I added a post below to JanH, number 15, to address some realistic numbers. Some have had difficulty in accepting the number of victims per pedophile I have used, i.e. 300+. I based this on what an attorney who prosecutes such cases against molesters told me. I have heard people say and have read varying sites which offer different numbers, some as low as 75 victims, some about 110 to 120. Maybe the following will help.
The attorney version: When I quoted the number 117 from an official web site to the attorney I visited, he was quick to correct me with the number 300+. When a criminal case is prosecuted, or if a civil suit, the number of victims is critical to determining the level of punishment, jail term, or monetary damage awards.
Both the prosecution and defence are eager to nail down the number that the accused is actually guilty of. The prosecution seeks to find all victims so that help can be given to those victims, and to establish the number of counts in the indictment. The defence seeks to mitigate or eliminate this allegation to help their clients get lower or no jail terms, or no monetary damages.
Let's say that the prosecution is successful in establishing that a molester had 50 victims, with each victim being identified and proven. This is the number that will be used in the conviction for jail and/or monetary damages set by the Jury or Judge, depending on the procedures used.
Why then would the average of 300+ be used? It helps prosecutors and especially Plantiff attorneys to set before the Jury the concept that if the average is 300+ victims, then it is possible that the accused victimized the 50 cited in the complaint. It establishes credibility. And if the accused is guilty of a far higher number than 50, lets say 100, 200, or more, then such a study becomes even more critical to establish credibility.
What would the defence do about this information?: The defence will seek to discredit a number like 300+ and will cite conflicting studies, or attempt to discredit the information that supports the 300+ average. Why? They want to establish that these numbers must be seriously inflated, especially if they are trying to show that their client, the accused, could not have victimized 50 or more people.
Is the number 300+ upheld?: It must be for this attorney to successfully use it in court as part of his expert testimony. It must be based on information that the defence cannot discredit. And, when jurors and judges see this evidence establishing that the average is 300+, they are not as likely to discredit the 50 counts against the accused as impossible. So this helps eliminate that one single, but important, aspect of 'reasonable doubt' that the defence is trying to create.
Do I believe it?: I too find the number 300+ hard to fathom. I do not claim that this is the actual average, but it is a number that at least has been reasonably tested and supported in the courts. Also, some of the molesters that I saw as a JW were guilty of victimizing so many victims that the number 300 was within range.
Correlation: Using the number of 300+ with the POLL results places the JW victim averages within range of the national averages of victims to molesters. This is by no means proof, but it is interesting to understand that there is a correlation, and thus suggestive that the number may be feasible.
Could it be in error?: Yes. I want to be wrong on this. It would be much better that this number is seriously inflated and in error. I much prefer it that there are fewer victims than more. I would prefer that instead of 1,521,325 potential victims, that the number were down to 1/10th, or 152,132 thus meaning that there are only 30 victims per molester. Better yet, lets bring this down to 15,213 with only 3 victims per molester. Even at this level, the numbers are staggering and can lead to some serious litigation. Better yet, lets take this number to 'zero' victims, and lets all be in error.
I would rather eat all my words, than to have any victims. It would be very refreshing to come onto this forum, and admit total 100% error, and bow my head in shame for these posts than to have even one victim.
SOME FACTS THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED: The 183 JW molesters identified on my POLL of 89 respondents - providing everyone was honest, and I believe they are - means that a minimum of 183 JW victims are out there. 183 JW children who will be harmed for life, because the Watch Tower religion concealed the 'private' discipline of these criminals, or they conceealed the 'nature' of the sin if 'Public Reproof' was used. And they did not warn the JWs of the danger, nor took any community responsibility to turn the molester over to the authorities.
What do you believe?: Do you believe that there are only 183 JW molesters in the USA? Do you believe that they only molested 1 victim each? Do you believe that all JW molesters are caught and identified? Do you believe that many JW molesters are accused, but because of lack of two (2) witnesses to the crime they are never disciplined? Do you believe that this issue may involve some serious numbers?
What I have not told you: I have been a conduit for finding victims and directing them with some additional information as to certain actions they may wish to take. I also participate on private forums where many have spoken up about being molested by JWs. I have had phone calls with a number of these. The numbers, I might suggest, are a little more than disturbing, and the consequences to the victims is far more harmful than I expected. I have been exposed to this issue a long time, and see a serious ground-swell of victims emerging. The arrogant and plain "mean" attitude of so many JW Elders and congregations and family toward the victims is absolutely incredible!
Someone, or better stated, a large group of people in the JW religion, from molesters to Elders all the way up to the leadership need to go to jail. Attorney's may need to get disbarred. Assets need to be seized, sold, and given to victims ... a lot of assets, and a lot of victims. - Amazing