NCJ Number
103172
Date Published
1986
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The major findings and implications of the Badgley Report on Sexual Offenses Against Children in Canada (1984) are reviewed.
Abstract
In compiling its report, a committee of 11 persons examined legislative reports, laws and statutes, previous research, and child protection and health services. It also conducted surveys of police, the national population, and crime rates. In all 10,272 cases of sexual abuse were examined. Major findings of the report include that one of two females and one of three males has at some time during his or her life been the victim of unwanted sexual acts, and that four of five of these acts took place during childhood or adolescence. Further, a majority of victims and their families did not seek assistance from public services. Overall, the report concludes that all existing reporting systems are ineffective in identifying the occurrence and circumstances of child sexual abuse. The lack of national standards for handling child sexual abuse and the absence of reliable statistics result in insufficient assessment and treatment of sexually abused children and contribute to a lack of central rationale and purpose in existing criminal and civil law. Surmounting these barriers to the achievement of better protection for sexually abused children will require an energetic and cooperative venture involving all levels of government and nongovernmental organizations. 1 note and 2 references.