The nature and extent of youth sextortion: Legal implications and directions for future research.

Sextortion, the threatened dissemination of explicit, intimate, or embarrassing images of a sexual nature without consent, is an understudied problem. Despite a recent increase in reported incidents among adolescents in the United States, little is known about the nature and extent of sextortion among this population. The current research explores sextortion behaviors among a national sample of 4972 middle and high school students (mean age = 14.5) for the purpose of illuminating how many youth are targeted, and understanding various characteristics of the incident (including who was involved, what offenders wanted, what offenders did, and who targets told). About 5% of youth reported that they were victims of sextortion, primarily by people they knew. Many of those targeted did not disclose the incident to adults. Implications for future research and the law are discussed.

Dating Violence Among Chinese College Students: Unaided Victims and Legal Lacunae.

This research draws on literature review and case analyses revealed that the main reasons for Chinese dating violence's high prevalence are the long-term influence of patriarchy and gender culture and low recognition and awareness of the issue among students. Current Anti-domestic Violence Act does not apply to dating violence rendering victims devoid of preventive skills or relief recourse critiqued. Research exploring the lack of education on intimate partner violence in colleges has made students oblivious to the risks. Finally, the review provides detailed recommendations on expanding the practical scope of the Anti-domestic Violence Act to include dating violence and provide judges with clarification on the relevant elements of a dating relationship and cooperation of the legal system and education system in preventing dating violence.

[Trauma and memory-A contribution to the current debate in law and psychotherapy]. / Trauma und Erinnerung ­ ein Beitrag zur aktuellen Debatte in Recht und Psychotherapie.

The recall of memories of past events, experiences and emotions is a complex process. When experiencing traumatic events, as is the case with sexual violence, a host of additional complexities and difficulties arise. This becomes especially important in court cases which rely mostly or exclusively on the testimony of the victim, where the problem of the fallibility of memory takes center stage. Some research studies emphasize the possibility of inducing, altering or suppressing memories, especially in the context of psychotherapy. This has led to the unfortunate reality that the testimony of victims who have undergone psychotherapy is often considered to be unreliable. This in turn can lead to the impression that a decision has to be made between treatment of the adverse effects of traumatic events and maximizing the chances for a conviction of the perpetrator in court. This article introduces some central concepts of our current understanding of memory and gives an overview of the relevant scientific literature and debate. Following this, it examines the dilemma as it pertains to the different groups of all involved parties (i.e., victims, members of the judiciary and psychotherapists). Lastly, it proposes a framework of how to approach a solution to this problem by focusing on research in critical areas, expansion of therapy guidelines and documentation procedures as well as communication of these efforts to all parties involved.

Beyond roofies: Drug- and alcohol-facilitated sexual assault.

ABSTRACT: Substance use in victims of sexual assault, whether voluntary or involuntary, changes the aftermath and recovery process significantly, affecting the way memories are processed and recalled, the chances of developing significant mental health complications, and the disclosure reactions that the survivor receives. Clinicians must understand these differences in order to provide the best possible care to survivors. This article provides an overview of these topics, detailing some of the nuances of interviewing, testing, and the physiology of memory formation and how that affects the outcomes of prosecution in these crimes.

Digital sextortion: Internet predators and pediatric interventions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Sextortion is defined as the act of coercing people into sending explicit images of themselves and subsequently blackmailing victims with the public release of said images. Prosecutions of sextortion cases involving minors have increased almost two-fold in the past 5 years. The purpose of this review is to explore the literature regarding the behavior of both victims and perpetrators, the effects on victims, and the support resources available for clinicians, victims, and parents. RECENT FINDINGS: Sextortion begins as an unassuming request for personal pictures and quickly escalates. Minors targeted by predators fear both punishment by guardians and the social consequences that follow the release of their explicit pictures. This cycle of victimization endangers minors and may lead to mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. Recently, sextortion cases have risen to the forefront of national attention through the mainstream media with celebrities revealed as both perpetrators and victims. This higher visibility of sextortion highlights the importance of reviewing recent research regarding minors and their online behavior and the tactics of perpetrators. SUMMARY: Sextortion, an extreme form of cyber abuse, endangers minors and may lead to anxiety and depression. Pediatricians should be familiar with the concept of sextortion and discuss its dangers and available resources with parents and minors.

Before Saying "I Do": Legal and Policy Considerations for Facilitating Clarity on Human Trafficking and the Protection of Children in Albania.

