Jennifer Coolbear, PhD, C. Psych The Suspected Child Abuse & Neglect (SCAN) Program

Understanding How Children/Youth are Victimized on the Internet: Assessment and Treatment of Child & Youth Victims of Internet Sex Crimes Jennifer Coolbear, PhD, C. Psych The Suspected Child Abuse & Neglect (SCAN) Program

Objectives • How are children/youth victimized via the internet? • Overview of the “Internet Sexual Exploitation Program” • Presentation of a Case study • Highlight current literature and practice themes • Practical recommendations

Child/Youth Victimization • Child/Youth Sexual Abuse Images • Luring & Sexual Offences • Other forms of sexual victimization • Impact on families of child/youth victimization

Images of direct sexual abuse of the child/youth that have been taken and are then distributed on the internet Children/youth whose caregivers have been charged with possession/distribution of child pornography Children/youth exposed to pornography intentionally or accidentally Child sexual abuse images

Luring & Sexual Offences • It is a criminal offense to use a computer system to communicate with • A person under 18 years for the purpose of committing sexual exploitation or incest or sexual assault • A person under 16 years for the purpose of abduction (removal against the will of parent or guardian) • A person under 16 years for the purpose of committing sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, bestiality or indecent exposure • A person for the purpose of committing a sexual assault

Other forms of sexual victimization • Using on-line pornographic images to seduce/groom/desensitize a child/adolescent for the purpose of engaging in sexually abusive behaviour with the child/adolescent • Child/adolescent who has experienced unwanted on-line sexual activity • Peer victimization – images shared between peers – then sent over internet, images taken when youth intoxicated • Sexual contact via web-cam on the internet • Growing list…..

Impact on Families • Distress and emotional upset of knowledge that child/youth has been victimized • Caregiver response to the child/youth • Understanding the nature of the victimization (e.g., internet technology) • Negotiating the “system” – police, CAS, SCAN (medical), assessment, treatment

Examination of an empirically-based service model for the assessment & treatment of child/youth victims of internet sexual exploitation • Funded by the Ontario Victim Services Secretariat – Ministry of the Attorney General • Review literature • Consult with experts in the field of internet exploitation • Provide service to victims and their families – “The Internet Sexual Exploitation Program” • Disseminate knowledge to professionals in the community

Goals of the Study • Improve the standard of care for child/youth victims of internet exploitation and their families • Develop a service model for children and youth as currently there is a paucity of assessment and treatment services to meet the unique needs of this population.

Research Questions • What are the unique characteristics of this population? • What are the assessment and treatment needs of these victims and their families? • What characteristics (victim/victimization) differentiate nature and length of intervention? • What are the broader system responses to these victims, and how can system response be improved?

Review of current literature • Law enforcement investigations • Offender characteristics • Crimes Against Children Research Center – research specific to online-victimization of teens • Specificity of services/unique approach for this population • Prevention strategies for youth on-line • Minimal on how to assess and/or treat victims

Cases Referred to SCAN • Recent cases investigated by police and/or CAS • Child/youth sexual abuse images • Child/youth caregiver charged • Child/youth exposed intentionally or accidentally • No charges but concern for child/youth • Luring & sexual offences

Assessment and Treatment • Medical assessment and treatment • Psychological assessment and treatment

Medical Assessment/Treatment • Medical history taking • Assess for physical symptoms, suicidality/self-harm, depression, acute trauma • Physical examination • Forensic evidence collection • Emergency contraceptive pill • STI treatment • Crisis support • will not prove abuse/assault • can be done at anytime throughout assessment/treatment

Psychological Assessment • 4 sessions • Children/youth and their families will complete demographic forms, standardized measures, and clinical interviews with the project clinician.

