An unpublished government study suggests a strong link between men who download sexual images of children and molestation, The New York Times reported.

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Of the convicted Internet offenders in the study, 85 percent said they had sexually abused minors, with offenses ranging from inappropriate touching to rape.

Experts say the Federal Bureau of Prisons study is the most in-depth examination of such behavior and has caused tension among psychologists, law enforcement officers and prison officials, who disagree over how to interpret and present the information.

Some experts are pushing for quick release of the study in hopes of honing in on child sex predators by looking more closely at those who claim to be just browsing the pornographic images, the Times reported.

Those who disagree point out the study’s sampling consists of men in prison and does not well represent all adults who have downloaded child porn.