Data available on victims of human trafficking in Albania does not appear to point to a significant problem of human trafficking in the country. For example, from the years 2016 to 2018, 61 persons were officially determined to be victims of human trafficking, in a context where the average population for that period was 2,871,978 persons. However, beneath this representation of an ostensible average level of trafficking in Albania are signs which seem to be suggestive of a more serious problem in the country. Reports, for example, indicate that authorities have sometimes associated trafficking with a transnational element, while challenges have continued to be posed to the identification of those involved in forced begging, particularly unaccompanied children, street children, and children crossing borders. In addition to highlighting and assessing evident challenges that exist in the identification of real and potential victims of trafficking and the gaps that exist in the protection of children and vulnerable groups in law and in practice, this report provides clarity on the meaning of human trafficking and what could be done to provide a clearer picture of victims of trafficking in Albania. As Albania is being considered for accession negotiations in respect of entry into the European Union, the time is opportune to address challenges and gaps to the prevention and response to trafficking particularly given the European Commission's concerns on human trafficking and child trafficking in Albania.

Prosecutor Preference for Forensic Nurse Testimony: Outcome of Expanding a Forensic Program.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to evaluate the impact of using forensic nurse examiners for patients with trauma on prosecutors' preference for testimony in criminal court. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of a database of 562 subpoenas received from January 2012 to December 2017 was conducted for patients with trauma seen in a level 1 trauma center with a comprehensive forensic nursing program. RESULTS: The prosecutors' preferences in 453 of the 562 subpoenas received by the Forensic Nurse Examiners program involving a patient with trauma were analyzed. The prosecutors preferred the use of the forensic nurse examiner alone in 441 of the 453 cases (97.4%), with a decrease (100% to 2.7%) in preference for physicians testifying in criminal court after the expansion of our forensic nursing program compared with previous years before the program expansion. DISCUSSION: The quality of the expanded Forensic Nurse Examiner program was validated by an increased prosecutor preference for forensic nurse examiner testimony in criminal court as the program matured over the years.

Child's Play or Sexual Abuse? Reviewing the Efficacy of the Justice Framework in Dealing with Child on Child Sexual Abuse in the United Kingdom.

This literature review appraises how the justice system of the United Kingdom deals with child on child sexual abuse allegations. It is crucial to consider the impact of minor sexual abuse within the community. Sensationalized reporting of sex crimes demonizes offenders and unintentionally hides some perpetrators by not representing children can cause harm. Cases where children demonstrate sexual agency are confusing and uncomfortable to appropriate blame. A freedom of information request to the Metropolitan Police uncovered 5,500 minor sex abuse allegations in England and Wales between 2011 and 2014, including, 4,000 physical assaults and 600 rape allegations. Officials caution these figures only represent a small proportion of known sexual abuse cases but the full extent of the problem is yet to be seen. Children are being exposed to explicit imagery far beyond their developmental age causing a blurring of the lines between normal sexual curiosity, harmful behavior, sexual deviance, and abuse. Evidence suggests societal failings and technological advances have created vulnerabilities from which new and dangerous sexual norms have evolved. Therefore, this paper reviews the justice, welfare, and restorative justice frameworks to explore the efficacy of the justice system in dealing with child on child sexual abuse in the UK.

Protective and Supportive Injunctions for Children Exposed to Sexual Abuse: The First Data from Turkey.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) requires multidisciplinary approach by forensic, social, and medical services, thus Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) have been established to evaluate CSA cases in Turkey. At CACs the social needs of children are assessed by social workers. Protective and supportive injunctions (PSIs) are considered at each step of evaluation and are proposed to child courts. This study aimed to evaluate PSIs at a local CAC, which is one of the leading CACs in Turkey. The study group consisted of children and adolescents exposed to CSA admitted to Izmir CAC between April 2014 and April 2015. Socio-demographic characteristics, social investigation reports, psychiatric reports, and proposed PSIs were evaluated. The rate of social investigation necessity was 28.3% (n = 113), and the rate of being proposed for at least one PSI was 24.3% (n = 97). The most common proposed injunctions were maintenance care injunctions (n = 47; 48%) and counseling injunctions (n = 46; 47%). The rate of proposed PSIs was significantly higher in adolescents, incest cases and abuse types including penetration than in the other groups. This is the first study to evaluate PSIs in the child protection system. Our results provide data about the risk groups that need PSIs among the victims of CSA cases.

