Young Eagles and Background Security Checks

[lyleapgmc]

Statute of limitations for what? Civil action? Criminal action? The criminal SOL in some states for these crimes is FOREVER.

How is a chapter to determine the Statute of Limitations for their particular state? It may be written in statute somewhere but which statute might apply in any given situation. State lawmakers have the nasty habit of writing conflicting and contradictory statutes as they see the need. In each state a lawyer would have to be hired to do the research and come up with an opinion. In the end it is only an opinion of a lawyer but it will be costly to obtain. That opinion may not stand up in court when an opposing lawyer or the judge sees things differently.

[FlyingRon]

How is a chapter to determine the Statute of Limitations for their particular state? It may be written in statute somewhere but which statute might apply in any given situation. State lawmakers have the nasty habit of writing conflicting and contradictory statutes as they see the need. In each state a lawyer would have to be hired to do the research and come up with an opinion. In the end it is only an opinion of a lawyer but it will be costly to obtain. That opinion may not stand up in court when an opposing lawyer or the judge sees things differently.

It's not that hard. But EAA hasn't defined what they are talking about. However, even in the case of civil charges, the statute of limitations in many states can be tolled indefinitely if the defendant is out of state. The EAA itself is pretty much own FOREVER to lawsuits for things taking place outside Wisconsin.

[DanH]

Just read the latest update from Jack Pelton on the YPP. So now after all this they are going to split the program into 3 sections, chapter activities, Airventure and YE flights.

What's a YPP? Got a link to this update?

[Glory Aulik]

What's a YPP? Got a link to this update?

Here is the link to Jack's most recent commentary on the Youth Protection Policy, (YPP).

http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-a...MbNlz7gNXBI%3D

[CraigCantwell]

Dan: YPP is the Youth Protection Policy. National has finally admitted that they produced a flawed policy and are now revisiting it and working to hopefully make it a more user friendly policy. We shall see how it changes. Here is a link to Jack's latest letter on the policy: http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-a...tection-policy

[deej]

"The policies we have created are consistent with those in youth programs everywhere. We appreciate the nearly 3,000 people who have already completed their background check"

Unfortunately it seems they are still clinging to the erroneous idea that a background check actually does something useful. Also unfortunately, we have too many pilots that have indicated they will not undergo the background check, so we are still in a position where we will not be able to hold Young Eagles rallies anymore.

I really hope someone can talk some sense into the group responsible for this policy.

[Bill Greenwood]

Jack's letter says "reality is that we have had 2 close calls in last 18 months that could have impacted hundreds of youths."
No details are given at all. I guess it is possible that there are a few sick people who could be a danger to a young person. Bur it is hard to imagine anything happening on a short Y E ride from and back to a local airport with parents and other adults there and waiting for the kids.

Maybe there are other youth and EAA activites like the summer camps where the risk is higher. In those cases in particular having more than one adult with kids at all times is probably a good practice.
I've did my first Y E ride back a few decades back, and it never even occured to me that this was a risk until now. Flight safety, yes. but not moral safety for kids.

[lyleapgmc]

Jack's letter says "reality is that we have had 2 close calls in last 18 months that could have impacted hundreds of youths."
No details are given at all. I guess it is possible that there are a few sick people who could be a danger to a young person. Bur it is hard to imagine anything happening on a short Y E ride from and back to a local airport with parents and other adults there and waiting for the kids.
.......

I am somewhat familiar with one of the situations mentioned. The individual had been flying Young Eagles for a period of time. His nefarious activities with children went undetected. There is no information that links him to having molested anyone he initially contacted through the Young Eagles progam. It was publicized that some of his molestations took place in his airplane. There was some misleading information distributed in the media that linked him to the local EAA chapter. He was not a chapter member. Like any EAA member a pilot can participate in Young Eagles activities without being a chapter member.

The real issue here is that his activities would not have been disclosed or even hinted at by a background check. He had stayed out of sight for all the time he was molesting children. He was not a registered sex offender.

Are there child molestation situations that never get to a criminal court room? How many go undetected or unreported forever? You betcha!

The background check may find a very few with checkered backgrounds who are flying Young Eagles but not enough to avoid another "close call."

[rwanttaja]

Jack's letter says "reality is that we have had 2 close calls in last 18 months that could have impacted hundreds of youths."
No details are given at all. I guess it is possible that there are a few sick people who could be a danger to a young person.

Mark Van Wyn found this link, which is probably one of the cases:

http://www.twincities.com/2014/01/22...al-abuse-case/

But it is hard to imagine anything happening on a short Y E ride from and back to a local airport with parents and other adults there and waiting for the kids.

Very true. But many of these people are too smart for that. The concern is that they might be able to contrive continued contact with a child outside the YE environment. Inviting them out to the airport for another ride the next weekend, etc.

Keep in mind that the truly dangerous abusers *are not stupid*. The goal is not to get a random kid off by themselves for a moment; it's to develop a relationship where the abuser achieves his goal without the child reporting it. Often, the kids come from broken homes and are desperate for a father figure. Remember, the victims aren't adults and are still trying to figure things out.

The problem, as others have mentioned, is that the background checks won't catch these predators. Rather than being a quiz on policy, the EAA training should emphasize how to detect situations where someone is trying to parlay Young Eagles events into later inappropriate contact with the kids.

Ron Wanttaja

[Marty Santic]

Sorry to report at our chapter meeting this past Saturday, our chapter's Board of Directors has placed our Young Eagles program and any other program involving youth on an indefinite hold. This decision did not come lightly as our chapter has been a STRONG supporter of the Young Eagles program and other youth related aviation programs for many years. So sad! May I suggest any Youth Protection program revision incorporates the knowledge of those that actually plan, implement and conduct activities that involve the youth.