Do Child Predators Pose a Higher Risk on Halloween?

See study: "How safe are trick-or-treaters? An analysis of sex crimes on Halloween" Chaffin, M., Levenson, J.S., Letourneau, E., & Stern, P. (2009).

9-25-2010 National:

The Risk of Sex Offenders on And Around Halloween

Qestion: Do Child Predators Pose a Higher Risk on Halloween?

Answer: There are a number of reasons to worry about your tween's safety on Halloween, but an increased risk of encountering child predators need not be your primary concern. In fact, only 2 out of every 1000 crimes committed on Halloween involve sexual abuse by a stranger. This rate is no higher than on any other day in the fall, according to psychologist Mark Chaffin and colleagues. They made this determination after analyzing national crime data over a 9-year period (1997 through 2005). They found that sex crimes by strangers do indeed occur on and around Halloween, but that "Halloween appears to be just another autumn day where rates of sex crimes against children are concerned."

Notably, however, the researchers found that the most common age of victims of non-relative sex crimes is 12 years of age. Therefore, tween parents should be particularly aware of the risk of sexual abuse, albeit not just at Halloween but on a regular basis. Chaffin and colleagues also note, "We do not suggest that there is no risk on Halloween or that anecdotal accounts of Halloween molestations should be dismissed. Nor do we suggest that parents should abandon caution and reasonable supervision of their children."

In sum, while 12-year-olds seem to be at increased risk of sexual abuse compared to younger children, this risk does not appear to rise on or around Halloween. It's up to you, then, to determine the optimal level of supervision for your particular tween, not just on Halloween, but on every day of the year. ..Source.. by Rebecca Fraser-Thill