Predator Patrol Crestview Chapter - NWFL

10/26/2017

05/10/2017

Daniel Lee Rucker you are now admin on both pages!

09/05/2016

What is the profile of a child mo**ster? An average child mo**ster will offend 200–400 times before being caught, if ever. The vast majority of offenders do not get caught, and they have no criminal records. According to the FBI, only one out of ten cases of child s*xual abuse is reported to law enforcement.

09/05/2016

The vast majority of child mo**sters are male, and most s*xual abusers were s*xually abused as children.

Rather than appearing to be “monsters,” perpetrators usually try to be very charming and friendly. After gaining widespread trust, over time, some eventually even head nonprofit organizations of various kinds dealing with youth, giving the mo**sters not only easy access but also free rein.

Child mo**sters tend to rationalize their s*xual interests and validate their behavior. They tend to show an excessive interest in children, and often seduce children with attention, affection and gifts. They lie and manipulate, typically very skillfully.

09/05/2016

It is normal for children to learn early on that their survival depends on adults. Besides fulfilling the emotional and physical needs of children, adults are bigger and stronger. Children are instructed to respect and obey adults, but the exceptions to this need to be clearly taught as well.

Teen/adult child mo**sters exploit their size and status to influence and control a child’s behavior, enticing the child into s*xual activity. Clever and experienced child mo**sters lower a child’s inhibitions by gradually seducing them, easily exploiting a child’s natural curiosity and the lack of prevention education that a particular child may have.

09/05/2016

Even children who are getting attention and affection at home still appreciate it from others in their lives. It is important to realize that all children, even those from “normal” homes, are at risk from a mo**ster’s seduction techniques, if they have not been trained how to deal with them. Although all children are at risk, child mo**sters particularly seek out shy and naive children; children with disabilities; and children who are experiencing loneliness, emotional neglect or strong feelings of alienation. Children who are not educated about child mo**sters are the most vulnerable of all.

In addition, since large numbers of children are now being raised in single-parent families, this is seen as advantageous by child mo**sters. Many working parents are overly desperate for readily available babysitters and those offering extra free attention to their children. Pedophiles master manipulative skills and use them most effectively on troubled children by first building up the child’s self-esteem, appealing to their need to be heard, understood and valued.

Children who are not educated about child mo**sters are the most vulnerable of all. Showering their prospective victims with attention, offenders may also offer treats, trips to desirable places that children enjoy, or special privileges. Once a child has accepted many “kind” offers from the mo**ster, it becomes increasingly more difficult for the child to assert him- or herself and refuse the mo**ster’s advances, which tend to get more confusing very gradually.

09/05/2016

Once child mo**sters have chosen their potential victims, they work hard at patiently developing relationships with them. Since this grooming process can sometimes go on for years, it is common for child mo**sters to cultivate many prospective victims at a time. A large number of predators believe that what they are doing is not wrong, and that being intimate with a child is actually “healthy” for the child. After extended mo**station, children and preteens can actually grow attached to their offender and become jealous when the offender’s attention goes to others who are younger, once they have reached a certain age. Their entire lives have been colored by the abuse.

09/05/2016

Much information about how mo**sters operate has been gained by interviewing incarcerated offenders. The perpetrators invariably explain how they identify their potential victims by assessing their vulnerability as well as the opportunity to offend. The gullibility and naivete of the children are main factors considered by offenders when selecting their victims. They choose those whom they ascertain can be manipulated into a vulnerable situation, and then the children’s vulnerability is further exploited.

It is extremely hard to stand up to a mo**ster if a child has not been proactively prepared beforehand to do so. Offenders often progressively test their victims to see their reactions, by getting physically too close for comfort with them, by making somewhat suggestive comments or “off-color” jokes, or by roughhousing with them. They make deliberately confusing statements like, “Sometimes friends/family will help each other and touch each other.” Predators commonly first begin to touch private parts of the victim’s body by brushing up against them “accidentally on purpose.” If confronted, the perpetrators have a ready excuse like “I was just kidding” or “it was an accident.” When the victim does not stop the predator’s incremental advances, this is viewed by the offender as a signal to progress further.

