THE PERSONALITY OF THE CRIMINAL AS AN ELEMENT OF THE CRIMINAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF A CHILD

Abstract

The article explores the personality of the offender as a key element of
criminalistic characteristics of child sexual abuse attempts, one of the most acute
and pressing issues of modern times. It highlights that the relevance of the topic is
driven not only by the increasing number of such crimes, including the
involvement of children in the production of child pornography, but also by the
transnational nature of these acts, which have spread due to the active use of
internet technologies. It emphasizes that criminalistic characteristics are not only
a system of information about the crime but also a practical tool for law enforcement officers, enabling them to propose hypotheses, plan investigative
actions, evaluate evidence, and predict offender behavior. Special attention is
given to the correlations between elements of criminalistic characteristics, which
give it predictive significance. The article identifies key characteristics: adulthood
(predominantly aged 18–35), often informal employment, which may indicate an
asocial lifestyle or a desire to avoid supervision. It also stresses the possession of
psychological manipulation skills, allowing the offender to establish "trusting"
relationships with the child, exploiting vulnerabilities such as loneliness, low self-
esteem, or the need for attention to persuade them toward further exploitation.
Significant attention is paid to the active use of internet technologies and social
media for searching and establishing contacts with children. Typical features
include a tendency toward asocial behavior and/or deviant sexual preferences
(pedophilia), manifesting, for instance, in the collection of child pornography or
prior episodes of abuse. The article reveals a tendency for meticulous
concealment and trace elimination, including the use of encrypted communication
channels, disposable accounts, and specialized software. It particularly
emphasizes that such individuals often choose professions or fields of activity that
ensure constant and close contact with children (coaches, teachers, caregivers,
volunteers), granting them unimpeded access to potential victims. It is also noted
that such abuse can be either isolated crimes or components of organized criminal
activities, where offenders act in collaboration with clear role distribution
(groomers, operators, distributors, financiers, technical support).