Detective and Task Force Officer Indianapolis Metro Police Department and U.S. Secret Service
In 2021, offender I.A. came onto federal radar: he had been caught exploiting a child while on probation for molesting a relative. Digital and social media evidence revealed an offender who sought online sexual contact with juveniles. While the new exploitation offenses were pending, jail video calls and text messages revealed a much more serious pattern of criminal activity. From federal pre-trial detention, I.A. had coerced his underage girlfriend to engage in acts of exploitation with his relatives. His end goal, however, would prove even more sinister: I.A. was attempting to traffic his girlfriend for his own financial benefit. This study will focus on the importance of mining social media evidence and always watching jail communications. We will also explore the dangers posed by manipulative sex offenders, even when they aren’t pedophiles.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the importance of examining an offender’s entire social media content in the assessment of dangerousness, emphasizing the valuable insights gained from a comprehensive review.
Recognize the necessity of consistently monitoring jail communications, exploring the reasons behind this practice and its role in maintaining security and preventing illicit activities.
Explore various methods employed by abusers to manipulate victims into acting against their own interests, gaining insights into dynamics of coercion and psychological control.