Psychological Assessment • Nature of exploitation (details from multiple sources – e.g., parent, child/youth, police, CAS) • Child/adolescent’s overall functioning (home, school, community) • developmental history • History of maltreatment (physical, sexual, emotional, neglect)/trauma history

Psychological Assessment • Self-harm, suicidal ideation • Social problems (e.g., poor peer relationships, social isolation, bullying) • Attentional problems/impulsivity • Stressful events, losses

Psychological Assessment • Relevant contextual history (detailed description of the on-line relationship) • Type of disclosure (no disclosure, voluntary/involuntary disclosure) • Internet use (understanding of the internet, internet use and previous, current internet relationships)

Assessing for risky online behaviour (Ybarra et al, 2007) • Do you talk online to unknown people about sex • Do you visit x-rated sites on purpose • Types of chat rooms (e.g., explicit sexual talk, sexual innuendo, fringe sites) • Do you download sexually explicit images from file-sharing programs • Do you send out personal information to unknown people that you met online

Assessing for risky online behaviour (Ybarra et al, 2007) • Do you use the internet to make rude and nasty comments to others • Do you have unknown people on your buddy/friends list • Do you interact online with unknown people • Do you post personal information online

Psychological Assessment Assessment Measures: • Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-II) – assess general emotional and behavioural functioning • Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) • Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSI/TSCYC/TSCC) • Anxiety • Self-Esteem • PTSD

Following assessment, a feedback session is coordinated with the family • Review assessment findings and any clinical concerns (anxiety, depression) • Provide an overview of therapeutic process of method of understanding the assault / abuse

Treatment • 4-6 sessions, depending on the needs of the victim • based on a TF-CBT approach (trauma focused cognitive-behavioral therapy) that is consistent with other hospital-based treatment programs offering psychological services to children who have experienced trauma. Treatment modified to meet the unique needs of this population. • A psycho-educational component about the risks and impact of Internet use and exploitation is included in these sessions • Parenting/support sessions for non-offending parents.

Case Example • 15 year old Maria • Facebook account – no privacy settings • Stated she lived in the GTA and was having issues with her parents • A “friend” contacted her • Began e-mailing and developed on-line relationship with 35 year old male

Case - Maria • Communicating online for 2 months • Showed up at her house 11:30 pm with van … coerced her into having sex • Parents read diary -called police- not charged because consent issues and age • Perpetrator two young children

Maria’s Assessment Medical Assessment – physical exam, STI testing, pregnancy test Psychological Assessment • Past abuse history • Use of internet in forming relationships • Measures • Consent issues • Disparity between parents perception and teens perception

The chats • Chats may help to understand the methodical progression of manipulation of the relationship • The documented chats may allow one to think that the youth willingly participated and engaged in the discussion – look at it differently • Can be used therapeutically

Maria – 15yrs old – 2 weeks • “if you want I could come get you around 11:30 and bring you back here for a couple of hours” • “I have really fallen for you in a way I have not felt in a long time and it hurts” • “Personally I don’t care about the age difference anymore I am past that, I am not afraid to say I am falling in love with you” • “I forgot to ask what is your whole mailing address? I want to send you some money for the phone and stuff. I will mail it and pretend I am someone from school who owes you money” • “You definitely have been emotionally abused”

Maria • “I really wish I was younger. You know your family and friends will never ever except me. Ever” • “I am going to drop by your house and leave a pack of Plan B…I know we don’t want a baby (at least right now! :-)” • “BTW I have a book you might want to read it is a small pocket book about…you guessed it…sex, It has lots of full colour photos of couples and stuff. You might want to study it and then I will test you”

Luring a modern day grooming? • identify weaknesses, provide support & advice • provides comfort, affection and understanding - Seek out youth who are susceptible to seduction • openly seduce and develop intimate relationships with them, discuss sexual topics • Progress to meet, usually with an expectation of sexual contact

Treatment Issues • Relationship vs. trauma – how does the youth view it • Consent issues • Can youth really consent if they have been groomed • Pressured, coerced or intimidated to engage in sex • Youth may not be able to articulate this when asked by law enforcement • Vulnerability (self esteem, bullying, family issues) … isolation • On-going risky on-line and off-line behaviours • Healthy relationships and internet issues

Themes of Treatment • Grooming process on-line, review emails • Understand intensity of relationships developed on-line & safety concerns • Deconstructing teens’ beliefs about the on-line “relationship” • Deconstructing teens’ beliefs about police and parent reaction • Understanding the function of teens’ deception in relationship • Consent to sexual activity

Consent/Non-forcible Sex Crimes • Many are under-reported because youth may not view it as a crime, or themselves as a victim • Consensual/”voluntary” will be to varying degrees • Young adolescents have little experience with intimate relationships/romance • Lack ability to negotiate effectively with partners about sexual activity • Higher rates of coercive sexual activity • Concentration on more serious cases • Internet – pursue adult offenders 10 years or more older than underage victims (Wolak et al., 2004)

