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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – A number of Westchester men are included among the more than 1,500 names on the Boy Scouts of America's "perversion files" ordered released by an Oregon judge and officially made public Thursday.
The worldwide list, leaked last week, dates back to 1965. It includes the names of men from White Plains, Scarsdale, Rye, Mohegan Lake and Ossining who are among scout volunteers banned because of allegations of sexual misconduct. Not all of the people on the list were actually charged with any crime.
The Boy Scouts of America website says it has kept the “perversion files,” also known as the Ineligible Volunteer Files, to “keep scouts safe.” The records were central to a 2010 lawsuit, Lewis vs. Boy Scout of America, brought by former Boy Scouts alleging they were sexually abused.
The law firm of O’Donnell, Clark & Crew, which represented six former scouts in the case, posted the information online, and say while some cases in the “perversion files” have been substantiated in court, many more have never been reported to authorities.
"There have been instances where people misused their positions in Scouting to abuse children, and in certain cases, our response to these incidents and our efforts to protect youth were plainly insufficient, inappropriate, or wrong,” Wayne Perry, national president of Boy Scouts of America, said in a statement. “Where those involved in Scouting failed to protect, or worse, inflicted harm on children, we extend our deepest and sincere apologies to victims and their families.
The BSA say on its website the files are kept to help keep out people who may harm its scouts. Police have been involved in 63 percent of the more than 1,000 files that have been released, the BSA website says.
"The files are kept confidential by Scouting because the BSA believes that confidentiality encourages prompt reporting of abuse," according to the BSA website. "However, their existence as part of the BSA's Youth Protection efforts is well-known and publicly acknowledged."
Comments (10)
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I think there should be some good control over such circumstances... gay adult blogs
It is apparent that the BSA could use some extensive training in etiquette, ethics and empathy. Their policies and this situation are very disturbing and certainly not conducive to an enriching environment for young people.
Can't the Daily Voice reject offensive posts like Shawnzeedepew?
All organizations that deal with children have a risk of individuals abusing kids. The best way to deal with these crimes, and prevent future abuse, is to notify the police and legal authorities so the perpetrators are put in prison. Trying to deal with it internally has caused nothing but bigger trouble for the Boy Scouts, the Catholic Church, Penn State, etc. Secrets nurture sickness.
Making this public is terrible. There's no need for evidence or a hearing. Having one's name on the list can now ruin an innocent man for life who has no chance to defend him (or her) self. Kids should be protected from predators, but making this public isn't right either.
Good post. This news is just out to try to discredit the BS and their policies.
a question for patricknugent below:
Why is it "obvious" that the people on a list "have a weird, sick fetish"?
Did you consider "the abundance of caution" that corrupts so many decisions? Did you consider the natural desire to minimize risk of attack by rapacious lawyers?
88 % of child molesters are straight and 17 % are woman. so there are more woman child molesters then there are gay men. Because they discriminate my boys will never be a part of the boys scouts. I would sue if I were these guys to plaster innocent peoples names in the paper and I say innocent because even the worst criminal in innocent until proven guilty by trial. Dumb move
So insane that they did their best to keep these people who obviously have a weird, sick fetish out of trouble, yet do what ever they can to keep homosexuals from gaining their highest honor, no matter what hoops they jump through.