HD31 - Task Force Study of Ritual Crime

  • Published: 1992
  • Author: Virginia State Crime Commission
  • Enabling Authority: House Joint Resolution 147 (Regular Session, 1990)

Executive Summary:
House Joint Resolution 147 (HJR 147) directed the Crime Commission to establish a task force in order to study certain cult practices which represent a danger to citizens of the Commonwealth and determine the prevalence of such practices, risk factors which induce youths' participation in this activity, fiscal cost resulting from property damage and means of addressing these concerns.

Following expert testimony regarding the scope of issues relating to the occult and cult practices, the task force determined that parameters to this study must be carefully drawn and objectives narrowly focused. Particularly prominent was concern about potential conflicts with constitutional rights to free association and exercise of religion.

To eradicate confusion and properly identify the subject matter of this study the task force defined the focus to be that criminal behavior which is derived from or motivated by a specific spiritual belief system and the practices or ceremonies with which it is associated. Such behavior is regarded as "ritual crime" or "ritualistic crime" for the purposes of this study.

Controversy about ritual crime, both in terms of its prevalence and its nature, is rampant. Much of the debate can be traced to the careless or inaccurate use of terminology. Inappropriate identification of and reference to groups and belief systems, as well as inexact descriptions of what constitutes ritual crime, inevitably cloud this debate and make more difficult an objective investigation into the actual incidence of occult-related crime.

A state-wide survey of all law enforcement agencies and school divisions, and geographically representative samples of social service departments and licensed mental health practitioners in Virginia produced comprehensive data about the incidence of ritual crime in the Commonwealth. Follow-up interviews confirmed that most incidents which could be linked to belief systems involved minor property crimes. The results make clear the difficulty in establishing causal connections between the reported cases and spiritual belief systems.

Claims regarding incidents of ritual crime suffer in many cases from a lack of adequate evidence. While this is attributed by some to the effective disposal of evidence by cult members, it is clear also that indicia of unconventional belief systems are often speciously linked to ritual crime.

The research evidenced a distinct schism between the types of reports from mental health therapists and other interviewees. While schools, law enforcement agencies and social service workers pointed to specific cases of crime, therapists tended to provide more general accounts of ritual crime which they derived from their clients and which were frequently years or decades old.

This contrast between law enforcement and mental health extends also to the goals of the respective groups. Therapists' focus is on treatment issues, rather than the prevention and enforcement of crime. Response to ritual crime therefore differs by necessity for these two segments of the population and recognition of this fact is important both in interpreting data and in making recommendations for action.

Based upon survey results, testimony and intensive research the task force made the following findings:

• Misconceptions about ritual crime are pervasive.

• Evidence is insufficient to establish the existence of any major conspiracy or organized criminal network based upon an occult or spiritual belief system.

• Unpopular belief systems are erroneously associated with criminal behavior.

• Criminal activity which might reasonably be associated with belief systems consists primarily of minor property crimes and is committed largely by "dabblers."

• Existing criminal statutes in Virginia are adequate to address dangerous conduct which may result from participation in unconventional belief systems.

• The ritual crime phenomenon has its greatest overt impact in the field of mental health.

As a result of and in accordance with these findings the task force made the following recommendations:

• That the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services develop a model curriculum addressing ritual crime for Virginia's law enforcement officers.

• That the Crime Commission's continued research on youth gangs be tracked and reviewed for findings and ultimate recommendations.

• That the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services coordinate continued research efforts relating to the ramifications of ritual abuse in the mental health field.

• That law enforcement personnel act in cooperation with appropriate agencies in the investigation and prosecution of claims involving ritual abuse of persons.

• That school personnel and social service workers be provided objective and accurate information on ritual crime.

• That the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services establish a definitional standard and review development of a separate reporting category for ritual crime.