Issue Position: Sexual Abuse of Children

Issue Position

THOUGHTS ON THE PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND PUNISHMENT FOR THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN

In the way of an introduction, let me say that I spent several years as the facilitator of a support group for Parents Anonymous, an organization which has morphed into Prevent Child Abuse Vermont. Thus I am not completely unfamiliar with the subject of child abuse. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I have worked to strengthen Vermont's laws to ensure that the greatest number of perpetrators are incarcerated for the maximum period of time and to ensure that untreated sex offenders do not return to our communities. The recent tragic death of Brooke Bennett has brought a public out cry for stiffer sentences for those who sexually abuse children, popularly known as Jessica's Law. The Senate Judiciary Committee is presently holding a series of meetings to determine what happened in the Bennett case and what, if any, changes in Vermont's laws are necessary to prevent the reoccurrence of this tragedy. I am waiting until the hearings are over and I've heard all the testimony to make my final decision on what we should do.

However, there is one thing that is perfectly clear to me- the law does not come into play until a child has been abused. To truly protect our children we must prevent such tragedies from happening in the first place. When we are asked to put those who sexually abuse children in prison for at least twenty-five years or to ban them from living near schools and playgrounds, I am reminded of a local police chief who refused a citizens group's request to place a SLOW CHILDREN PLAYING signs placed on a busy street. When asked why, he explained that there was no evidence that the signs caused drivers to slow down. The signs only created a false sense of safety. Parents needed to teach their children how to play safely or supervised them more closely. There is no evidence that states that have enacted high mandatory minimum sentences or residency requirement have a significantly reduced rate of abuse. Vermont is, in fact, one of the safest states in the nation.

Children deserve to feel safe in their homes, schools and communities. Unfortunately, these are the sites where children are most likely to be abused. The sexual abuse of children is much more prevalent than most of us would like to believe Nationally, one in five girls and one in seven boys will be abused before the age of eighteen. Most abusers are people known, trusted and frequently loved by the child, not strangers. Under these circumstances, children can only be safe if the entire community works to protect them. Parents and teachers must ensure that children understand the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behavior and what to do if they are not comfortable in a situation. They need to learn the signs that a child is being targeted for abuse or has been abuse. As a State we must provide a safe way for children and those around them to report abuse and we must act swiftly to protect them. We must ensure that law enforcement, the courts and corrections have the training and resources necessary to apprehend, prosecute, punish and supervise abusers. And we must ensure that our laws support them in this important endeavor.

As a legislator, I will work to make sure that our laws are effective and strict.. But as a parent and grandparent I have a more important job. I am the first line of defense for the children around me. It is my job to protect them. It is only when I fail and a child is abused that the law comes into play. Our children are depending on all of us to protect them. For more information on what you can do to protect children contact Prevent Child Abuse Vermont pcavt.org

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