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3.8: Sex Rings

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    215437
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    Sex Rings

    Six rings are defined as an organization in which at least one adult is involved sexually with several underage victims. These rings may have multiple young victims, may have multiple offenders, use fear as a controlling tactic and may include bizarre or ritualistic activities. Sex rings may be dedicated to the production of pornography, prostitution, molestation, the sale or trafficking of children for sexual purposes, using children to recruit other children, and the coercion or intimidation of children into sexual activity. Sex trafficking has recently become more broadly known throughout our country and the world. This is in part due to increased activity, and in part due to media coverage of such practices. Young girls and teenagers are especially attractive to sex traffickers. Within the United States, sex trafficking increases dramatically anytime there is a large sporting event, conference or other situation when adults may be visiting from out of town. Typically, young girls are sold or rented as companions to older men, to use however they desire. The same girls may be transported by the sex ring from city to city, with the outcome always the same. These children may be kidnapped, enticed, or originally in agreement; once they are part of the sex ring, their chances of escaping are minimal. Although we think of this usually as involving young girls and older men, that is not always the case; every imaginable scenario is available.

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    The Internet

    Incidence of child pornography has dramatically increased with widespread use of the Internet. Pornography is more readily available now than at any other time in history. Exposure to pornography has been found to desensitize individuals, enabling many to play out their fantasies in a seemingly harmless way. However, these fantasies often evolve to include actual people in a person-to-person situation, not just pictures. Child pornography includes sexually explicit material with children as the subject, and can include reproductions of the child’s image, voice, or handwriting. It may be available electronically, as negatives or pictures, in magazines, on video tape or audio tape, handwritten notes, and any other way of communicating. People who use child pornography may also use child erotica (any souvenirs, letters, toys, games, sexual aids or other material relating to children); this can lead to pornography and other abuses. Many pedophiles have significant fantasy lives involving pornography and erotica, which can lead to involvement of luring children into actual sexual meetings.

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    3.8: Sex Rings is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.