Despite increasing research on online child sexual exploitation, limited research compares female and male perpetrators. This study examined 116 females and 116 age-matched males known to police in Victoria for online child sexual exploitation on group characteristics and risk of reoffending. The findings have implications for policy and highlight several important avenues for future research.

Key findings

• Some differences emerged, with females co-offending and experiencing violent victimisation more often than males. 
• Several similarities were also apparent, including that females and males had similar risk of recidivism.