The Will of the System
Key Findings on Child Sexual Abuse Cases and Justice System
One of the most concerning findings on child sexual abuse cases and the justice system is that the prosecution often fails to protect these children from further sexual abuse, even when they've come forward. Statistics reveal a sad reality, only around 7% of CSA victims inform the police at the time of the offense, and only 18% ever go on to ever disclose the abuse. Furthermore, of the cases reported, fewer still result in convictions, with prosecutions and convictions declining by around 25% between 2016-2020. This indicates a significant error of the justice system, and to our most vulnerable citizens.
More disturbing findings show that in custody cases where mothers and children report a child's father of sexual abuse, the court grants custody to the father 81% of the time! This is particularly dangerous as it suggests that the justice system is more interested in protecting the abusers than the victims. The fact that 90% of CSA is committed by men, makes you wonder if this is more than the system's ability to properly identify these cases, or if perhaps it goes deeper than that. Because in 50%-73% of cases that are investigated, the abuse is found to be valid. So why then in at least 75% of those cases, the children have unsupervised contact ordered with the abuser? This points to a cancerous problem in the justice system's response to allegations of child sexual abuse. Why are so many children being placed in dangerous situations despite credible evidence of abuse?
The justice system often just dismisses or fails to properly investigate allegations of child sexual abuse, especially when they arise in the context of custody disputes. Courts are much less likely to believe abuse allegations when made by mothers against the child's father, and even when domestic violence is an issue, joint legal custody is awarded around 90% of the time in custody mediations.
In conclusion, the findings on child sexual abuse cases and the justice system paint a troubling picture. The prosecution and justice system often fail to adequately protect children from sexual abuse, with many victims being dismissed or ignored. The data highlights a systemic failure in the justice system to prioritize the safety and well-being of children, particularly in cases where allegations arise in the context of custody disputes. It is evident that significant reform is needed to ensure that the justice system effectively addresses and prosecutes cases of child sexual abuse, and that the safety of children is prioritized above all else.