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Encouraging Self-Identified Pedophiles and Hebephiles to Seek Professional Help: First Results of the Prevention Project Dunkelfeld (PPD)

NCJ Number
228577
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 33 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2009 Pages: 545-549
Author(s)
Klaus M. Beier; Janina Neutze; Ingrid A. Mundt; Christoph J. Ahlers; David Goecker; Anna Konrad; Gerard A. Schaefer
Date Published
August 2009
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Results are presented on the Prevention Project Dunkelfeld (PPD) approach, which aims at recruiting self-identified pedophiles and hebephiles in the community.
Abstract
During the first 3 years of the project a notable proportion of men admitted to being attracted to minors and could be successfully reached via a media campaign. However, up to 45 percent of the study sample of self-identified pedophiles and hebephiles could be encouraged to participate in clinical diagnostics, even though they were not mandated to seek treatment. Regarding a respective criminal history, about half of the interviewees stated that they never had sexual contact with a minor. More than 70 percent of the sample had committed child sexual exploitation through either child pornography and/or child sexual abuse offenses in the past. Future research is recommended on what predicts the motivation of responders, interviewees, participants in treatment, and treatment outcome, in order to determine the extent to which facilities providing treatment will be successful. The methodology of the Prevention Project Dunkelfeld (PPD) was guided by the assumptions that a media campaign would successfully reach self-identified pedophiles and hebephiles and that these individuals would be interested in participating in further diagnostics. This article describes this prevention approach and focuses on the assumption that self-referred Dunkelfeld offenders and potential offenders will seek help in coming to terms with their sexuality and are likely to react upon a media campaign. Figure, table, and references

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