Risk of child sexual abuse: A mixed-methods analysis of judicial decisions in the Youth Court of Québec

Quebec’s Youth Protection Act allows child protection services to intervene when a child faces a serious risk of sexual abuse, and these cases often go to court. Using a mixed-methods analysis of Youth Court decisions involving young children, this study examined how judges decide these cases. Placement orders were more likely when children and parents had psychosocial difficulties and when there were more reasons for intervention. In substantiating a serious risk of sexual abuse, judges focused on the child’s vulnerability, the characteristics of the family system and parents’ compliance with external demands.