Introduction to Victimology, Essay Example

The need for all states to require mandatory reporting of child abuse by clergy

In all states, there exists the need for a mandatory reporting of child abuse by clergy. This is notable in U.S. Virgin Islands, Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Islands of Mariana, and Puerto Rico (O’Shaughnessy, 1999).  The states have put in place some statutes to facilitate the identification of individuals in a position of reporting the mistreatment of children in some circumstances.

Most Christian leaders have lacked morals and ethics and after they molest children, the cases are not reported since they are among the appointed professionals with the mandate of reporting cases of child abuse. The offenders are turned to the police by organizations and lawsuits are instigated against the church (Armstrong, 1995).

The media plays a crucial role in the development of awareness among the members of society to the neglect and abuse of children. Apart from community educational campaigns, the media facilitates for access to news as well as features pertaining to cases of child abuse, research as well as initiatives of intervention (O’Shaughnessy, 1999).  The role of media is to report any abuse which consequently raises awareness which is instrumental in the prevention of child abuse in the society.

Child Sexual Abuse by clergy in Florida

Florida has the record of cases of child abuse by clergy. Most of the cases are reported much later after they occurred. Some statutes pose limitations to the prosecution of the clergy who were reported to abuse the children.

Mandatory reporting has been emphasized for a long time and this lead to the establishment of the legislature in 2010. During reporting, the child privacy is supposed to be honored to make sure that the society takes the issue seriously. The abuse is what should be reported but not the victim.

In the absence of mandatory reporting of such abuse, the offenders are put under psychological therapy which is conducted in treatment centers that are in-house based (O’Shaughnessy, 1999).

Reference

Armstrong, J. H. (1995). Can Fallen the Pastors Be Restored? Church’s Response to Sexual      Misconduct. Chicago: Moody Press.

O’Shaughnessy, M. (1999). Media and society. Melbourne: OUP.