NCJ Number
100539
Journal
Canadian Criminology Forum Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1985) Pages: 83-91
Date Published
1985
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Although Danish studies (Kutchinsky and Ben-Veniste) indicate that the widespread availability of pornography did not produce a discernible rapid increase in sexual offenses, the relation between pornography's availability and the incidence of sex crime is as yet inadequately understood.
Abstract
This study defines pornography as aggressive or violent sexual depictions, and erotica is defined as nonaggressive, nonviolent sexual depictions. Police sex offense statistics for 1948-70 (Kutchinsky, 1973) indicate that the incidence of reported sex crimes remained relatively stable between 1948 and 1966. A sharp decline in reported cases occurred from 1966 to 1970. Erotica has been freely available in Copenhagen since 1965, and pornography became accessible around 1967-68. Ben-Veniste (1971) reports a statistically significant decrease in reported sex crimes in Copenhagen during 1967-69. The correlational character of these studies does not permit the identification of causal connections between pornography's availability and sex offense trends. The most appealing explanation is that sex offenses decreased because of the widespread dissemination of pornography, increased sexual permissiveness, and a host of unspecified factors. More field studies are needed. 14 references.