Investigations, Evidence Link “Kiddie Porn” And Child Molestations

By Bill Fancher and Jim Brown

(AgapePress) – America has seen a rash of child kidnappings and molestations this spring and summer in what seems to be more numbers than in the past. Some experts think the increase in pornography is partly to blame.

Earlier this month, “Operation Hamlet” — an international investigation into a ring of pedophiles who sexually molested children and distributed child pornography over the Internet — resulted in the arrest of 20 adults and the rescue of 45 children from abusive situations. According to reports, many of the adults arrested were involved in the molestation of their own children and sharing of pornographic images via the World Wide Web. Other similar investigations into child exploitation and pornography include “Operation Avalanche,” “Operation Candyman,” and “Operation Artus.” [See Related Links From The Department Of Justice]

From 1988 to 1992, Pat Trueman was chief of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division. In that capacity, he prosecuted many illegal pornography cases. The attorney says there is a link between pornography and molestations.

“Good law enforcement personnel [and] investigators who deal with child molestation or rape cases know to look for child pornography — or adult pornography, if it's a rapist — because there is that link,” he says.

Anti-porn groups have warned of the dangers porn poses for many years — and Trueman says its link to molesters bears that out. “One of the things you always should look for [in an investigation] is pornography because, for example, child molesters oftentimes meticulously catalog their pornography of other victims,” he says.

In addition, Trueman says, perpetrators do not always rely on real “kiddie porn” to incite them. Virtual porn, pornographic comics, and even children's underwear catalogues can trigger molesters to act out their evil fantasies. Trueman and others believe getting rid of child porn will help reduce the attacks on children.

More Education

According to Trueman, changes are taking place in the area of law enforcement investigations of child molestation cases as incidents increase. The former DOJ prosecutor, now with the American Family Association, explains that until recently many law enforcement agencies did not have specialists for these kinds of investigations.

“Many times investigators dealing with these cases are not at all versed in this kind of investigation,” Trueman says. “It might be the first one they've done, or they do them just very occasionally.”

But Trueman says specialists in these types of crimes are essential in preparing cases against molesters because they know to look for pornography as a factor in solving the case. He says the old ways of investigating such crimes were not working.

“You would find a law enforcement officer who's available [and] you'd send him to investigate a child rape situation,” he says. “They not only wouldn't know to look for pornography, but they would try to interview the child himself or herself and blow the prosecution because the way they interviewed the child was inappropriate.”

Trueman says educating special investigators on molesters and their ways will enhance the chances of successful prosecution — and might help curtail the abuses.

(This article courtesy of Agape Press.)