Sexual Abuse Wasn’t a Secret

Since the early 1920s, the BSA has kept files on adult leaders and volunteers who committed various crimes and offenses. These files were originally called the Red Flag Files or the Confidential Files. Today, they are referred to as the Ineligible Volunteer or I.V. Files.

The I.V. Files include information on BSA staff and volunteers who have been accused of six categories of offenses — Moral, Financial, Leadership, Theft, Criminal, and Perversion. The largest category by far is Perversion. The Perversion Files, or “P Files” as the BSA internally refers to them, contain the names of scoutmasters, volunteers, and BSA staff accused or convicted of molesting or otherwise sexually abusing Boy Scouts.

As a result of Attorney Paul Mones’ 2010 case against the BSA, which resulted in a $19.9 million verdict against the Boy Scouts of America, the Perversion Files were released to the public. These files cover the years 1965 to 1985 and can be accessed by clicking here. The files are redacted which means that the names and contact information of persons identified as victims of sexual abuse and those that reported the abuse were redacted.

If the person who reported the alleged abuse was a professional Scouter, i.e., an individual employed by the Boy Scouts of America or an affiliate, then the person’s name was not redacted. Additional I.V. “P files,” covering the years 1986 through 1991, were released to the public by the Los Angeles Times.

These files are evidence the BSA knew it had a big sexual abuse problem on its hands, but they are a not a complete record of all wrongdoing by BSA volunteers and employees. Not every scoutmaster or other adults who sexually abused a Boy Scout is named in these files. The reason for this is the unfortunate fact that most victims never report their abuse. It can take years — even decades — for victims to realize what happened to them was abuse, or gain the courage to come forward.

New Statute of Limitations Law Opens a Window of Opportunity For Boy Scout Sexual Abuse Victims

Although scientific research has revealed that victims of abuse often need years or decades to come to terms with what happened to them, our legal system typically gives victims a very small window of time to seek justice. However, a new California law is giving survivors of sexual abuse more time.

On October 13, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 218 into law. This new law gives past victims of sexual abuse more time to pursue justice, even if their claims were previously time-barred.

California victims now have until the age of 40 or five years after they realize they were abused, whichever is later, to file a lawsuit against alleged abusers. In addition, boy scout sexual abuse victims whose cases were previously time-barred by the old statute of limitations are being given a three-year period in which they may file suit. From January 1, 2020 until January 1, 2023, anyone who was previously stopped from suing because their case was deemed too old has a second chance to seek justice.

Attorney Paul Mones urges any Scouts who were abused at any time in the past to come forward during this window and see that justice is done. Victims may be eligible for compensation, but they will also get the satisfaction of knowing they are part of a movement that will bring abusers to justice and ensure that kids today will not suffer a similar fate. When you have the strength to come forward, Paul and his team are ready to help.