A former football coach, who for many years was applauded for his work with children, has been charged with child sex-abuse and endangerment. At the same time, administrators in the school are also facing charges for lying to a grand jury about what they knew about such allegations.

67 year old Jerry Sandusky was the Defensive Coordinator for the Penn State Football program and a well known star in the world of college football. He was arrested over the weekend after news broke that a former victim came forward with information about the prior abuse.

The charges against Mr. Sandusky include the abuse of 8 different boys over a 15 year period. Even more shocking is the fact the allegations state the some incidents occurred on the Penn State Campus and at a Camp Mr. Sandusky held for young boys. It remains to be seen how this scandal will affect the school, as it may be that a cover-up occurred by other members of the Penn State Community.

Technology Aides the Protection of Children and Domestic Violence

Technology has been changing our lives for the better, as communication, information, and education are easily conducted quickly and efficiently. In some locations, technology is even used to help protect children from domestic violence.

Video Cameras and recording devices are being used by police and case workers to produce a record of testimony and conditions after a reported domestic violence dispute. Such recordings are now utilized in cases to prosecute offenders, where in the past, victims had to face them in court and other legal proceedings, often leading to refusal to cooperate for fear of the offender.

Jurisdictions that are using such technology are finding that many more guilty pleas and convictions are being obtained against offenders, greatly increasing the quality of life for children and victims who often do not have a voice. This has also lead to many less cases of repeat offenders, a great sign that the technology is working.

Child Abuse Intervention Center Opens on Indian Reservation

Child abuse is an unfortunate reality on a large amount of Native American reservations throughout the United States. However, some Native American reservations are taking steps to address child abuse and prevent child abuse in the future. The Warm Springs Indian Reservation is just one example.

On November 5, 2012, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced that the Indian Health Service and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation recently opened a Child Abuse Intervention Center. The center holds a medical clinic where caregivers part of the Indian Health Service (HIS) can interview and examine Native American children who were potentially abused sexually and/or physically.

After the medical examinations are completed, the cases will be forwarded to law enforcement officials.

The center is called “Snwiyaila Miyanashna” which means “Talking for the Children.” The Child Abuse Intervention Center is located in the HIS offices on the Warm Springs Reservation, and the center was blessed by tribal elders on November 5, 2012. The ceremony was attended by Council members and tribal police officers, advocates for victims, prosecutors, and case works. Representatives from the HIS, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation also attended the ceremony.

The Executive Director of Snwiyaila Miyanashna, Dr. Rachel Locker, stated: “This Child Abuse Intervention Center is only the second of its kind on tribal lands in the United States. The Warm Springs tribal elders have shown incredible leadership in protecting the children in their Tribal Nation.”

The Child Abuse Intervention Center increases efforts to stop child abuse on the Warm Springs reservation. The Child Abuse Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) has operated on the reservation for years. The MDT is made of federal prosecutors, FBI agents, case works, medical professionals, and police officers that meet every month to review investigations and prosecutions on child abuse.

Source: Fedeal Bureau of Investigation

Child Grooming

What is Child Grooming?

Child grooming is a term used in the context of child sexual abuse. Grooming is process used by the abuser to establish the trust of the child and the trust of the child’s parents or guardians as well. According to the Hero Project, predators will usually try and gain access to a child by grooming the parents.

For example, a predator may groom a parent by dating the child’s mother with actual interests in the child. This concept was popularized in literature by Vladimir Nabokov in the book titled Lolita. Another example of grooming the parents includes offering to babysit or perform favors for the family only in order to gain access to the parents.

Steps Involved in Child Grooming Behavior

A predator can groom a child for months or even years in order to make the child more comfortable and accept physical touch from the predator. The Hero Project indicates the first touching is usually nonsexual, such as an “accidental” touch to a hand or shoulder or playful tickling.

At some point, the predator will introduce a level of secrecy between the child and the parents. The predator may allow the child to engage in activity the parents would not approve of such as staying up late or eating junk food. These secrets eventually result in the predator making threats to maintain a level of secrecy after sexual contact has started. They may tell the child that they’ll hurt a family member if they tell or tell the child that their parents will hate them if they tell.

Other Types of Child Grooming

Predators will often target children who are trusting, quiet or a victim of abuse in the past. The level of touch will continually increase, and the predator

may even spend time with the child during bedtime. They try to isolate the child and increase the level of contact to see how the child reacts.

Predators also engage in the following types of child grooming:

· kissing the child in an inappropriate way

· holding the child on their lap when the predator is aroused

· playing tag and pulling down the child’s pants

· touching that seems harmless like wrestling, tickling, or massaging

· treating the child like they are equal or a spouse

How to Recognize Child Grooming

Many parents believe that child grooming is preventable if a close family member or friend helps take care of the child. This is a myth. A large percentage of predators are family members or close acquaintances.

The best way to look out for child grooming is to constantly talk with the child’s teachers, coaches, day care personnel, or others that are around the child constantly. These adults may be able to notice changes in the child’s behavior.

The Hero Project encourages parents to make unannounced visits as much as possible. Also, parents should make sure to emphasize that their children can tell them anything. Ask as many questions as possible.