Add the Scouts to the list of bodies — including but not limited to the church and some minor sports associations — that admit to fumbling the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of one of society’s greatest ills. In a bid for transparency, Scouts Canada has initiated a third-party review of its handling of past sex abuse cases and its current volunteer screening practices.
While this may offer closure for some victims, it is foolhardy to suppose it will make the Scouts a safer place for children. There is no safe place. Like most youth groups, the Scouts follow a process of vetting volunteers that includes a criminal record check.
While sounding impressive, a criminal record check is worth approximately the paper it’s printed on.
This procedure identifies only individuals who have been apprehended and charged; the vast majority of abusers never encounter the law. Again, like other groups, Scouts Canada adheres to a “two-deep” rule, requiring at least two screened leaders to be present with a child at any time. In most cases, this policy is as much for the protection of adults as it is for children.
Moreover, it does nothing to prevent the cunning manipulation that is so often the precursor of abuse. Scout leaders aren’t molesting little boys around the campfire and coaches aren’t abusing kids during the pre-game talk in the dressing room.
Successful sexual predators are adults who use positions of authority to gain positions of trust of a child and child’s parents and create their opportunities for gratification.
Any adult who initiates a unique relationship with a child — treatment or affection preferential to others — should be regarded with caution. Red flags include unwarranted praise, small gifts and private jokes.
Go ahead and be paranoid.
The only real protections a child has against the threat of sexual abuse are knowledge, empowerment and guardians who listen, believe what a child tells them and are eagle-eyed for signs of distress.
C. Be of good moral character as evidenced by having undergone and successfully passed a criminal background check conducted by the Board.
