The statistics of prevalence for child sex abuse varies because of all the unique cases of child sex abuse that is reported. Although, statistic show that one in three girls will be sexually abused at one point in the United States and boys are one in seven to be sexually abused (Anderson, 2014). Children are not susceptible to crime as shown in the statistics because predators like pedophiles have fetishes towards little boy or girls. One study found that 10% of children experienced or came close to experiencing a form of sexual violence which would include rape, sexual assault, or harassment (Anderson, 2014). The numbers shown in the statistics are higher because of the unreported cases. 30% of cases involving child sex abuse are reported to the local authorities and 73% to 87% of female adolescents who are abused sexually are not treated or identified by by the community (Anderson, 2014). Child sex abuse is also costly because it costs the United States an estimated $103 billion for the abuse and negligence (Anderson, 2014). On another note, 80% of children who have been sexually abused have symptoms of PTSD (Anderson, 2014).
Prevention of child sex abuse has risen in recent years with various programs and policies that help reduce the rate of children being abused. Sex offender registries was formed to notify the local communities about a sex offender living near the families. The Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Act requires states
Countless attacks of child sexual abuse goes underreported due to fear and shame. That number only increases if the aggressor is a female. Deering & Mellor, estimated that 79% of children they interviewed did not report the abuse and of the children that did come forward about the sexual abuse only one was believed (2011). Due to the fact that female sexual offenders are less likely to be reported the period of abuse seems to last for a longer period of time. Deering and Mellor, (2011) stated that “the average age of onset of the female-perpetrated child sexual abuse was age 7, and the average age of cessation of the abuse was approximately age 12.
“A University study found 20.6% of women and 10.5% of men reported non-penetrative childhood sexual abuse by the age of 16 and that 7.9% of women and 7.5% of men reported penetrative childhood sexual abuse by the age 16 years. (Mamun, Lawlor, O’Calloghan, Bor, Williams. & Najman, 2007 Queensland University
Sexual offenders are the most vilified type of offenders within public opinion and the criminal justice system. The American precedent cases of Jacob Wetterling, Pam Lyncher, Megan Kanka, and other notorious crimes perpetrated by sexual offenders with a prior history of conviction have demanded a response from the criminal justice system to increase public safety. In 1994, the Jacob Wetterling Crimes against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Program was passed (Scholle, 2000), the first piece of legislation to advocate for the development of state-maintained registries of convicted sexual offenders. The legislation has been amended numerous times since then; in its present state, the law requires all states to maintain a registry, the mandatory registration of convicted sex offenders after release, community notification laws in place, and public access to the registry (Burchfield and Mingus, 2012; Lees and Tewksbury, 2006; Petrunik, Murphy, and Fedoroff, 2008; Scholle, 2000; Tewksbury and Lees, 2006; Wagner, 2011).
The internet has become so helpful and useful about keeping the public alerted and informed on their surrounding as well as their children’s surrounding. The internet is now the primary source for finding for finding information on any registered sex offender no matter where they might be. The sex offender registry was created the public about sexually predators that might live in any area. The registries increase the
At times it can be difficult for even the most loving parent to recognize and take protective action for their child. An exceedingly large number of child victims never disclose what occurred to them. A sex offender on average molests 120 victims, many of which are never reported (Child Abuse Statistics,
Chapter 9, Sex Offender Registration, Notification, and Civil Commitment Statutes in the book Current Legal Issues in Criminal Justice (2nd ed.) written by Craig Hemmens has a section that pertains to sex offender registration and notification laws that have been enacted by legislation. There were a couple topics that stood out as being relevant to me. It is stated that the sex offender registration is to be used for notifying law enforcement of the residence location of convicted sex offenders within their jurisdiction (Hemmens, 2015). It also later states that citizens of the community are protected from sexual victimization by the means of notification of these registered sex offenders (Hemmens, 2015).
