RT Article
T1 Why internet users’ perceptions of viewing child exploitation material matter for prevention policies
JF The Australian and New Zealand journal of criminology
VO 53
IS 2
SP 174
OP 193
A1 Hunn, Charlotte
A2 Prichard, Jeremy
A2 Gelb, Karen
A2 Spiranovic, Caroline
LA English
YR 2020
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1782043535
AB There are claims that the societal appetite for ‘child exploitation material’ is increasing. Yet, Australia’s policy response does not include initiatives to dissuade potential offenders from deliberately viewing child exploitation material for the first time (onset). To critically examine this issue, this paper draws on Situational Crime Prevention theory. It argues that (a) many first-time child exploitation material viewers fit the Situational Crime Prevention construct of the Opportunistic Offender and (b) suggests that current policy overlooks the kinds of non-instrumental factors that increase the risk of onset for this group, including doubts about the criminality and harmfulness of viewing child exploitation material. The paper then empirically examines social attitudes to child exploitation material viewing by presenting the findings of a survey of 504 Australian internet users. Results indicate that a sizeable minority of the participants were: unaware that it is a crime to view certain types of child exploitation material in Australia; and held doubts about the harmfulness of viewing child exploitation material. These findings are used to reflect on how the presence of these non-instrumental factors among ordinary internet users may affect the offending readiness of the Opportunistic Offender. Policy implications are then briefly discussed.
K1 child exploitation material
K1 Opportunistic Offender
K1 Situational Crime Prevention Theory
K1 Internet users
K1 Prevention policy
K1 Social attitudes
DO 10.1177/0004865820903794