09/05/2016

An offender may put added pressure on the victim if he senses that there is still potential to mo**st, by saying something like “You’re hurting my feelings by saying no.” When children are mo**sted, they are left enormously guilt-ridden. Even though what happened to them was not their fault, they still feel like it was.

Children are also left deeply confused, as they may often feel like they cooperated if they enjoyed both the attention as well as the physical sensations that come with the mo**station. This is one major reason why it is difficult for children to disclose that they were preyed upon, as they may not even understand what they experienced until many years later. They are usually left feeling “dirty” and intensely ashamed, largely blaming themselves for the most intimate type of predation that they were lured, tricked, and sometimes threatened into enduring.

Once a child has become a victim of a particular predator, the re-victimization can often take on a repetitive and ritualistic nature. When the mo**station continues over long periods of time, the child may often cope by essentially separating the offender into two different people when dealing with his or her “uncle & monster,” “older brother & rapist” or “youth group leader & predator,” for example, while watching his or her perpetrator parade around, respected and above reproach.

09/05/2016

Once a child has become a victim of a particular predator, the re-victimization can often take on a repetitive and ritualistic nature. When the mo**station continues over long periods of time, the child may often cope by essentially separating the offender into two different people when dealing with his or her “uncle & monster,” “older brother & rapist” or “youth group leader & predator,” for example, while watching his or her perpetrator parade around, respected and above reproach.

If predators are ever caught by adults unfamiliar with how offenders operate, the mo**sters typically and quickly claim either that the child was the seducer, or that it was the first time that they ever did anything like that, and provide some “plausible” excuse for why it happened just that one time. It is standard practice for offenders to express great remorse, insisting in a very convincing way that they feel terrible about what they did, and of course, they promise that they “will never do it again.”

As people who genuinely want to make this world a better place, we try very hard to give people the benefit of the doubt. We strive to not speak badly about people. And we believe that people can repent for their wrong deeds. Pedophiles know this, and they take advantage of our sincere efforts.

This is why it is important for us to learn and to teach others about the things you never wanted to know about child mo**sters.

09/05/2016

One S*x Offender's Strategy

The following offending strategy was used against Suzie. It is a common strategy, with many variations. It is not the only strategy used by the offenders in our midst, but it is a darn good illustration of the fact that s*xual offences are premeditated, predatory acts of manipulation, deceit, intimidation and careful planning. They are not usually acts of s*xual impulsivity. Understanding this will help you to know that you are not responsible for your victimization. You were manipulated into a vulnerable position and your vulnerability was exploited. You are without blame.

Step 1:
Identify the potential victim.
Assess vulnerability and opportunity.

The offender will identify the potential victim well before initiating a s*xual offence. Offenders use s*xual fantasies and day dreams to rehearse possible offending scenarios. When these fantasies are accompanied by ma********on, the inclination to proceed with the offence will be strengthened.

Few people realize that they have been chosen as a potential victim during this beginning stage. Personal appearance is not a factor in victim selection. Appearing to be provocatively or seductively dressed is not the issue. The potential victim is selected because she or he is seen by the offender as vulnerable, and because the offender sees an opportunity to offend without getting caught. Do you get this? The problem exists with the offender, not with you.

Vulnerability and opportunity to offend are the main reasons for selecting a victim.

S*xual offences are primarily a crime of power -- of domination. The desire for control, power and domination is the numero uno motivator. S*xual gratification is a lesser consideration. The sense of power comes not only from the violent act itself, but from the charge that comes from manipulating and controlling another human being throughout the whole process -- very serious mental pollution. In the s*x offender, the desire for domination and power becomes linked with s*xual gratification.