Vitriolage (vitriolism) - a medico-socio-legal review.

Vitriolage (acid attack) involves an intentional act of violence in which any corrosive is thrown onto the face and body of a person with the intention of disfiguring them. The most common type of corrosive used in these attacks is sulfuric acid (oil of vitriol) hence the name "vitriolage". Sulfuric acid is a strong acid/corrosive and has a toxic nature that is capable of causing bodily injuries leading to damage to mucous membranes, tissues and skin with blindness, burning, and scars often leading to significant disfigurement with temporary or permanent disability. The main reasons for acid attacks are marriage refusal, rejection of love proposals, dowry issues and male aggression. Acid attacks have horrendous physical, social, psychological and economic effects on victims. This review will delineate the various legal provisions relating to acid attacks with special reference to the recent Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act of 2013 which addressed the issue of these attacks specifically by making it a separate offence in the Indian Penal Code under sections 326 A and B. The Bangladesh Acid Offences Prevention Act 2002 and Acid Crime Control Act, 2002, and legislation and policies combating acid attacks in Cambodia, Nepal and Pakistan will also be mentioned. Additionally, the paper will discuss the role of the judiciary in South Asia by focusing on other landmark judgments and decisions and throw light on the campaign in India namely "Stop Sale Acid" aimed at stopping the unrestricted sale of acid. Finally, further suggestions are proposed to assist in combating this heinous crime.

Perceptions of plea bargaining in cases of elder financial abuse.

The present study investigated perceptions of plea bargains in elder financial abuse. Approximately 78-90% of felony convictions are the result of plea bargains, yet very little work examines the public's perceptions of it. Additionally, elders lose an estimated $2.6-36.5 billion dollars each year to financial abuse and exploitation. Participants were recruited from Mturk (N = 74) and completed a mixed-factors 2 (Amount of Money Stolen: $5,000 vs. $50,000) x 2 (Relationship of Victim and Perpetrator: son vs. caretaker) x 2 (Type of Sentence: reduced jail sentence vs. probation) x 2 (Participant Gender) design. Amount, relationship, and sentence were within-participant factors, while gender was between-participant. It was found that there were main effects of amount, sentence, and relationship between victim and defendant such that participants showed a preference for plea bargains when the amount in question was lower ($5,000 vs. $50,000), when the sentence given was harsher (a reduced jail sentence vs. probation), and when the defendant was the victim's son (vs. a caretaker).

Gross Negligence Manslaughter in Healthcare: Time for a Restorative Justice Approach?

This article explores the merits of employing a restorative justice approach in cases of gross negligence manslaughter involving healthcare professionals, in line with the recent policy turn towards developing a just culture in addressing episodes of healthcare malpractice within the National Health Service in England. It is argued that redress for victims and rehabilitation of offenders should operate as key values, underpinning the adoption of a restorative justice approach in such cases. It would also be vital that a structured pathway was designed that established suitable protocols and safeguards for both victims and offenders taking account of problematic issues such as the informality of the process, power asymmetries between parties, and the context in which the offence took place. Taking all such matters into account, we propose that consideration be given to establishing a pilot involving the use of restorative justice in cases of gross negligence manslaughter involving healthcare professionals, which would be subject to judicial and stakeholder oversight to ensure transparency and accountability, which in turn could inform future policy options.

Boundary-making in the medico-legal context: examining doctor-nurse dynamics in post-sexual assault forensic medical intervention.

A key dimension of the institutional response to sexual assault is the forensic medical examination of a victim's body conducted for purpose of documenting, collecting and testifying to corroborative evidence. Drawing upon in-depth interviews with forensic examiners and forensic nurse practitioners in one region of England, this study addresses a gap in the existing research on medico-legal processes, and critically examines the nature and dynamics of the relationship between doctors and nurses involved in this intervention. Using an analytic framework based on Thomas Gieryn's notion of 'boundary-work', we explore how this historically gendered dyadic relationship is experienced and understood in a context influenced by both medicine and law. We demonstrate very clear boundaries demarcating (i) physicians as experts and nurses as non-experts in the collection and representation of medical evidence, and, (ii) physicians as equated with technical competence and nurses with 'caring' duties. We conclude by positing implications that may stem from these professional relations with respect to sexual assault evidence, professionals and victims.