Today's literature estimates that as many as 1 in 3 females and 1 in 7 boys have been the victim of sexual abuse. There are about 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of incest each year in each major city in the United States. It is reported by the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse that in 1993, 2.9 million children were reported to protective services because they were being abused, neglected, or both (Schwartz). 16% of these 2.9 million children had been sexually abused. It is estimated that there are 60 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse in America today http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/stats.htm#Disclosure. This childhood sexual abuse has been
Sex offender registration in the United States began with the Jacob Wetterling Crimes against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act, passed by Congress in 1994. Since then, every states has indorsed some practice of sex offender registry and public reporting system. At present, researchers have determined that “Sex Laws are undeserved and unproductive”. If the social order wants to keep their children safe from real sex offenders, we need to do away with our existing sex offender registries and absolutely rethink the way we outline and punish sexual offences in this country. Currently, a substantial proportion of those people listed in sex offender registries pose almost no threat to children, making it challenging for us to know who really does pose a threat to our children and what we should do about them. As a nation, we have foolishly concluded that all sex crimes are the same. While sex offender registry laws vary from state to state. The problem is simple because the law says that two teens caught engaging in consensual oral sex in high school belong on the same list as a child rapist. This notion is ridiculous. This concept leaves
Child sexual abuse has been reported up to 80,000 times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater, because the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry). Childhood sexual abuse is a traumatic experience affecting the lives of not only the victim, but those close to the victim as well. Many think there is only one person truly traumatized, but in fact, everyone involved is affected. The victim has to deal with their experience the rest of their lives. They may be more at risk for other mental issues as well, including depression. The family involved has to deal with its pain, often causing hardship and discord within the family. This is especially true
Child sexual abuse is a significant public health problem. It is one that can causes toxic stress and results in multiple long-term health consequences, both human and financial costs, and a host of social problems. If government and the community work together, this monster of Carnal Abuse can be destroy. Children should not have to grow up in this nightmare; Mothers should not be worrying whether their child will be rape.
Imagine being robbed of your innocence in a matter of seconds. Imagine not being able to speak out due to threats and fear of seeking help and not being taken seriously. Troubling, is it not? Sexual abuse has always been a problem in society that can affect anyone. Sexual abuse brings along many negative outcomes; however, throughout the years, sexual abuse has been a factor that has always been ignored. Even though sexual abuse has had many attempts to be avoided in various environments, all have failed.
Sexual abuse to children happens across every socioeconomic status, ethnic, cultural, religion and education. Getting treatment for a victim of child sexual abuse is a difficult process because of the lack of trust by the child. When child sexual abuse occurs the victim’s family has a difficult time talking about the abuse, which leads to the family pretending the abuse never happened. Once the family
1. Children are seldom victims of this crime. Actually, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, in the United States, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused by the time they are 18. Consider those numbers for a moment. They are shocking and devastating. Those figures alone should motivate parents to seek out prevention strategies.
Many researchers believe that statistics based on official reports do not accurately reflect the prevalence of child abuse. Definitions of maltreatment vary from state to state and among agencies, making such statistics unreliable. Professionals who interact with children—such as teachers, day-care workers, pediatricians, and police officers—may fail to recognize or report abuse. In addition, acts of abuse usually occur in the privacy of a family’s home and often go unreported. Surveys of families, another way of estimating abuse, indicate that 2.3 percent of children in the United States—or about 1.5 million children—experience abusive violence each
There are several different types of abuse, from sexual abuse to verbal abuse etc. Many happen within our own homes and the act is very unnoticeable. People being sexually attracted to children used to account for a very small percentage of people. However, as time continues more child sexual offenders are being reported. As time continues more children are facing the experience of being molested. Child sexual abuse faced not only in the United States but also around the world affects many children. The use of different terms such as pedophilia, child molestation, and sexual abuse are used to express the crime that happens to the young kids of the world. “A pedophile is a person who has a sustained sexual orientation toward children, generally aged 13 or younger” (Blanchard, 2005). “A child molester is any older child or adult who touches a child for his or her own sexual gratification and child molestation is the act of sexually touching a child” (Child Molestation Research and Prevention institute, 2016). There are many children affected by child molestation and sexual abuse, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, “In a 2012 maltreatment report, of the victims who were sexually abused, 26% were in the age group of 12–14 years and 34% were younger than 9 years.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000). While there is no debate on whether or not child molestation is looked down