"Sex offenders only rarely sneak into a house in the middle of the night. More often they come through the front door in the day, as friends, [family], neighbors, priests, principals, teachers, doctors and coaches. They are invited into our homes time after time..."

Anna C. Salter, PhD, Sex Offender Specialist and Author

1. Child sexual abuse can include a variety of touching and non-touching behaviors. Many of these behaviors do not leave any physical signs so investigations cannot rely on physical factors alone to tell when a child is being sexually abused. It’s imperative to know and understand that physical and or behavior changes can be present in cases of sexual abuse.

2. In the wake of a young boy's kidnapping and murder at the hands of a sexual predator, federal lawmakers passed the Wetterling Act to provide law enforcement authorities the means to track and locate convicted sex offenders. Community notification laws, most notably Megan's Law statutes, have adapted the idea to make information about sex offenders available to the public.

3. Community notification laws, commonly referred to as sex offender registries, are most often associated with the 1994 rape and murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka. She died just thirty yards from her own front door in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. On July 29, 1994, a neighbor lured the little girl to his house with the promise that she could see his new puppy. The neighbor was a convicted sex offender who had served time in prison for aggravated assault and attempted sexual assault against a child.

4. The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect defines child sexual assault as "contacts or interactions between a child and an adult when the child is used for the perpetrator's sexual stimulation or another person when the perpetrator or another person is in a position of control over the victim." Sexual abuse not only includes inappropriate contact, but also exposing one's genitals to a child or making a child view pornographic materials.

• Investigative Phase. Different agencies are involved to determine if sexual abuse occurred, who abused the child, where it occurred, and how to protect the child. A medical assessment will determine if the child has injuries or sexually transmitted disease. Decisions at this point include: whether child needs medical exam/interview, whether to cooperate with Law Enforcement and Department of Human Services/Child Welfare, whether to cease contact with abuser, and the need for counseling. This is a difficult part of the process for the victim. He or she will have conflicted feelings about the abuser, feel guilty about the disclosure, be embarrassed about the abuse, and feel responsible. If there isn’t enough evidence, the case will not proceed, and services will cease. When a case is dropped, the offender is not held accountable, and the victim and mother/family feel betrayed. Professionals may believe the abuse occurred. You may believe the abuse occurred. However, the law requires evidence for the case to proceed.

CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO U.S. FEDERAL LAW ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Except in limited circumstances, federal laws typically do not apply to child sexual abuse matters that takes place wholly inside a single state. These matters are therefore generally handled by state or local authorities and prosecuted under state laws. However, if the sexual abuse of a child occurred on federal lands, the offense may be prosecuted under federal law. Federal lands include areas such as military bases, Indian territories, and other government– owned lands or properties (See 18 U.S.C. §7).

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In an egalitarian society, the citizens change what opposes us. The laws and policies that guide the direction of CPS investigations provide occasions such as these for us to take another look. It’s our responsibility to question the Child Protective Services, Judges, officers of the court, appointed guardians and the like. Not one child or family should have to endure negligence. Recourse while appealing to a Social Service established to protect and serve the members that reside in a society, ought to be readily available. Families of “unfounded” sex abuse cases, do not have the right to information, remedy or expediency when inquiry is made regarding their case. Alleged victims and their families are to accept CPS findings, suspected abuse and negligence without recourse.

Citizens in every locale elect individuals to roles, and establish services that govern these matters. Each are human beings, just like You and I. They too, are prone to error.

To change the Laws that Govern CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES and CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, let us begin by Signing this Petition.

For more information on Child Sex Abuse Prevention and Advocacy, visit the following links:

https://www.dss.virginia.gov/files/division/dfs/mandated_reporters/cps/resources_guidance/032-02-0280-03-eng-07-19.pdf

The link above is to the Guide For Mandated Reporters In Recognizing And Reporting Child Abuse And Neglect in the state of Virginia. Locate your States guidelines in an effort to differentiate.

Why do adults fail to protect children from sexual abuse?

https://1in6.org/get-information/common-questions/why-do-adults-fail-to-protect-children-from-sexual-abuse-or-exploitation/

Building Trust with Children and Young People at Risk of Child Sexual Exploitation: The Professional Challenge

https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcw181

Thank You For Your Time and Attention