[Victims of Acts of Violence during the Procedure of the Victim Reparation Law - Characteristics of the Affected, Acts, Perpetrators and Predictors for the Period Until Claim of Help Provided by Law]. / Opfer von Gewalttaten im Verfahren nach dem Opferentschädigungsgesetz.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Coping with psychological trauma plays a central role in victims of acts of violence. The Victim Reparation Law (in German: Opferentschädigungsgesetz, OEG) provides services for the reparation of participation. To further improve the care of the affected persons, the characteristics of the victims were determined in relation to the acts and the perpetrators. METHOD: 312 OEG-files of adult victims were sighted. On the basis of a system of categories, demographic data, trauma specific and health-related characteristics of the victims, relevant characteristics of the perpetrators and the violence, as well as predictors for the time difference between the violent act and the application were determined. RESULTS: Mostly women (71%) were affected by acts of violence. 49% of the affected persons suffered from physical and 87% from psychological impairment (64% of these from a posttraumatic stress disorder). 55% of the acts of violence were sex crimes, 47% were bodily injuries and in 44% additional psychological abuse existed. The perpetrators were often connected to the victims. 42% of the offenses concerned domestic violence. Time difference between the act of violence and the request for help which is provided by law variated between 0 and 52 years. 50% made use of help within one year, further 15.2% within five years. In 34.3% of cases, time difference was longer than 5 years. In case of serial and severe traumatizations, depression and close connections between victim and perpetrator help provided by law was called for only late. CONCLUSION: Many victims of acts of violence acts are psychologically traumatized. In order to prevent a traumatization from becoming a permanent health disorder, the offering of early evidence-based specialist or psychological acute therapy (e. g., in trauma outpatient clinics) ought to be optimized.

Maltrato infantil: aspectos jurídicos en México.

In Mexico, the complexity of the comprehensive care of a girl, boy or adolescent who is the victim of any form of child abuse requires the necessary legal knowledge for comprehensive management. Physicians probably lack sufficient knowledge of the laws to understand and correctly address the legal aspects immersed in the comprehensive care of this population group. Considering that child abuse has been characterized as a world-wide medical-social-legal problem, it is necessary to know the essential legal mechanisms to protect minors who are victims of it and understand the legal status of their families and of the probable aggressor. The purpose of this article is to present the existing legal framework in Mexico and the actions of world organizations in this area. It is necessary for the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States to be the basis on which legal behaviors related to child abuse, crime investigation and administration of justice are founded, as well as for international agreements on the subject, which have been signed by the government of Mexico, to be adhered to.

En México, la complejidad de la atención integral de una niña, niño o adolescente víctima de cualquier modalidad de maltrato infantil requiere el conocimiento jurídico indispensable para su manejo integral. Los médicos probablemente no tienen un conocimiento suficiente de las leyes para entender y atender correctamente los aspectos legales involucrados en la atención integral a este grupo de la población. Considerando que el maltrato infantil ha sido catalogado como un problema médico-social-legal de alcance mundial, se hace necesario el conocimiento de los mecanismos jurídicos indispensables para proteger a los menores que son víctimas y entender la condición legal de su familia y del probable agresor. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar el marco jurídico existente en México y las acciones en este rubro de las organizaciones mundiales. Se precisa que la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos sea la base en la que se fundamenten las conductas legales vinculadas con el maltrato infantil, la investigación de delitos y la administración de justicia, así como los convenios internacionales sobre el tema, los cuales han sido suscritos por el gobierno de México.

PUBERTY VS AGE: ON THE ISSUE OF A WARNING SIGN OF A VICTIM OF NON-VIOLENT INTERCOURSE WITH A MINOR.

The purpose of the study was to identify the most optimal sign of a victim of non-violent sexual intercourse with a minor based on the analysis of approaches to the definition of such a sign in the criminal legislation of different countries, as well as the doctrinal provisions of medicine and jurisprudence. In the process of research, such methods of scientific knowledge were used as: a dialectical approach, a comparative law method, general logical methods (analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, generalization), as well as a dogmatic method. The study of criminal legislation of a number of foreign countries and proposals expressed in criminal law science allowed to identify the main approaches to the definition of the sign of a victim, the presence or absence of which should have criminal law significance for qualifying the act as non-violent sexual intercourse with a minor. Such approaches are: 1) the age approach, according to which a person who has not attained a certain age is recognized as a victim; 2) the medical-physiological approach, which involves reaching a victim of puberty; 3) the mixed approaches: a) cumulative, providing for a person to reach puberty and a certain age; b) alternative, providing for a person to reach puberty or a certain age. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are analyzed. It was concluded that there is no universal approach to determining the most optimal sign of a victim of non-violent sexual intercourse with a minor, since all the considered approaches have both advantages and disadvantages. A legislator in each particular state should independently determine which approach to use, the age of sexual consent to establish, taking into account the peculiarities of the mentality, traditions, culture, priorities of criminal law protection. Moreover, when choosing an age or one of the mixed approaches, it would be advisable to raise the issue of differentiating the age of sexual consent of boys and girls.

