Sex Offenders When Laboratories Conduct

Sex Offenders

When laboratories conduct drug screening tests in order to identify drugs that might have been used in sexual assaults, which types of drugs should they screen for?

Drugs and alcohol do not cause sexual assaults. However, substance abuse does factor into the conduct of sex crime offenders to the extent that they act as agents that lower inhibitions and judgment. In that regard, alcohol use is a critical factor because approximately half of all sex offenders suffer from alcoholism. Similarly, screening for other drugs typically associated with reduction of inhibitions or increase of hostility or risk-taking behaviors would be equally important. Therefore, drug screening in connection with sexual assaults should also include testing for amphetamines (and methamphetamine or "crystal meth" in particular) and cocaine. Finally, while marijuana is not necessarily associated with hostility or risk-taking behavior, it should also be screened for because it may be associated with altered judgment-making ability and depression, both of which may contribute to offender behavior and to recidivism among sex offenders.

What are some of the major behavioral characteristics of situational and preferential child molesters?

Generally, situational child molesters live relatively normal lives and do not pursue exploitative opportunities to commit acts of sexual abuse against children. Typically, they are aware that any inclination they may have toward sexual impulses for children are both morally wrong and criminal and they are able to resist their temptations under normal circumstances. However, in particular times of personal stress or in situations where they find themselves with specific opportunities, they may be unable to resist their urges to the same degree that they are usually more able to conform their behavior to moral and legal standards.

In general, preferential child molesters are much more dangerous that situational child molesters, largely because they typically account for more than one-hundred victims before being apprehended whereas situational child molesters are rarely as prolific. Preferential child molesters have specific preferences for children and for children of certain ages. They may purposely position themselves to take advantage of children, such as by pursuing professional employment that allows them close contact with or authority over children.

What are the two occupations in which a person has the greatest danger of being the victim of a violent crime on the job? Why?

The two occupations in which a person is at greatest potential risk of being victimized by violent crime on the job are: (1) taxicab and limousine drivers and (2) proprietors of 24-hour gas stations, convenience stores, and liquor stores. That is largely because taxi drivers work in close proximity to strangers in situations where individuals purposely posing as customers could take advantage of those circumstances for the express purpose of committing robbery crimes against them.