EFFECTIVE SCREENING : KEEPING THE WOLF OUT OF THE SHEEP PEN
By Gregory Love & Kimberlee
SEXUAL ABUSE
Pastor Arrested for Molesting Teens in Youth Group screamed a recent media headline in a heavily populated metropolitan area .
Unfortunately , it ’ s not an anomaly ; headlines detailing child sexual abuse in ministry contexts occur almost daily .
The reality is daunting : one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before reaching the age of 18 . Two out of three children don ’ t disclose abuse until adulthood , if ever .
These statistics don ’ t skip any socioeconomic status , geographic location , ethnicity or spiritual paradigm . In one large study , the average convicted male abuser who preferred female victims had an average of 52 victims prior to prosecution . In the same study , the male abuser who preferred male victims had an average of 150 victims .
Where children are gathered for ministry purposes , the risk of child sexual abuse exists .
To effectively protect children and youth from sexual abuse , the Church must learn to recognize the offender ’ s ‘ grooming process ’ and undertake effective screening practices to weed out offenders , thereby keeping the wolf out of the sheep pen .
Effective screening requires more than a criminal background check
While background checks have become a standard of care for child-serving programs , they cannot be relied upon as a standalone screening tool . Why ? Because less than 10 % of sexual abusers will encounter the criminal justice system , ever . More than 90 % of abusers have no record to find , and they know it . A criminal background check must be included in the screening process but cannot be relied upon to identify the majority of abusers .
Effective screening is rooted in an understanding of the offender ’ s grooming process .
Sexual offenders come from all segments of society . Sadly , some gain access to children through church programming . Abusers groom both children and gatekeepers — trusted adults in a child ’ s life — to convince them that they are helpful ,
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS : 5 FACTS EVERY EXECUTIVE PASTOR SHOULD KNOW
# 1 : Criminal background checks are no silver bullet . Less than 10 % of sexual predators will encounter the criminal justice system . Criminal background checks cannot be relied upon as a stand-alone screening system .
# 2 : Churches should be looking for plea-down or ‘ red flag ’ offenses . Red flag offenses , such as providing alcohol to a minor , might reveal grooming behaviors . Plea-down offenses occur when an offense related to child sexual abuse is pled down to a lesser or non-registration offense , such as assault or indecency .
# 3 : There is no one-size-fits-all criminal background check . Background checks should be keyed to ministry positions , so that the depth of check matches the extent and type of direct involvement with children .
# 4 : Ministries should clearly identify disqualifying offenses that automatically preclude an applicant from serving with children . Check your state law for any mandated list of disqualifying offenses .
# 5 : The national criminal database sold as the ‘ basic ’ package by background check vendors has significant limitations and largely incomplete data . Consider adding a county search pulled directly from county record-keepers . The majority of child sexual abuse and violent crime cases are prosecuted at the county level .
Learn more about effective criminal background checks in our next “ Stop Sexual Abuse ” Series installment , and at MinistrySafe . com .
trustworthy , responsible people . Validated by decades of academic studies , the grooming process of the abuser is known and recognizable . Ministries should evaluate each element of the screening process with a thorough understanding of the abuser ’ s grooming process , common grooming behaviors , and known offender characteristics .
As an example , offenders often engage in kid-magnet activities and hobbies which are attractive to children within the offender ’ s age and gender of preference . If an applicant demonstrates an unusually exclusive interest in children ’ s activities when asked about interests or hobbies , dig a little deeper into the applicant ’ s past interaction with children , whether as an employee or volunteer .
Effective screening creates OPT-OUT opportunities Skillful screening incorporates opt-out opportunities in the course of the screening process , before the applicant has access to children . When a ministry communicates current child protection practices and protocols , from the beginning , it communicates to the abuser : It might be easier somewhere else .
Applications should clearly state that all suspicions and allegations of child abuse are immediately reported to civil authorities . The Two-Adult Rule should be clearly communicated and followed . Applicants should review and sign child protection policies
12 CHURCH EXECUTIVE • STOP CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE churchexecutive . com