Treatment Themes • Internet safety and risks, even when in place, do not seem to change behaviors (i.e. Friendships and relationships developed online are as real/meaningful as face-to-face relationships) • Perpetrators are not necessarily lying to adolescents about age or intention (“creepy guys would lie, good guys would be honest”) • High levels of trust – sharing secrets early • Biggest risk seems to be losing access to internet/phone/cell – not risks of being sexually exploited or assaulted

Themes cont. • Noticeable difference in the population between children and adolescents • Children vulnerable to: • viewing images/having pictures/videos taken of them • be exploited by those in their ‘real’ life circle • Adolescents vulnerable to: • luring and grooming over the Internet (i.e. Webcams, chats) • be exploited by strangers and those they develop ‘relationships’ with online • Caregiver requires supportive assistance and psycho-education around the impact, prevention and risks of online victimization

Treatment Themes - Caregiver • Common initial response • Take the computer away & no cell phone • Blocking software • Explaining the technology – work with police • Blaming, guilt, responsibility for failing to protect, should have identified • Discomfort in talking about issues • Understanding the issues – revictimization, pictures forever available

Youth on-line themes • Emotionally isolated, abusive/unsupportive homes/peer groups, looking for acceptance, understanding and love • Little experience with intimate relationships – lack mature judgment & have limited emotional control • Interact in chat rooms to compensate for problems they have forming relationships offline (Peter et al, 2005) • Chat rooms are higher risk – live discussions

Target most at-risk Youth(Wolak et al, 2008) • Youths with: • Histories of physical/sexual victimization off-line • conflict with parents • Mental health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety) • Delinquent tendencies • Struggle with social interaction/relationships • Pattern of risky on-line behaviour • Risky off-line behaviours • Sexual orientation • High risk youth in our service: • many have discussed suicide • 2 have had to be formed • Assess for patterns of risky online behaviour

Change Prevention Strategies • “predators/strangers” • “predators lure young people into meetings” • “never give out personal information online” • “don’t have a social networking site or a personal web-page” • (CCRC, 2007)

Prevention Strategies(Wolak et al, 2008) • Explain the Age of Consent • Talk to youth directly about the dynamics of internet-initiated and other non-forcible sex crimes • Direct discussions about seduction on-line and how adults evoke and exploit • Focus on healthy sexual development & avoiding on-line victimization

Prevention Strategies(Wolak et al, 2008) • Focus on interactive aspects of Internet use-talking online about sex to unknown people • Empower youths to report inappropriate sexual discussions • Educate about child pornography & criminal behaviour • Reporting – www.cybertip.ca

Inter Agency Collaboration • Case conferences • CAS • Police • Teachers • Mental health workers • Best Practices Document • Internet Child Exploitation Counseling Program

In Summary • More research to understand victims • Evidence-based assessment/treatment programs are needed • Clinicians need to understand the risks • Clinicians working with high risk youth need to assess for risky online behaviour • Provide evidence-based prevention strategies

Thank you • jennifer.coolbear@sickkids.ca • tanya.smith@sickkids.ca

References • Finkelhor, D., Mitchell, KJ & Wolak J (2000). Online victimization: A report on the nation’s youth. Alexandria, VA: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children • Wolak J, Finkelhor D, Mitchell KJ & Ybarra ML. (2008). Online “Predators” and Their Victims: Myths, realities and implication for prevention and treatment. America Psychologist, 63(2): 111-128. • Wolak J, Mitchell K & Finkelhor D. (2006). Online victimization: 5 years later. Alexandria, VA: National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. • Wolak J, Finkelhor D & Mitchell KJ. (2004). Internet-initiated sex crimes against minors: Implications for prevention based on findings from a national study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 35, 424 e11-e20. • Wolak J, Finkelhor D & Mitchell KJ. (2005a). Child pornography possessors arrested in Internet-related crimes. Findings from the NJOV Study (NCMEC 06-05-023). • Ybarra ML, Mitchell K, Finkelhor D & Wolak J. (2007). Internet prevention messages: Are we targeting the right online behaviours?. Archives of Pedatric & Adolescent Medicine, 161, 138-145

Jennifer Coolbear, PhD, C. Psych The Suspected Child Abuse & Neglect (SCAN) Program