The vulnerability of the potential victim is evaluated by the offender. The offender will consider whether the victim appears to be in dire need of attention, affection, acceptance or approval, to determine whether these needs can be exploited. The offender will observe who is close to the potential victim, to evaluate the risk of getting caught or exposed. Gullibility and naivete are considered. Offenders will assess whether there is opportunity to safely isolate the potential victim and to commit a s*xual offence, undisturbed. It is a manipulative powerplay, right from the beginning.

The fantasy life of the offender is the forum for offence planning. The details are worked out, and contingency plans are made. Again, the potential victim will usually be aware of none of this. Deception is the name of the game.

Jake saw Suzie as a shy, quiet child. At nine years old, she was sometimes withdrawn and lonely. He saw her as mentally and emotionally vulnerable, and he was right. He saw opportunity -- her parents were often out of the home socializing. It was easy for him, being a family friend, to offer his baby-sitting services. He presented himself as clean, articulate, sincere, mature and reliable.

Step 2:
Establish positive rapport with the potential victim.

Offenders aren't necessarily strangers who appear out of the blue to commit the crime. Many offenders know their victims socially, or are members of their family. The opportunity for ongoing contact is already established in these instances. Offenders take advantage of opportunities to interact with the potential victim in order to assess vulnerability and to evaluate the opportunity to offend.

Some victims blame themselves for not realizing the con job that they were being subjected to: "I should have seen it coming. I should have known better." Have you blamed yourself in this manner?

Let's debate the thinking mistakes that are behind this self-blaming. For starters, it assumes that you have a level of ability to handle life, that borders on perfection and being able to read minds. It also assumes an ability to know the future. Is this reasonable? It further assumes that you are responsible for someone else's actions.

It is not only children who are taken to the cleaners by accomplished con artists, but teenagers and adults too. The manipulative skills of the average s*x offender are sophisticated. Who among us cannot be conned? Certainly not moi! You? Really? Kick that thinking error around the block a few times until it leaves you alone. You aren't responsible for the calculating, deviant maneuvers of a sophisticated con artist. You do the best you can -- just like the rest of us. Armed with understanding, you will do better in the future.

Offenders using this strategy will flatter, pay special attention, and generally do what can be done to be seen as wonderful and attentive by the potential victim. That is their objective during this stage of the offending strategy.

Step 3:
Test the victim.

The offender will now test the vulnerability and defense responses of the potential victim. At this stage, actual victimization begins.

In the case of Suzie, Jake had prepared for this stage by spending time with Suzie, by playing with her, making her feel special -- stage managing things so that she anticipated his visits eagerly. He then introduced the idea of playing house, which they did, initially in an appropriate manner. Suzie enjoyed these activities and participated enthusiastically. Jake then tested Suzie. He brought in adult videos to watch with her, having her sit beside him and cuddle -- "Let's play mummy and daddy." He engaged her in kissing, assuring her that it was part of the game. Suzie's victimization had begun for real.

Suzie began felt uneasy about what was happening. She enjoyed the closeness, the attention and some of the physical sensations, but she also felt that she was doing something bad. She continued to participate -- trapped into cooperation by her baby-sitter. She did not find it easy to stand up to Jake. He was banking on that. Suzie's participation in the game convinced her that she was to blame for what happened next.

S*x offenders may test victims with off-colour jokes, getting physically too close for comfort, by touching, or by making suggestive remarks. They may try intimidation, persuasion or guilt-tripping to get the victim to take risks or put themselves into vulnerable positions -- just to see how they will react. Have another drink. Loosen up. Don't be such a prude. You're hurting my feelings. The offender wants to find out how to control the victim, and to experiment with ascending stages of control. Accidentally touching the victim's body is common - accidentally on purpose that is. If confronted, there will be a ready excuse: I was just kidding. It was an accident.

