Sex Offender Facts & Characteristics

Arizona has approximately 14,500 registered sex offenders.
Sex offenders come from all walks of life and from all socio-economic groups. They can be male or female, rich or poor, employed or unemployed, religious or non-religious, educated or uneducated, and from any race.
Although some sex offenders are strangers and stalkers, many know the victim as a family member, friend, or neighbor. They win a child's trust and then take advantage of that trust.
Potential victims are likely to be children that are poor, neglected, loners, or runaways.
Many pedophiles seek out mothers of single parent families for the purpose of victimizing children.
Sex offenders often like playgrounds and other places where children congregate.
Most sex offenders groom their victims prior to any crime.

Offenders may position themselves to come into contact with children by:

Creating playground environments where victims have access to toys, games, and other things that will later be traded for sex.
Enticing with attention, affection, gifts, promises, and providing alcohol and pornography to lower inhibitions.
Participating in activities with teens, often excluding other adults, or trying to get teens into situations where no other adults are present.
Preying on either a parent/teen desire to excel in a sport. They provide extra assistance and offer special attention.
Being the "nice guy" in the neighborhood who is willing to entertain children and take them on outings.
Operating businesses that hire teens and looking for excuses requiring them to stay after hours, or visit the offenders home.
Seeking employment or volunteering where they will be in contact with children and teens.