Studies have found that adolescent offenders have many traits in common. They are socially isolated; they have a hard time with socialization and they often feel socially inadequate. They have chronic learning problems, they may have been victimized in the past, they have anti-social traits (which may be a result of being victimized), alcohol or drugs were involved, and psychopathology was an issue before they victimized another. Some studies have found that adult child molesters were interested in abusing others sexually at a young age. This would account for some of the adolescent sexual abuse rates. There have been successful therapies when children, who want to abuse others, are helped at an early age.

The female abuse on young men is not discussed as frequently as male sexual offenders. Boys that have been abused typically do not tell because they feel so embarrassed. A boy feels a devastating sense of shame and tries to compensate for negative feelings about himself. Some male victims just decide to be angry and tough, because they are not going to be hurt again and they do not want to be seen as weak. Male victims often have negative feelings about themselves, they have a hard time trusting others, they have masculinity issues, problems with sexuality, feelings of anger, betrayal, and a deep sense of shame and humiliation. Female child molesters cannot be forgotten when teaching your children safety techniques.

Registered Offenders List offers one of the best child molester databases you can find. Our database offers a list of every sexual offender in your city. After entering your address you will receive detailed photos of the child molester, appearance details, a street address, neighborhood map, aliases, and the complete details of the molester’s conviction. Parents can also sign up to be notified when a child molester moves into their area. Our Red Alert Notifications will deliver all the information to your email and our services are 100% confidential.

Child molesters target specific ages and genders. They may even choose children due to hair color, size, or eye color. Molesters will use manipulation to confuse the child; this confusion gives the molester more control. They may threaten their victims, bribe them, or convince them that they are in love with their molester. Child molesters network with other molesters and they enjoy child pornography. They may show a child the offensive material. Child molesters do not stop and they will continue to find victims. We must all take precautionary steps to protect our children.

Locating sex offenders in your area is really a safety precaution for you and your family. With pictures of the molester(s) in your area you will know who to look out for and who to avoid. Your children will too. If you would like to access some of the most current information on child molesters in your area you can use the database on RegisteredOffendersList.org. Our website also offers Parent Resources, Safety Rules, and Child Safety Resources. The Registered Offender List is a great resource to keep your family safe.

Child molesters that kidnap use a lot of tricks. They will use the “I lost my dog” technique. They may have a fake badge, ask for help of any kind, offer candy or toys, or make any promise they think will work. Some may say that the child’s parents wanted him to pick them up. Developing a code word with your child is a good idea. Molesters will also approach children that look depressed and they can easily pick out victimized children. Teaching children how to be safe and what to avoid is necessary for all children.

If your child is sent pornographic material or asked to meet with an adult somewhere you must immediately contact the police. The police can track these people down. The child molester was not successful with your child, but they will keep working until they are caught. Reporting instances like these can save another child from horrible abuse and maybe even death.

If we told our children to come get us when a situation like this occurs and the parents took over the conversation we could catch quite a few child molesters. Once you have something illegal- a proposition to meet or pornographic material sent by the other user you can contact police. Having possession of child pornography is a felony and the person will be put on the sexual offenders list when they are released from prison. Sending pictures or videos to your children is also a felony. Teach your kids ahead of time how to handle weird instances on the Internet and you may be able to catch a child molester.

Just having child pornography, of any kind, is a felony. Sending child porn to another child is also a felony. If your child is sent a video or any pictures that pornographic by nature you should contact the police. Do not delete the items off the computer, because the police will need the information.

A child that has been sexually abused needs the help of a professional. Children that do not get help often have some severe problems later in life. Some examples include depression, anorexia, bulimia, alcohol and drug abuse, promiscuity, early pregnancy, cutting, and suicidal ideation. Childhood sexual abuse causes indescribable pain for the victim. Victims need their parents to stand up and fight for them, to be patient with them, and they need understanding. Professional intervention can and will make a huge difference in the lives of these innocent victims. Read about catching child molesters.

Children will have some instant behavioral changes and more may come as time goes on. I big hint that your child is being molested by someone you know is the child’s response to them. If they do not want to be around them, they beg not to have to go, they act fearful, or their personality changes while in another adult’s presence there may be a problem.

• Sleeping Problems-Not wanting to sleep alone, night-mares, fear of the dark.


• Stomach Problems-Stomach pains, or illness, that occurs frequently with no apparent reason.


• New Friend-If your child is talking about a “new friend’ that is older; you may think it could be an imaginary friend. If your child says they have secrets with this older friend and cannot tell you what they are you should be concerned. You should explain that it is okay to tell Mommy or Daddy, but be aware that the child may have been told that something bad would happen if they told. Reassure them and be patient.


