Boy Scouts kept thousands of ‘perversion files’ on child molesters

The Boy Scouts of America have been compiling thousands of files detailing sexual abuse allegations against Scout leaders and other volunteers, KING 5 reports.

Each of the files, often referred to as “perversion files,” contains police reports, victim statements and other related materials for each Scout leader suspected of sexually abusing boys. They include official letters from the organization informing suspected molesters they had been banned from the Boy Scouts for life.

Officials say the files were kept to create a blacklist of sorts to identify potential abusers, kick them out of the program and keep them from sneaking back in to the organization elsewhere.

KING 5 obtained 50 files stemming from cases in Washington state ranging from 1974 to 1991 involving leaders from dozens of different troops.

A Seattle attorney representing dozens of Scouts in abuse cases says the confidential files should have prompted the Scouts to do more to prevent further abuse.

“The files grew from tens to hundreds to thousands. They ended up having a body of knowledge probably unlike any youth serving institution in the United States; demonstrating that pedophiles were infiltrating their ranks,” Mike Pfau tells KING 5.

In a letter posted on the Boy Scouts website, three top Scouting executives wrote that the files are being mischaracterized.

“While some people have attempted to categorize these files as a treasure trove of information about pedophiles and their actions, that simply is not the case. Despite the important role in identifying unfit adults for involvement in Scouting, the IV (ineligible volunteer) files tell us precisely what researchers already knew and have known for many years: There never has been a profile of a child sexual offender,” wrote the officials.

While the Scouts say the files were kept confidential to protect the confidentiality of children, the organization issued a statement admitting they could have done better at times.

“The BSA’s (Boy Scouts of America’s) system of ineligible volunteer files functions to help protect Scouts. However, we also know that in some instances we failed to defend Scouts from those who would do them harm. 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.”

But Pfau says the Scouts didn’t do enough, and compares it to the widespread pattern of abuse that plagued the Catholic Church.

“Keeping information secret, focusing on protecting brand or reputation over protecting children and not placing the protection of kids first, I think those are all similarities between the Catholic Church scandal and what’s going on with the Boy Scouts of America now,” said Pfau.

The Scouts have implemented a number of measures to protect kids from abuse including mandatory background checks for all staff and volunteers, and requiring all suspected abuse be reported to law enforcement.