When the victim does not stop the action, it is a signal to progress. If possible, the victim will be engaged in s*xual foreplay. This is seen by the offender as license to offend. It can be mistakenly seen by the victim as cooperation in the criminal act that follows. This leads to enormous guilt. That's the con. Many offenders manipulate a victim into s*xual situations in which they are suddenly out of their depth. Embarrassment and fear of rejection combine to ensure silence or ineffectual protest. The offender is now in charge.

Step 4:
Isolate the victim.

When the offender is assured of being able to control the victim, the offence is simply a matter of isolating the victim. Here again, the victim may not even realize the danger, having been conned into a false sense of security, or being so fearful of rejection and embarrassment, that danger signals are ignored.

Jake was able to isolate Suzie with no difficulty. She was his captive in the baby-sitting situation.

Physical isolation is arranged in parked vehicles or empty homes - any place that provides security for the offender. Psychological isolation is arranged through the testing phase. Many offenders are excellent at improvising.

Step 5:
Victimize.

Victimization takes many forms. Everyone handles these situations in the best way that they can. It is traumatic in every sense of the word. It can be so traumatic that the victim goes into shock and cannot do anything but submit. Some people mentally and emotionally retreat from the psychological and physical violence. They watch the assault from outside of their body. This is called detaching, dissociation or splitting. Children will often use this kind of retreat from the horror of the moment.

Some people cooperate with their victimization - it is a means of survival, often misunderstood by themselves and others, to mean that they wanted the assault, or that victimization has not occurred. It can leave the victim confused, uncertain and prone to shame and secrecy. To make matters more difficult, the relationship between the victim and the offender may be one of love or affection, as well as victimization. Some children who have been s*xually abused by a parent experience this love-fear-shame-hate confusion. It makes for a secrecy-maintaining mental set.

S*xual victimization occurs when an offender has achieved a measure of psychological and physical control. The average person of any age is truly unprepared for this. There is no such thing as a perfect way of handling it. Whatever it was that you did to get through those horrifying moments - good for you. Really.

Suzie remained silent and non-resistant when Jake s*xually assaulted her. Nothing in her previous experience had prepared her for this. She froze. That was the very best that she could do.

Step 6:
Ensure Secrecy.

An offender's biggest fear is of being exposed - of being caught and held accountable. Threats, violence and bribery may be used, but there are trickier methods too.

Jake chose a trickier way. He simply carried on with Suzie as if all was well and normal. In doing so, he created in her a sense of disbelief about what had happened. Combined with her state of shock, the s*xual assault was like a dream to her. He continued to give her special attention, to stick to the established routines and rhythms of the baby-sitting job. By doing so, he communicated this: "Everything is normal."

Suzie took refuge in the normalcy which returned as quickly as the horror had come. Jake's manipulative prowess had succeeded. She kept the secret.

Offenders try to convince themselves that nothing deviant has happened. They often lie easily and with conviction if confronted. Soon after Jake was convicted with s*xual assault against Suzie, he said this: "I thought I was in my girlfriend's house."

Step 7:
Re-victimize.

Repeated victimization of the same person by an offender does happen. Child s*xual abuse literature often documents the repeated victimization of a child by the same offender. So do our newspapers - almost every day.

S*x offenders do not usually stop offending on their own. They surely don't ask for help very often. It is a mistake to think that a s*x offender will stop offending all by himself or herself. The tendency is to continue - even after being caught when the opportunity arises. If not caught, stopped and given specialized treatment, the average adolescent s*x offender will commit 380 s*x crimes in the course of a lifetime, according to a recent study.

Re-victimization can become a ritual. The offender will signal the beginning and the end of the victimization event by certain gesture, voice inflection, or other behaviour. These signals separate the victimization experiences from the rest of life, which will proceed without disruption.

Children are especially vulnerable to re-victimization. Rituals of entrance and exit from the victimization episodes will support their sense of unreality about the abuse, and will increase the likelihood of splitting, of having a clear mental boundary between two different worlds. The offender may be like two separate people to the child victim, for example, daddy and monster.