Effective Reparation for the Guatemala S.T.D. Experiments: A Victim-Centered Approach.

Discussion of reparations for U.S.-Guatemala STD experiments of the 1940s and 50s should be informed by a range of international and U.S. reparation experiences, so that features that impair the effectiveness of repair are avoided, and features that enhance effectiveness of repair are emulated. Two features have contributed to the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of repair elsewhere but have not been critically examined in relation to the Guatemalan experiments: Whether experimental subjects or their families have the opportunity to participate in reparations processes, and whether any group of experimental subjects is intentionally denied recognition. Three advantages of victim participation are explored, and a critique provided of one narrow delimitation of victims. Even if political and moral failings ultimately prevent reparations for Guatemalan experimental subjects, an emphasis on effectiveness and victim-centeredness should nonetheless shape reparations for other, future victims of human rights abuses in experimentation.

Do Anti-Bullying Laws Reduce In-School Victimization, Fear-based Absenteeism, and Suicidality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Youth?

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are at heightened risk for bullying and other forms of in-school victimization. Anti-bullying laws are a potential policy mechanism for addressing this issue, yet there has been little investigation of the impact of such policies for this population using generalizable samples or quasi-experimental designs. The current study explores whether the presence of state anti-bullying laws predicts lower likelihood of bullying victimization, fear-based absenteeism, in-school threats or injury with a weapon, and suicidality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning high school students in the United States. Based on Youth Risk Behavior Survey data across 22 states from 2005-2015, coupled with data about the presence of general and enumerated anti-bullying laws that include sexual orientation as a protected class, this study analyzes this topic using a quasi-experimental design (linear difference-in-difference models). The results indicate that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning youth (particularly boys aged 15 or younger) experienced less bullying victimization in states with general or enumerated anti-bullying laws. There was modest evidence of a reduction in fear-based absenteeism among boys in states with such laws. However, there was little evidence of a relationship between such policies and in-school threats or injuries or suicidality. Further, lesbian, bisexual, and questioning girls' likelihood of victimization, absenteeism, or suicidality was generally not related to the presence of anti-bullying laws. The results suggest that general and enumerated anti-bullying laws may help reduce bullying victimization for gay, bisexual, and questioning boys.

[Minor Victims of Violent Acts in the Context of the Victim Reparation Law]. / Minderjährige Opfer von Gewalttaten im Verfahren des Opferentschädigungsgesetzes.

Objective: A descriptive analysis of victim compensation applications for children and adolescents as well as sociodemographic and trauma-specific information concerning victims and perpetrators. Method: We did analysis of 100 victim-compensation application files based on a self-developed category system. Results: The files included solely interpersonal trauma, 59 % of which are type II trauma. The most frequent form is sexual violence. The perpetrators stem mostly from children's homes or peripherals. 79 % of the victims received a diagnosis of a mental disorder, most often posttraumatic stress disorder. Conclusions: Sexually abused children and adolescents make up the majority of the target population in OEG-related trauma outpatient units. Such outpatient units should therefore offer a specific expertise in treating sexually abused children and adolescents.

Detection of elder abuse: Exploring the potential use of the Elder Abuse Suspicion Index© by law enforcement in the field.

There are no known instruments to aid law enforcement officers in the assessment of elder abuse (EA), despite officers' contact with older adults. This study aimed to identify: 1) officers' perceptions and knowledge of EA, 2) barriers in detecting EA in the field, 3) characteristics officers value in a detection tool, and to explore 4) the potential for officers to use the Elder Abuse Suspicion Index (EASI)©. Data was collected from 69 Connecticut officers who confirmed that barriers to effectively detecting EA included a lack of EA detection instruments, as well as a lack of training on warning signs and risk factors. Officers indicated that the important elements of a desirable tool for helping to detect EA included ease of use, clear instructions, and information on follow-up resources. Approximately 80% of respondents could see themselves using the EASI