The Prevalence of Sexual Abuse by K-12 School Personnel in Canada, 1997–2017
Date
2018
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Journal of child sexual abuse
Abstract
Studies surrounding the sexual abuse of children by school personnel in Canadian contexts are infrequent and often limited in their scope. The present study addresses this drawback with a contribution of data gathered from disciplinary decisions of educator misconduct, media reports, and published case law concerning child/student sexual abuse cases (between 1997 and 2017) that involved any individual employed (or formerly employed) in a Canadian K-12 school. The study revealed a number of interesting points about the larger student victim and offender demographic patterns and characteristics across Canada. The study found 750 cases involving a minimum of 1,272 students and 714 offenders, 87% of which were male. Moreover, 86% of all offenders were certified teachers, and offenders employed grooming as the main tactic in 70% of the cases. Of the child/student victims, 75% were female, 55% were sexually abused on school property, and more than two-thirds of all victims were in high school at the time the offense was committed. The study also found that excluding Ontario and B.C., the media was the sole source of information for 50–86% of all cases depending on the province/territory. Finally, almost three-quarters of offenders from the study were charged with at least one criminal offense, and of the cases that proceeded to trial, 70% resulted in findings of guilt.
Description
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Keywords
sexual abuse, educators, teachers, adolescent, schools, grooming, manipulation, Canada, International Resources, educator sexual misconduct
Citation
Canadian Centre For Child Protection (2018). The Prevalence of Sexual Abuse by K-12 School Personnel in Canada, 1997–2017. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2018.1477218