The Times Poll : Children’s Abuse Reports Reliable, Most Believe

Most Americans believe that children can reliably describe sexual abuse that occurred years before, and those who are aware of the McMartin Pre-School molestation case believe that at least some of the child witnesses are telling the truth, a nationwide Los Angeles Times poll has found.

Seventy-nine percent of those polled said they are “certain” that children under 13 are capable of giving accurate accounts of much earlier events, and 86% of those who had themselves been victimized as children said those accounts should be believed.

The poll, which consisted of a 100-question telephone survey of 2,627 adults conducted last month, is thought to be the first comprehensive study of the extent of child sexual abuse in the United States.

The survey, supervised by Times Poll director I. A. Lewis, found that at least 22% of Americans had been molested as children. In addition, the poll examined public attitudes toward the problem and possible solutions.

Because of the nationwide scope of the poll, about half of the respondents were not aware of the much-publicized Virginia McMartin Pre-School molestation case, in which the owner of a Manhattan Beach nursery school and six former teachers are charged with molesting 19 children left in their care. The case has been in preliminary hearing stages for the last year.

More than two-thirds of those interviewed on the West Coast knew about the case.

One in three of those familiar with the McMartin case said they believe that “most” of the children had been sexually abused, and half said they believe that at least “some” had been molested. Ninety percent of those who identified themselves as having been child victims of sexual intercourse said they believe at least some of the child witnesses’ testimony.

Only two people in the survey said they believe that no abuse occurred, 10% said they think that only a “few” had been molested and 7% were not sure.

About one in three of those aware of the McMartin case said they are dissatisfied with the way authorities have handled it. Twenty-eight percent said they are satisfied and 40% had no opinion. Among victims who said they had suffered abuses similar to those alleged in the McMartin case, the rate of dissatisfaction rose to 42%.

According to the poll, the public is more concerned about protecting children from psychological damage when they testify in court about sexual attacks than it is about protecting the legal rights of defendants. Only 13% ranked the two concerns equal in importance, and 81% of women victims said the child’s interests should predominate.

The poll’s respondents also are three times more concerned (61% to 21%) that guilty people might never be brought to trial than that innocent people may be tried for crimes they did not commit. Only 12% said that both dangers worry them equally.

Possible Solutions

Asked about possible solutions to the problem of child sexual abuse, 62% said current laws are inadequate, 73% approved fingerprint checks and licenses for people who work with children, 43% urged heavier punishment for molesters and 41% suggested wider public education. Smaller numbers suggested “strengthen the family” and “more therapy.”

Both victims and non-victims said they favor long sentences for abusers: 33% said molesters should serve more than 20 years, 22% said more than five years and 10% said they think the death penalty is appropriate.

In situations in which a father has sexually abused his daughter, 61% of those polled said they favor removing the father from the home. Twenty-two percent said they think trying to keep the family together should be the first priority and 10% said the child should be placed elsewhere.

Contrary to studies that indicate that therapy for molesters is ineffective and that most tend to repeat their crimes, the majority of respondents said they think successful rehabilitation is possible for sex offenders.

Although those polled slightly overestimated the actual incidence of child sexual abuse, they tend to believe that such crimes are not a serious problem in their own communities. One in seven believes that the publicity about child sexual abuse has changed the way they treat children--that is, made them hesitant to be alone with other people’s children, to baby-sit, to impulsively hug or hold children or to even smile at or offer to help youngsters they do not know.

More Attention Paid

Nearly two-thirds of the respondents said they had read or talked about child sexual abuse during the last month, but they were split almost evenly about whether frequent news stories are triggered by more openness about the topic, more media interest or more actual abuse.

However, only 19% of victims of intercourse and sodomy believe that abuse is on the rise. Forty percent say it is the same as ever but that people are simply more willing to talk about it publicly.