• Gifts Appear-If new gifts, items, or money suddenly show up you need to ask where they came from. Watch your child’s reaction to your question closely.


• Selective Areas of Fear-If your child does not want to see or be left alone with certain people you should pay attention and start asking questions. The child might also be opposed to being left at certain places because their abuser is there. If your child’s normal personality disappears with certain people or places there may be a problem.
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• Fear At Home-Child suddenly has fear of being home alone or has new fears about home.


• Fear of Monsters-A new fear of monsters could be a sign.


• Mood Swings-Crying, anger, sudden rage, withdrawal, excessive worry/anxiety symptoms, and fear can be a sign of abuse or other things.


• Large Changes in School Performance-If your child’s school performance drops or if their interactions with their peers changes suddenly there may be a problem.


• New Sexual Knowledge-If you child suddenly has new words for their private parts, engages in sexual play with dolls or other children, encourages other children to touch private parts, or if they start inappropriate kissing or touching then you have a clear sign that someone somewhere is teaching your child these things.


• Sudden Changes in Eating Habits-Loss of appetite, trouble eating or swallowing, anorexia, bulimia, or compulsive eating.


• Spacing out-Inability to concentrate, daydreaming, or in their own world.


• Regressive Behavior-When an older child suddenly starts sucking their thumb, bed wetting, or wanting to sleep with their parents.


• Some Adolescents Signs-Adolescents can start cutting, burning themselves, or start using drugs or alcohol to cope. They start to self-destruct. They many start dressing in a manner that hides their sexuality. They may try to become unattractive to others.


• Anxiety-Sudden anxiety with peers, authority figures, or adults, especially men.


• Bowel Movements- Toilet-trained children that start having accidents are a clear warning sign.


• Seductive Behavior-If a child starts acting in a seductive manner, starts hinting at or initiating sexual acts, or acts like they have an increased knowledge of sex there may be a problem.


• Depressive Behavior-crying episodes, isolation, suicidal ideation, or discussing suicide. Feelings of being “no good” are also a sign.


• Efforts to Please-A sudden effort to please those around them or gain excessive attention from adults.


• Becoming a Perpetrator-If your child is trying to influence other children to performing sexual acts, begins touching other children, or is inappropriately kissing a child there may be a problem.


• Excessive Anger-Anger, aggressive behavior, violent rages, and new hostile behaviors are also a sign.

The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following were present:

1. the person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others


2. the person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror. Note: In children, this may be expressed instead by disorganized or agitated behavior

The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in one (or more) of the following ways:

1. recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event, including images, thoughts, or perceptions.
   Note: In young children, repetitive play may occur in which themes or aspects of the trauma are expressed.


2. recurrent distressing dreams of the event. Note: In children, there may be frightening dreams without recognizable content.


3. acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring (includes a sense of reliving the experience, illusions, hallucinations, and dissociative flashback episodes, including those that occur on awakening or when intoxicated).
   Note: In young children, trauma-specific reenactment may occur.


4. intense psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event physiological reactivity on exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.

Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness (not present before the trauma), as indicated by three (or more) of the following:

1. efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the trauma


2. efforts to avoid activities, places, or people that arouse recollections of the trauma


3. inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma


4. markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities


5. feeling of detachment or estrangement from others


6. restricted range of affect (e.g., unable to have loving feelings)


7. sense of a foreshortened future (e.g., does not expect to have a career, marriage, children, or a normal life span)

Persistent symptoms of increased arousal (not present before the trauma), as indicated by two (or more) of the following:

1. difficulty falling or staying asleep


2. irritability or outbursts of anger


3. difficulty concentrating


4. hypervigilance


5. exaggerated startle response

Duration of the disturbance (symptoms in Criteria B, C, and D) is more than 1 month.

The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

• The average child molester will molest fifty girls before being caught and convicted.


• A child molester that seeks out boys will molest 150 boys before being caught and convicted and he will commit at least 280 sexual crimes in his lifetime.


• The standard pedophile will commit 117 sexual crimes in their lifetime.


• Most sexual abuse happens between the ages of 7 and 13.


• There are over 491,720 registered sex offenders in the United States.


• 80,000 to 100,000 of the above offenders are missing.


• Molesters known by the family or victim are the most common abusers. The “Acquaintance Molester” accounts for 70-90% of reported cases.

