Peer to Peer and Youth Paper is now up

I just pushed a paper to my web site on the Peer to Peer issue raised the other day.  You can find the paper at:  P2P Paper

What are we doing?

Those that know me and my work know I have worked decades to improve supervision of convicted sex offenders. I am, however, becoming frustrated with how we deal with some youth.

Increasingly, I am seeing myopic jurisdictions charging "sexting" cases which clearly fall within the non-predatory behavior (see Sexting Grid for more on that).

But even more frustrating is seeing 15- 17 year old youth being charged as sex offenders for stupidly using P2P to search for 'legal' porn. Often these youth simply use the same venue they use to download music to seek 'legal' porn. When searching for 'age appropriate' material, they unwittingly download exploitative images. If they leave them in the default folder (shared), they are often hit with distribution charges because of our bot system that seeks out exploitative images. While they are technically guilty of possession and 'distribution' of illegal images, where is our collective head in charging them with it?

A significant 'dope slap', some education, and some old fashioned juvenile justice is all that is needed. I'm all for getting the bad guys... but destroying a youth's life because some jurisdictions are too myopic to understand the difference between sex crime and 'youthful felony stupid' is over the top in my opinion.

We need to take a stand as a profession and as those who UNDERSTAND sex offenders. To not do so is to tacitly condone this abuse by the system. Sex offenders scare the devil out of the public (as well they should). But the over-politicization of this is approaching a "Willie Horton" moment.

I'm working on a paper to post on my website. I'm open to other suggestions as to how we can better protect the public. Protecting them from predators is certainly a priority, but protecting stupid youth from being branded for life as a sex offender because of simple, ignorant behavior with technology they don't fully understand seems, to me, to also fall into our responsibilities. If it isn't, why do we write PSI's ?

Good Video by NY DCJS

The Criminal Justice Services Division has created a good video about sex offenders and protecting your family.  I highly recommend it.  The link is:  http://www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us/pio/press_releases/2011-5-27_pressrelease.html   I know the link is a bit long, but it is worth it.  I recommend downloading the HD video (see the link at the bottom of the news release).   The video is in the public domain. 

Nice work NYDCJS !!

Joining Forces Conference

Just had dinner with staff and fellow presenters at the JF conference. I am always impressed with the skills and dedication of so many people working so hard to protect children. It is a pleasure to be a part of this effort and to share with colleagues aligned toward a common goal.

I'm looking forward to the 5 sessions I'm doing here and hope to catch some others when I'm not teaching.

MidAtlantic Attendees File Is Up

Thanks to all the great folks at the MidAtlantic conference. It was a pleasure working with all of you. You tenacity in staying to the "last bell" of the conference was appreciated. I enjoyed talking with the 4 Secret Service Polygraph Examiners after my Deception Detection session. It is always a good time when professionals compare notes! Great bunch of guys... hang in there :-)

To all of you who provide services in MD... thanks for your efforts. It was a pleasure seeing some of you again and I hope our paths cross in the future.

At the Mid-Atlantic Conference

I'm sitting in beautiful Ocean City MD once again.  I'm doing some of my favorite sessions here and looking forward to working with all the professionals who attend this conference. 

Rhode Island Conference

Hi all.  I'm presenting Understanding Sex Offenders in a Digital World, Deception Detection, and Living With The Memories at a conference in Rhode Island today.  I welcome any and all comments from participants and look forward to a discussion with you.