Perpetrator and victim

In reference to the article, “Rockland police say local man gave 12-year-old drugs for sex” (BDN, June 7).

It begins, “A local man was charged Saturday with supplying a 12-year-old with drugs in exchange for sexual favors.”

Think about this wording. If the age of the girl were 22, the description might be appropriate. But, in our society, a 12-year-old girl is considered a child. A child does not willingly give sexual favors.

This girl did not trade drugs for sex, she was manipulated or coerced into doing what the perpetrator wanted her to do, which was serve his sick desires. He knew exactly what he was doing, and probably not without practice.

She, on the other hand, faces years of emotional turmoil in the aftermath of spending a year as victim to this “man.”

I would urge the Bangor Daily News to take care to describe crimes in appropriate terms – perpetrator and victim. Refrain from ascribing to children the ability to choose willingly or attributing what happened to the child.

Mary Offutt

Little Deer Isle