What is the profile of child exploitation material offenders?

Child exploitation material (CEM) is sexually abusive images of children that are typically disseminated via the internet. This paper reviews recent literature to establish a profile of those who view or collect CEM. CEM offenders are predominantly male, white, with an average age of between 35 and 45 and they are often single. They also tend to be better educated and are more likely to work in professional occupations than other sexual offenders. CEM offenders tend to be less assertive, less dominant and less socially confident than other sexual offenders and show higher levels of sexual deviancy. They are also more likely to sexually fantasise about children. They tend to have few previous convictions and are at low risk of reconviction. This study will help law enforcement and corrections practitioners to target resources towards this offending group.