NCJ Number
157276
Journal
Justice Research Notes Issue: 7 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 1-10
Date Published
1994
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The response of Canada's criminal justice system to child sexual abuse is examined, with emphasis on the impact of Bill C-15, which was enacted in 1988 and introduced major changes to the criminal code and laws of evidence related to child sexual abuse.
Abstract
The statute created new laws on these offenses, refined existing offenses, and created new provisions for giving evidence. The law also mandated a review by the Canada Department of Justice 4 years later on the law's impact on victims and the criminal justice system. The Department developed a 4-year research program with six components. Results have revealed more reported cases of child sexual abuse, charges in more situations, and more younger complainants allowed to testify in court. About 70-80 percent of the victims were females, usually under age 12. Genital fondling was the most common form of abuse; oral sex was the next most common form of abuse. The accused person was a male in 94 percent of the cases. Most accused persons were known to the child and were relatives in 30-57 percent of the cases. The rate of unfounded cases ranged from 5 percent at one site to 22 percent at another site. Findings also indicted that most provisions of Bill C-15 have been useful in processing and prosecuting cases of child sexual abuse. Several areas of concern require further study and action.