C-10 Hearings 2012 02 21-Sexual Abuse

Blog C-10 Hearings 2012 02 21 – Sexual Abuse

Panel 3 – Paul Gillespie, Lucien Landry, Tony Dusset

These people represented those people in Quebec subjected to sexual abuse in the Catholic church who never received an apology, an acknowledgement of the damage done, or restitution.

Panel 4

Lawrence Ellerby, Assoc. For Treatment of Sex Abusers

Ellen Campbell – Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness

(survivor, ordained minister, and founder)

Mark Allan, Director of Public Safety and victim of Hockey Coach abuse

Ellen Campbell called for us to put children back into the centre of policy.  For them, abuse is a life sentence.  Prevention is critical.  She thinks Canada is soft on crime and it is too easy for people to reoffend.  Children are not protected.

Lawrence Ellerby brought 5 points to our attention

1.    Who are committing sexual crimes:  every demographic.  No typical offender.  All races, religions, ethnic groups, professions, economic status, etc. The vast majority of offenders are known to their victims and it is an abuse of trust or power or authority in many circumstances.  Strangers are rare. 

2.    We are evolving valid assessment and risk analysis tools. 

3.    Treatment works – there is a good literature developing on this.  More treatment is consistent with what works and produces better outcomes.

4.    10-18% of sexual offenses are reported.  82-90% are not.  How do we enhance disclosure to prevent more harm?

5.    We need legislation around the world.  We need to develop best practices on what to do with sexual offenders once they are detected.  We must invest in prevention.

Senator Fraser quoted Rupert Ross, a long-time crown attorney:

“At first I insisted on long sentences for these horrible offences.  Few people pleaded guilty.  The case went to court and depended on the word of a vulnerable child.  It turned their whole world upside down to testify against people they knew and depended on.  There was overwhelming pressure on the child.  Acquittals were the norm.  After the child would ask me “How can he say he believed me and then pronounce “not guilty?”  Why did you put me through all that for nothing?”  I turned to conditional sentences that would produce a guilty plea.  The child’s story was affirmed and the child was believed.  A first step toward healing.”

Ellen Campbell says our techiques with children are better today and new processes allow the court case to win more often.  Also, we have many adult survivors testifying.

Lawrence Ellerby suggests that longer sentences generate more ambivalence about whether to prosecute or not.  People’s offence occurs in particular circumstances based on their particular experiences and have different risk levels for reoffence.  Individualized sentencing is important.  We need evidence-based decision making and a lot more research.

Information – they are developing different classifications of offender.  For example there is a difference between a pedophile (someone with a sexual preference toward children) and a sexual offender (someone who abuses children.)  People may not be sexually oriented toward children but may still abuse for power and control or other dynamics.  Some people are voyeurs on line but don’t act in the world.  Some pedophiles have control of their impulses and act them out in the fantasy world only.

Senator Jaffer wants a comprehensive strategy – Healing of abused, Treatment of abuser, and healing of the whole community.  I agree.

Ellen Campbell made it clear that she does not seek that mentally ill people should go to jail.  They should be diverted to appropriate treatment and Treatment services should be available.  Especially male victims have no services available to them.  Nevertheless, if we must err, we must err on the side of children.