Sexual Abuse of Children by People in Organisations: What Offenders can Teach us about Protection

Recommendations for Preventing Child Sexual Abuse in Youth-Serving Organizations: Implications From an Australian Royal Commission Review of the Literature

“…A small number of studies address the grooming patterns of CSA perpetrators in organizational settings. These investigations have identified offender characteristics and modus operandi that highlight the need for stronger prevention programming development based on a clearer understanding of salient risk factors (Erooga, Allnock, & Telford, 2012; Leclerc & Cale, 2015; Leclerc et al, 2005; Miller, 2013; Smallbone & Wortley, 2000; Sullivan & Quayle, 2012). What has been discovered about perpetrators’ behaviors in organizations provides some important insights into this phenomenon.…”

“…Interestingly, findings from these investigations suggest that rather than creating opportunities in YSOs for offending, many perpetrators appear to capitalize on the opportunities or organizational vulnerabilities that are presented to them. Offenders in one study reported that they took advantage of organizational processes that were “relaxed and complacent and, in a few cases, careless” (Erooga et al, 2012, p. 80). Likewise, Sullivan and Quayle (2012) explained how offenders in their sample took advantage of organizations that lacked a strong “culture of safety” and an “ethos of accountability.”…”

“…As situational prevention is a broad conceptual approach recommended for all YSO prevention strategies, its effectiveness will be optimized by being customized to the specific features, activities, and risks of the particular setting. Aspects of risk related to the specific YSO context and activities embraces matters, such as (a) the particular child clientele (age, gender), (b) the type of activities in which the organization is engaged and how the activities are conducted (e.g., whether there are field trips or overnight stays and the level and type of supervision provided), and (c) the degree of control and authority over the child exercised by the YSO staff and volunteers (e.g., whether it extends to training, diet, medical treatment, social activity, and physical touch; whether there are ongoing relationships; whether there are rewards systems; the extent of pressure involved in the child’s performance, progression, and selection for elite teams and career pathways; Erooga et al, 2012; Kaufman, Hayes, & Knox, 2010; Kaufman et al, 2012; Kenny & Wurtele, 2012; Mathews, 2017; Wurtele, 2012). Heightened CSA risks may be associated with required elements of some sports.…”

“…Theoretical and practical support for such approaches is found in the situational crime prevention and the offender modus operandi literatures. CSA offenders in Erooga et al’s (2012) study, for example, noted that many of their YSO’s leadership failed to provide a clear organizational commitment to children’s welfare. In fact, most messages during onboarding for employment or volunteering offer no more than basic briefings about child protection.…”

Exploring the Modus Operandi of Coaches Who Perpetrated Sex Offenses in Canada

“…Considering that the MO incorporates all behaviors, stages and strategies in the whole crime commission process, grooming specific stages and strategies are included under this concept. In general, studies have shown that sex offenders working in institutions frequently use non-violent strategies such as giving special attention, spending a lot of time with the victim, offering gifts/privileges in order to gain the victim's trust (Leclerc et al, 2005 , 2015 ; Erooga et al, 2012 ; Lanning and Dietz, 2014 ; Leclerc and Cale, 2015 ). Sullivan and Beech ( 2004 ) studied the MO of forty-one “professional” child sex offenders (clergy, teachers, and social workers) who spent time in a treatment center and found that most of them had met the child outside of their workplace (77.5%) or took the child away for a night (67.5%) in order to isolate him/her.…”