Take Action

The best way to protect our children of today and tomorrow from sexual predators is to…take action. Help stop childhood sexual abuse. Help change the laws so more victims get the opportunity for justice. Help by listening. By learning. By stepping forward to make a difference.

Topics
10 Ways to Stop Child Abuse
Legislation
Statute of Limitations
Sex Education Bills
Suggested Reading

10 Ways to Stop Child Abuse

Act on your suspicions. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, trust your instincts. Suspected abuse is enough of a reason to make a report to the authorities. You do not need proof.
Be aware of unexplained injuries. Note unusual burns or bruises in the shape of objects, or unconvincing explanations of a child’s injuries.
Notice changes in behavior. Abuse can lead to many changes in a child’s behavior, ranging from becoming isolated and withdrawn to becoming overly aggressive.
Notice a child’s fear of going home. If a child is a victim of physical or sexual abuse, he or she may display apprehension about leaving school or going places with the abuser.
Notice if a child is expressing inappropriate knowledge of sexual relations. If a child is a victim of sexual abuse, he or she may exhibit overly sexual behavior, or use explicit sexual language.
Notice unexplained weight loss or other signs that a child is not getting enough to eat. Underfed children may be unusually sluggish or fatigued.
Notice if there is an unexplained drop in a child’s attendance at school. Children may be unable to attend school due to injuries from their abuse or intentionally held out of school to cover up visible signs of abuse.
Notice if a child is stealing or begging for food from fellow classmates or members of the community. Children who do not get enough to eat may resort to trying to obtain food in whatever way they can.
Notice a child’s lack of personal care or hygiene. Young children who have been neglected or abused may appear dirty or uncared for or have unsuitable clothing for the weather conditions.
Notice if there is a decline in a child’s performance in school. Abuse may affect all aspects of a child’s life, including their grades.

From safehorizon. Moving victims of violence from crisis to confidence. www.safehorizon.org

Legislation

Stay attuned to the legislation in your state and get involved!

Supporting legislation that will change laws to favor victims instead of perpetrators is a lasting way to take action. State laws, such as Statutes of Limitations, vary from state-to-state. Coalitions like CALCASA, The California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (www.calcasa.org and www.calcasapublicpolicy.org) lists the bills it is tracking in the state House and Senate relating to victims, sexual abuse and predators on its website. It also summarizes the areas it focuses on, which are:

Victim Services
From funding to ensure victims receive the services they need to clarifying protocols for community notification and investigation of sexual assault, you can become involved in coalitions (like CALCASA) which closely watch related legislation.

These coalitions actively follow and sponsor bills that can expand services to victims of sexual assault and support accountability of offenders. Safer communities and better plans for offender management can result from active participation. Links to Sexual Assault Coalitions can be found here: http://www.calcasa.org/79.0.html

Involvement in coalitions or other organizations concerned with sexual assault awareness, prevention and victim services opens the door on a wide range of topics where your help can make a difference, such as:

Prevention and Community Education
Be actively involved in your schools – K-12 – to determine the availability, content and effectiveness of sexual assault education and prevention.

Sentencing and Offender Accountability
Take note of studies outlining the effects of sentencing on reporting and convictions. Explore the outcomes of sentencing schemes on the likelihood of victim reporting and successful prosecution of cases.

Community Safety and Offender Management
Follow laws and pending legislation about how offenders are managed – and society is protected.

Promote and support laws about a victim’s right to be informed of their offender’s movement.

Statute of Limitations

The Statute of Limitations refers to the period of time within which legal action may be taken. The Statute of Limitations for most sex crimes in California, for example, - including Child Exploitation - is ten years. Once that time has passed, a perpetrator cannot be prosecuted for that particular crime.

However, increased awareness of childhood sexual abuse is leading legislators in many states to consider lengthening, or even abolishing the Statute of Limitations for these crimes.

In California Senate Bill 256 (SB 256), authored by Senator Elaine Alquist, would eliminate the statute of limitations for sex crimes so that there is no time limit on prosecuting the criminals who commit these crimes.

To become more informed about the Statute of Limitations in your state, contact your state’s legislative offices. Online, running a search with an entry such as “Statute of Limitations for Sex Crimes” will yield a number of results.

Sex-Education Bills

Sex Education in public schools – how it’s taught, what it covers - is often the topic of dissent among parents, educational and healthcare professionals. Laws regarding Sex Education vary from state-to-state and are worth watching in an ongoing effort to protect children. For example:

California Senate Bill 71, authored by Senator Sheila Kuehl, and now signed into law, updates the current laws and eliminates contradictions by establishing a new definition of comprehensive sexual health education, setting age-appropriate grade levels for required topics, creating a new uniform parental consent policy, and ensuring that instruction is age-appropriate, scientifically current, and bias-free. The bill continues to mandate HIV/AIDS prevention education and to give schools discretion as to whether to teach sex education.