The Grooming Process of Sex Offenders
Posted by Joseph Doherty on Wed, Dec 14, 2011 @ 12:13 PM
The "grooming" of a victim by a sexual offender is a process whereby the sexual offender gains the victim's trust, breaks down their defenses and manipulates them so that he can perform the desired sexual act. The process of grooming can also involve the victim's support network.
The grooming process of sex offenders is only used with children. It is not used for offenders who engage in exhibitionism, frotteurism, or rape.
The following is a fictionalized scenario that illustrates several aspects of grooming:
Jim and Sharon
"Jim and I often tell ourselves how fortunate we are to have Jack, a retired engineer, living next to us He is always so friendly and helpful, and on more than one occasion has helped us when we were in a jam. And the kids just love him!!! When the sitter once didn't show he volunteered to babysit, brought the cutest little puppy you ever saw for the kids, and it seems he is always available to take the kids to their after school activities when Jim and I are unable to do it. I did become a little unnerved though, when I saw him through the kitchen window, touch my youngest, Maria, on the buttocks as she was climbing out of the pool.....but it probably was just an accident."
In the above scenario Jack has involved the parents, Jim and Sharon, in the process of grooming. He has done this by ingratiating himself with them - being friendly, always being available to help out, etc. He has also endeared himself to the children, taking them to their after school activities, buying a puppy for them. His involvement with the family has also given him time to select a target, in this case the youngest, Maria. It is not enough though to have a target, he also has to have access to the target which, living next door, he has. Given how Jim and Sharon admire him - which their children certainly would know - Jack also has a position of authority in the children's eyes. And he's won the parents and children's trust and respect. Due to this opportunities to be alone with the children open up.
Generally, when a sex offender seeks to groom a potential victim they look for the following:
- Someone who is vulnerable/needy
- Not trusted by others
- Poor boundaries with others
- Will keep a secret
- Low self-esteem
- Few social supports
- Behavior problem
Techniques used variety but threats and intimidation, convincing the children that they are "learning" about sex, convincing the children that it is OK and "everybody does it", getting the children high or intoxicated, using blackmail or a lure - "I lost my dog. Will you help me find him?", are common.
A recent example of this process was contained in a recent article in Sports Illustrated about the assistant coach at Penn State, Jerry Sandusky, who allegedly molested scores of boys:
"The report asserts that Sandusky traded on his status as a Penn State football demigod. Many of the alleged assaults occurred either in the university's football facilities or at football functions. The Nittany Lions program became Sandusky's bait. He brought victims to games at State College, allowed them to attend coaches' meetings, facilitated their meeting players, cast them in instructional videos, and in one case took a boy to the Alamo Bowl, in San Antonio. Sanduskly was charged with 40 counts of various sex crimes, seven of them involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, a felony." (Italics are mine)
Photo: Chicago Man
