NCJ Number
141799
Date Published
1992
Length
98 pages
Annotation
Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered at selected sites in Quebec, Canada to determine the judicial processing of child sexual abuse cases and the effects of the Federal legislation that took effect in 1988.
Abstract
The new law repealed several out-of-date measures, created a series of new offenses, increased penalties, and restructured the evidentiary system. The Quebec study began in the fall of 1991 and used data from police records, semiformal conversations with legal and social service personnel, and document reviews. Time and budget constraints necessitated an exploratory and descriptive approach. Montreal, Quebec City, and the area of Baie-Comeau/Sept-Iles were the study sites. Findings revealed that Quebec has adopted a comprehensive strategy for implementing the Federal law, although training programs are incomplete and have not been given to all personnel most directly involved. However, the two existing approaches to child sexual abuse are contradictory in some ways, despite their efforts to be complementary. Among problems are the complexity of the current judicial process and the need to improve consultation between the child protection service and the criminal justice system. Additional recommendations, footnotes, and tables