victim grooming strategies and offender and victim characteristics (e.g, race, age), relationship attributes (e.g, known vs. unknown), and offense characteristics (e.g, penetration, sexual touching). Also examined, was whether or not the total number of grooming strategies used by an offender (total environmental, total victim, and total grooming strategies) was influenced by offender and victim characteristics, relationship status, and offense characteristics. Chi Square analysis, binary logistic regression, Quasi-Poisson regression, and Conway-Maxwell Poisson regression analyses were used to examine relationships between available child sex offender and victim demographics, relationship attributes, offense characteristics and grooming (i.e., strategies used by the offender, total number of grooming strategies used). Quasi-Poisson regression analysis was used to look at the total number of grooming strategies used and whether or not they were associated with demographic or relationship attributes. Chi Square analyses were also used to examine the relationship between environmental and victim grooming strategies. Some of the meaningful results for environmental grooming strategies included, using a position of authority. Whites were more likely to use a position of authority than non-Whites. Using a position of authority as a grooming strategy was also more likely to occur if the child victim was 5 years of age or younger. Kidnapping was more likely to occur if the offense included at least one victim who was unknown to the offender. Non-whites were more likely to use a public space. Breaking into a residence was more likely to occur if the offender was non-White, and in cases where there was at least one unknown victim. Some of the significant findings for victim grooming strategies showed that use of pornography was more likely to be used if there was at least one unknown victim reported. Offenders were more likely to use a computer as a grooming strategy if there was at least one male victim (same-sex). Using force was more likely to occur is the offender was non-White, the victim(s) was aged 6 through 17, and the victim(s) was female. Exposure was more likely to be used by whites, and if the victims included at least one male. Non-white offenders were more likely to use threats/coercion/manipulation. Non-white offenders, and African American offenders were more likely to use a weapon. A false pretense was more likely to be used by non-White offenders, and offenders whose victims were female. Using an accomplice as a grooming tactic was used more by non-White offenders, and offenders whose victims were females. Scholars (Quinsey 1977; Canter, Hughes, & Kirby 1998; van Dam 2001) have tended to focus on the notion that child sex offenders can be anyone from any walk of life. What has gotten lost amongst the studies focusing on child sex offenders as a whole, and the etiology, and the motivations behind offending, are the commonalities found in child sex offending (i.e., the process and importance of grooming). Further, there has been a gap in information about whether or not basic demographic, relationship, and offense characteristics are associated with grooming. Overall, the findings indicated that there is much to be learned when focusing on how one commonality in child sex offending is associated with basic offender and victim characteristics, relationship attributes, and offense characteristics. The findings showed that based on demographics of offenders and victims, relationship status, and offense characteristics, as well as the total number of grooming strategies used, differences in grooming strategies used do exist. The findings show that while yes, child sex offenders can come from any walk of life (i.e. race, class, age, gender), that focusing on a commonality (as opposed to the whole population) shows variations within the population.