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Plea for the Children
Did you know that an estimated 1 of 3 girls and 1 of 6 boys are sexually violated prior to the age 18. Despite what you may have read, this is not someone's vivid imagination. I've worked with these children.
One young kindergarten girl was if her grandfather had hurt her when he molested her. She responded softly, "Only in my heart."
Many of these children are raped by people who have already been convicted, incarcerated, served a sentence, and released.
Is "rape" too harsh a word? I think not.
What do we call it when a child is robbed of innocence? When a child is violated by unspeakable acts that defy description? When a child is subjected to violations of their trust and body beyond comprehension? When a child is abused in a way that most adults would never tolerate? When a child is alone and scared?
The Snider's son, Zachary, was molested and murdered by a released sex offender living in their neighborhood in Cloverdale, Indiana. No one knew. Zachary's mother, Sandy, courageously initiated and assured that offender registration laws were passed in Indiana.
But, -- that is not enough. The Sniders suffered through a murder trial -- and a guilty verdict was delivered, but that did not bring back Zachary.
Debbie Mahoney's son, Brian, was repeatedly victimized by a high school tutor, a former Big Brother volunteer who lived next door in Livermore, California. He was a co-worker, their neighbor, and a trusted family friend -- he has a sexual preference for children. No one knew.
Debbie initiated and assured that sex offender registration laws were passed in California. But, -- that is not enough. Brian's perpetrator continues to evade the law. He's out there somewhere -- with 51 pending counts of child pornography -- still offending. Maybe as a volunteer in some boys' organization down the street?
The Klaas' daughter, Polly, was killed by a convicted and released sex offender who was living in their town in northern California. No one knew. The Klaas family suffered through the murder trial of the repeat offender -- and still grieve for Polly.
The Kanka's daughter, Megan, was killed in New Jersey by a convicted and released sex offender who was living across the street. No one knew. The Kanka's are preparing for the trial of their young daughter's murderer as this message is being written. They initiated and assured federal legislation for offender registration, after Megan's death, and even before the trial had begun.
But, -- that is still NOT enough.
The rehabilitation success of sex offenders continues to be extremely poor. Most sex offenders have many victims (an average of 114 victims per offender) -- and they continue to victimize, despite criminal charges, prior incarceration, and offender registration laws.
There are released offenders who remain illusive ... and reoffending ... maybe in our community ... near our school yards ... in our neighborhood ... maybe next door.
Not your town ... not your neighborhood ... not your child? Ask the Sniders ... ask the Kanka's ... ask Marc Klaas ... ask Debbie.
Do you want convicted sex offenders volunteering to work with children in your community? They are very clever. Do you know what they look like?
The Kanka's didn't know. The Klass' didn't know. Debbie didn't know. Sandy didn't know. How would you know?
They look like Scout leaders, and clergy, and teachers, and coaches, and police officers, and the nice old man next door, and the nice young man next door, and the baby-sitter ... or my neighbor ... or your neighbor?
N. Faulkner, PhD © 1999-2003
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