Offenders were selected only if they were making "successful" progress in treatment in order that they might be less likely to distort the descriptions. Offenders were interviewed by their therapist in a community treatment program using a semistructured interview guide. Results suggest that offenders had a special ability to identify vulnerable children, used that vulnerability to sexually use a child, and that sexual abuse was inherently coercive. Many offenders minimized the level of coercion and violence in their statements and systematically desensitized children to touch. The study highlights the implications for prevention of sexual abuse. Tables and 10 references. (Author abstract modified)