A statement from the
Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.
As October arrives and families begin preparing
for Halloween, it is always a priority to ensure children’s safety during this
holiday. It is important to learn the facts and know the risks to your child
during this festive time. A heightened risk of being sexually abused is NOT one
of the dangers children face at Halloween.
The simple fact is that there are no
significant increases in sex crimes on or around Halloween. There is no
“Halloween effect.” There is no change in the rate of sexual crimes by
non-family members during Halloween. That was true both before and after
communities enacted laws to restrict the activities of registrants during
Halloween.
The crimes that do increase around Halloween
are vandalism and property destruction, as well as theft, assault, and burglary.
In addition, according to the Centers for Disease Control, children are four
times more likely to be killed by a pedestrian/motor-vehicle accident on
Halloween than on any other day of the year.
Fully 93% of sexual assaults on children are
perpetrated by someone known to, and trusted by, the child and the child’s
family. But due to the myths regarding child sexual abuse that focus on
“stranger danger,” communities and lawmakers often endorse policies that do
little to prevent sexual abuse and instead unnecessarily stretch limited law
enforcement resources.
Jurisdictions that ban individuals on sex
offender registries from participating in any Halloween activities, require
registrants to post signs in their yards during Halloween, or round up registrants
for the duration of trick-or-treating do not make children safer. Instead,
these approaches create a false sense of safety while using law enforcement
resources that could be better spent protecting children against the higher
risk they do face during Halloween – injury or death from motor vehicles.
Child sexual abuse is a serious public health
issue that faces all communities. Although the prevalence of child sexual abuse
can be difficult to determine due to under-reporting, researchers estimate that
one in four girls and one in six boys
will be victims of sexual abuse before age 18.
For concerned parents, the best way to protect
children from sexual abuse is to know the facts about sexual offending and take
precautions based on facts, not fears. Parents can visit www.atsa.com to learn more about sexual abuse
and prevention.
For more research and analysis on this topic
please see a previous blog by Jill Levenson called “Halloween
& Sex Crime: Myth vs. Reality” – Kieran
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