Pedophiles also prefer one gender and they typically do not deviate from their preferred choice. There are both heterosexual and homosexual pedophiles, but there are far more heterosexuals pedophiles than homosexuals. In fact, the ratio is 11:1. Pedophiles will make every possible effort to be around children. They choose professions that will allow them to interact with children in their preferred age range. Child molesters have taken positions as youth pastors, boy-scout leaders, coaches, teachers, child-care providers, counselors, and employees at establishments that serve children. They slowly get to know their targets. They make friends with the child and start the “seduction” process. They try to become the child’s confidant and often offer email addresses, home addresses, and phone numbers. Child molesters remain patient and often have several children they are trying to seduce at the same time. This type of seduction is all about gaining trust with the child. Children are not attracted to their abusers, but they do start to trust them as a friend. Basically, these molesters get to know the child so well that when they do finally molest their victim they have information to blackmail them. For example, “Don’t you tell or I’ll tell your parents this…” They get to know their victims so well that they know how to manipulate them and confuse them. They essentially become stalkers, but they are not obvious. Pedophiles usually try to establish a great reputation in their communities. Once they have gained a good reputation people do not really pay attention, because they are trusted. This is why the seduction and stalking goes unnoticed.

Pedophiles like to collect things that relate to their sexual perversions. Some examples include pornographic pictures, pornographic videos, and books on sexuality. These items are often introduced to future victims. Remember when we talked about seduction? Well pornographic material is introduced and discussed. This interaction can later be used as blackmail, i.e. “I will tell your parents” or they can use it to confuse the child. Child molesters could say, “Well you acted like you were interested in…so I just tried to show you…it is your fault.” Other items include sex toys, photographic equipment, items for a private darkroom, and any items that children, in the preferred age range, would relate to.

Pedophilia and Types of Pedophiles
Pedophilia is not a curable condition. Pedophiles are sexually obsessed with children and their goal is to get close to children of their preferred age range. Pedophiles have obsessive-compulsive characteristics and they live within the sexual fantasies they create. Some actually believe that molestation is wanted by the children and that the children enjoy it. However, most know, deep down, that what they are doing is wrong; they just can’t stop.
Pedophiles can be married, single, male, female, bisexual, heterosexual, or homosexual. No matter what their sexual preferences are, pedophiles are often also attracted to adults. A pedophile that is attracted to both children and adults is called a Regressed Offender because they bounce back and forth between an adult sexual relationship and criminally assaulting children. There are two main types of pedophiles, the situational and the preferential. Situational Pedophiles will go after any group that is defenseless, such as the elderly, the mentally-challenged, the handicapped etc. This type prefers children, but will go after another group if they feel stressed. Preferential Pedophiles like children in a distinct age group and they typically do not deviate from this age group. Both pedophile groups have different sub-types:

The Situational Pedophile has three subtypes:

1. The Regressed Pedophile has the most balanced life of all the subtypes. They seek female victims and they enjoy the seduction process. This subtype will use child pornography as part of the seduction process and they use the Internet to find vulnerable victims. Female children are preferred, but they will go after a defenseless person if the stress in their life becomes too much. Regressed Pedophiles have many potential victims in mind. They take their time and move on the child when they feel safe. Although this type of pedophile is more stable than the others, they usually have insecurity issues and they have a hard time having successful interactions with other adults. This subtype prefers oral and vaginal intercourse.


2. The Indiscriminate Pedophiles are calm and often charismatic. They are more dangerous because they will try anything sexually and their main concern is their sexual fun at the victim’s expense. The seduction process is long and tedious. Great care is taken to bond with their future victim. The Indiscriminate Pedophile enjoys child pornography and they want children as their victims. They try to get to know friends of their victims and those children are usually targeted as their next victim.


3. The Immature Pedophile comes across as strange or weird. This type is more naive and less manipulative than the other groups. Their victims come from their own neighborhoods and although they have a preferred age range, they will deviate from it. They are happy fondling their victims, but they prefer anal sex and oral sex. The Immature Pedophile is less stable than the other subtypes and they tend to have a lot of stress to deal with.

1. The Seductive Pedophile is also known as the fixated type. They are usually homosexual men that prefer male victims. Their seduction process involves buying the future victim gifts or helping them with various things. They became a friend the victim can lean on. As the bond grows sexual innuendo is slowly brought in to the relationship. The may show them pornographic pictures or videos. The aim to confuse their victim about sex and then once the abuse begins they blame the victim. They often have friends that are also pedophiles and they network. This network uses the Internet to find victims and search for pornography. They have a list of potential victims and they know where to find them.


2. The Sadistic Pedophile is grotesque when it comes to sexual preferences. They severely abuse their victims and sometimes kill them. They search for the perfect victim and they will travel long distances to gain access to the victim. They stalk and then attack and/or abduct their victim. Their abductions are typically designed to confuse the parents and the authorities. This type of pedophile is usually intelligent and middle to upper class. They like to be on the move and they like change.

Also, read about child molester characteristics.