Justice for Victims - The Sentencing of Public Trust Figures Convicted of Child Sexual Abuse: A Focus on Religious Leaders

Child sexual abuse has recently been recognized as being much more pervasive than was once thought. The author addresses the recent increase in awareness of child sexual abuse and in particular, he comments on sentencing in child sexual abuse cases. From a historical account of the crime, the author proceeds to narrow his focus to that of child sexual abuse committed by those in positions of trust, particularly religious figures. The author discusses the sentencing patterns of such offenders with an analysis of recent case law. He concludes by speculating on future sentencing trends with respect to child sexual abuse offenders generally.