The National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction

• 44 percent of respondents reported that forbidding access to computers, the Internet, andInternet-enabled devices is an effective deterrent.Some agencies justified the forbidden Internet access by comparing child pornography to drugaddiction. In drug treatment, one of the basic strategies used is to remove the stimulus, settings,and situations that contributed to the addiction. A drug addict could move to a newneighborhood, change social settings, avoid drug users, and avoid the settings which trigger thedesire to use drugs. Child pornography offenders don’t have those options, short of going intoseclusion. As offenders participate in the daily routine of shopping, going to work, and going outto eat, they encounter children and are thrown back into situations that can stimulate theiraddiction. Access to computers in their homes again provides the means to fall back intooffending.Incapacitating Child Pornography Offenders (examples: chemical castration, longerincarcerations, and more restrictive movement methods while on parole)Among NDIC interviewees:• 67 percent of respondents reported that it is unknown what effect incapacitation has onchild pornography offenders and their recidivism.• 14 percent of respondents reported that chemical castration is not effective.• 14 percent of respondents reported that longer incarcerations may be effective incapacitation. Treatment of Child Pornography OffendersAmong NDIC interviewees:• 94 percent of respondents reported that treatment is available for child pornographyoffenders.• 48 percent of respondents reported that they are uncertain about the effectiveness oftreatment.• 33 percent of respondents reported that they believe treatment is ineffective.Agencies stated that successful treatment depends on a myriad of factors, including the age of theoffender, length of treatment, type of treatment, the self-control of the offender, and theavailability of a support network to supervise the offender. Polygraphs are recommended tosupplement the treatment program and possibly increase its effectiveness. Cook County, Illinois,was reported to have a “vibrant” sex offender treatment program.RecommendationsThe top three recommendations among NDIC interviewees are the following:• Enact longer mandatory minimum sentences for child pornography offenders.• Require a federal law that mandates all ISPs to establish child pornography filters,regulates their recordkeeping, and obligates them to report child pornography to lawenforcement.• Increase law enforcement capability by allocating more funding, training, and personneldedicated specifically to child pornography investigations.D-14