Kids, sexual predators and vigilance
Photo: Steve Rhodes, CC some rights reserved
This morning, we talk in depth with Mitch Teich, the public radio reporter who broke the story of sexual abuse allegations within US Speedskating. One of that sport’s top figures — four time Olympian Andy Gabel — has stepped down.
His alleged assaults against two 15-year-old girls in the 1990s included incidents in Lake Placid and Saratoga Springs. “I was scared, I was petrified,” said speedskater Bridie Farrell. “I was a little kid. Why would someone believe me?”
It’s a shattering story, particularly here in the North Country where sports run deep in our culture and where coaches and mentors are revered.
But it’s also true that this situation isn’t new or novel. We’ve had sexual abuse scandals before, both in athletics and in other situations — teachers, clergy, scouting and so on — where adults take on outsized mentoring roles.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (Photo: CDC)
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Find out more from the CDC by clicking here.
Obviously, these brutal crimes aren’t the norm.
Most coaches, most teaches, most priests, most scoutmasters are good and ethical people. But, on the other hand, it is surely time to stop pretending that child-sex predators are rare or a marginal problem.
Surely it’s time for parents to educate themselves about the patterns of sexual predators, the strategies they use to “groom” both kids and parents.
If someone is offering to help with your child, you need to ask tough and sometimes embarrassing questions about their motives, and about the checks and balances that will be in place.
Especially at times when your family is in crisis and you’re leaning on other people for help — a divorce, financial struggles, and so on — you need to be cautious. Predators are brilliant at finding kids and parents who are vulnerable.
Surely it’s also time for organizations that work closely with children to place safety and institutional safe-guards at the very top of their “to-do” list. Well above winning games, above avoiding embarrassment, above dodging lawsuits.
If organizations have questions or doubts about the behavior of a staff member or volunteer, they need to call the police and allow the experts to investigate concerns properly.
The age of handling these concerns in-house, or quietly dismissing someone, should be over.
Three other steps warrant serious consideration.
We need to look closely at the statute of limitations for both criminal and civil cases involving sexual abuse.
We know that many children conceal their victimization, and their suffering, sometimes for decades. Silence — and the inability to bring prosecutions — are two of the big advantages that predators enjoy.
We should also examine the possibility of making organizations liable for failing to report suspicions of criminal sexual activity to police, with stiff penalties for those who fail to come forward.
Finally, girls and young women should be given specific, unambiguous and clear-eyed education about the dangers of sexual predators, and they should be informed about safe places to go for help if they feel at risk.
An exhaustive survey conducted in 2011 by the US government found that 1-in-3 women are “victims of a rape, beating or stalking, or a combination of assaults” according to the New York Times.
It’s a shameful statistic. Surely the place to start in rolling back this epidemic of sexual violence is by protecting the youngest, most vulnerable girls and women.
Great post.
The biggest obstacle is the perception that sexual predators are easily figured out. Around here, we assume that all sexual predators come from the socioeconomic class of people generally referred to as, to put it indelicately, white trash. If someone is of the professional class, we sort of assume they can’t be sexual predators because they have too much to lose, financially and/or reputation wise. How many times have such allegations been met with the public reaction, “Oh so-and-so is a fine, upstanding citizen. He couldn’t possibly be guilty of that. It’s surely someone just wanting to smear his reputation.” But as the Chris Ortloff and Tim McGuire cases illustrate, sexual criminals can come from anywhere.
These people need to be dealt with swiftly and through the legal process, not just “in house.” As someone who is a youth coach, I don’t want everyone who works with kids to automatically become suspect and have the how profession tarnished in the way that the priesthood has.
Brian MOFYC writes “The biggest obstacle is the perception that sexual predators are easily figured out.”
I agree.
Once I was told to attend Safe Church training. It was mandatory. Without it I could no longer function as an Episcopal priest.
The training took all of a fine spring day. I didn’t want to go. I expected to be told to behave myself, not to grope female parishioners, etc. I wasn’t a happy camper.
I went and found the training excellent. It provided insights to identify sexual predators who may want to gain access to children and others through Sunday school or other church activities.
Armed with this information, will we keep all predators away from vulnerable people? Sadly no, it’s not 100% effective. It’s difficult to identify every single predator, but the training does help, and I know it’s put to good use.
Likewise, for decades the Episcopal Church has required professionally administered background checks of clergy and prospective clergy. It also doesn’t catch everyone it should, but it too helps.
The problem is deep and far ranging.
Probably most sexual abuse takes place at the family and friends of the family level.
The next big area takes place with people you think you should be able to trust.
Trust is always the key word.
Well done, Brian. Sexual activity between adults and children is always wrong, to any degree, under any circumstances and for any reason. The only thing that should be done is to immediately report any and all abuse to law enforcement and to relentlessly prosecute and punish the abusers and anyone who shelters them, conceals their crimes or fails to report their abusive actions. No more apologies, resignations, investigations, explanations, reassignments, etc. This is the most heinous sort of terrorism and should be mercilessly prosecuted.