Abstract
This paper explores the issues and widespread impact surrounding child sex offenders (CSO) who commit suicide after learning
they are under criminal investigation. This phenomenon, which has received scant attention in the literature, affects family,
friends, and victims of offenders who may experience a range of conflicting emotions including anger, guilt, confusion, betrayal,
and loss. Involved law enforcement may, likewise, experience a range of complex reactions. Law enforcement personnel are neither
trained nor required to assess offenders’ suicidality. However, awareness of how CSOs are impacted by an investigation may
mitigate the risk of suicide and enhance operational strategies, including officer safety.
they are under criminal investigation. This phenomenon, which has received scant attention in the literature, affects family,
friends, and victims of offenders who may experience a range of conflicting emotions including anger, guilt, confusion, betrayal,
and loss. Involved law enforcement may, likewise, experience a range of complex reactions. Law enforcement personnel are neither
trained nor required to assess offenders’ suicidality. However, awareness of how CSOs are impacted by an investigation may
mitigate the risk of suicide and enhance operational strategies, including officer safety.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s10896-010-9335-3
- Authors
- Tia A. Hoffer, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, Behavioral Analysis Unit – III, Crimes Against Children, FBI Academy, NCAVC, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
- Joy Lynn E. Shelton, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, Behavioral Analysis Unit – III, Crimes Against Children, FBI Academy, NCAVC, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
- Stephen Behnke, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
- Philip Erdberg, University of California – San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
- Journal Journal of Family Violence
- Online ISSN 1573-2851
- Print ISSN 0885-7482