Description of sex offenders in Quebec

1.      Description: Unlike the old myth, most survivors know their sexual abuser (Crowe, Dare, 1998). Moreover, the abusers are usually “family members or are otherwise known to the individual” (Crowe, Dare, 1998). It has also been found that men are predominantly the perpetrators, of all classes, races, and religious backgrounds (Matthews, 1995, pp.15). However more specifically sexual perpetrators in the province of Quebec according to the Correctional Service of Canada (2010) have found the following about sexual perpetrators:
- Most subjects are Quebec born and are French-speaking Caucasian.
-The average age of sex offenders is 36.4.
-Most had completed their grade eight education while waiting for their sentence.
-63.1% of sex offenders were unemployed before being sentenced and those working were employed at unskilled jobs.
-Most sex offenders are single males not in relationships. (Correctional Service of Canada, 2010)

Crowe, M., Dare, C. (1998).Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: approaches to therapy. Retrieved February 1, 2011, from ww.apt.rcpsych.org/subscriptions/

Mathews, F. (1995).Combining Voices: Supporting Paths of Healing in Adult Female and Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse. National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, Ottawa, Ontario.

Correctional Service Canada. (2010).Quebec Region: Sex Offenders. Retrieved March 2, 2011, from E:\Correctional Service of Canada - Publications - Let's Talk.mht
P Paradis

Child offenders and past history of sexual abuse

Many perpetrators of CSA were sexually abused when they were children. Most of them never got treatment for it and they often abuse as a way to make themselves feel better about their past abuse. Now they are in the role of the one with the power and the control, as as opposed to being in the role of the powerless victim. Others got the impression as children that this type of sexual relationship between an adult and a child was normal, since the adults around them ignored and did nothing to stop the abuse once they found out about it. Still others don't view their sexual acts with children as being abuse but as a way of showing love and affection.

Pryor, D.W. (1996) Unspeakable acts: Why men sexually abuse children.

How do perpetrators feel about abusing children?

The following are the words from a perpetrator:

"For seven or eight weeks, when nothing was taking place, things seemed to feel normal and okay. I did not feel so terrible about myself. And when my daughters and I would be alone and close together, the incest would occur. After the incident would occur, I would feel so ashamed and hate myself so much that I would be strong enough to keep it from occurring for seven or eight weeks, until I would begin again to feel good, then it would reoccur. It was a cycle of mood swings...it is like one who begins a fad diet and thinks that he has overcome his weight problem becuase he didn't pig out for several weeks, only to find himself on a food binge and realize he has not overcome it al all."

Pryor D. W. (1996). Unspeakable acts: Why men sexually abuse children.

Patriarchal societies contribute to CSA

Some theorists think that the sexist attitudes of patriarchal societies contribute to the occurrence of child sexual abuse by promoting male domination of females. Men are socialized to feel entitled to sex and to use sex as a way to meet their emotional needs. The feminist perspective considers that in patriarchal societies men see their children as possessions and can therefore be used to gratify their sexual needs.

Wurtele, S. K. & Miller-Perrin, C. L. (1992). Preventing child sexual abuse: Sharing the responsibility.

Myths & Realities About Offenders

Myth: Perpetrators are strangers who hide in the bushes and await their victims.
Reality: More than 90% of all sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator. Almost 50% of the offenders are household members and 38% are already acquaintances of the victims.
Of perpetrators in state prisons, 1/3 had committed their crime against their own child and about half had a relationship with the victim as a friend, acquaintance, or relative.
Only 10% of child molesters molest children they don’t know.
Myth: My perpetrator only abused me because I “asked” for it or am somehow responsible.
Reality: The average serial child molester has between 360-380 victims in his lifetime.
At least half of convicted child molesters report that they have also sexually assaulted an adult.
Over two thirds of offenders who reported committing incest said they also assaulted victims outside the family.
Myth: Perpetrators of sexual abuse are dirty old men.
Reality: Females account for approximately 1 in 4 sex offenders and may have an easier time abusing children using the guise of caretaking (diapering, toileting, bathing).
Approximately 20% of child sex offenses are committed by women.

http://www.wingsfound.org/get-information/myths-facts-statistics.html

P.Paradis

Examples of Perpetrators

• The mother's conjoint, who was a father figure for the child. Used to play Nintendo with child and help with homework.
• Adult boarder at the child's family home. Used to help out in return for room and board. Had an excellent relationship with the family's children and used to play with them.It never crossed the mother's mind that he would be capable of abusing her daughters.
• Maternal uncle who had suffered cranial trauma and as a consequence had been left with impulsivity problems.
• Teenage neighbour living in the same apartment block. Was friends with and babysat victim. Had an excellent relationship with both the victim and the victim's mother.
• Father of friends of the victim. He was considered to be an ideal father, organizing his life to make himself available to his daughters as well as to the victim.
• 14-year-old boarder at the house of the victim's grandmother.Used play to get victim to sexually stimulate him. Had a mild intellectual disability and had been sexually abused in the past.
• Adult babysitter with a small visual impairment. Did a lot of voluteer work for the CLSC.

http://www.cecw-ceph.ca/sites/default/files/publications/fr/TurnerIRDS_f.pdf

Rose Marie

Some Canadian Statistics about Perpetrators

• 95% of child abuse victims know their perpetrator
• 80% of all child abusers are the father, foster father, stepfather or another relative or close family friend of the victim
• 97% of perpetrators are male
• More than 40% of convicted child molesters were sexually abused as children and they tend to choose victims close to the age at which they had first been victimized.
• 1 in 7 of those imprisoned for sexual offences against children are under the age of 21 years.
• Some offenders have abused more than 70 children before there is any disclosure on the part of the victims
• Incestuous relationships last an average of 7 years.

http://www.littlewarriors.ca/about_sexual_abuse/statistics.html
http://www.anxietycentre.com/abuse-statistics-information.shtml

Rose Marie