How to Know If Your Community Is Safe From Sexual Predators

According to the US government, nearly 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be exploited sexually before puberty. Protecting your community and family from sexual predators begins with learning about potential risks and safe behaviors. Follow these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Police officer
• Telephone

Protect Your Child in Your Community

1. Learn about potential risks in your community. If you live in certain states, you may be able to access a database of convicted sexual predators. Visit the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Web site (see Resources below) to search by state, city or zip code.
2. Teach your child safe behavior such as not approaching strangers and remaining under the watchful eye of a responsible adult if out in the community.
3. Explain to your child that it is against the law for adults to sexually molest children. Keep the lines of communication open between yourself and your children.
4. Call 911 if you witness the activity of a sexual predator in your community.
5. If you believe a child is being sexually abused in your community, report it directly to the police or child protective services.

Keep Your Child Safe Online

6. Be aware of what Web sites your child visits. You can install parental controls on many browsers to prevent your children from visiting sites that might be frequented by sexual predators.
7. Teach your children to practice caution when developing relationships through an online social networking community. Make sure they understand that they should never agree to meet someone they know online in the ''real world'' unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult.

Tips & Warnings

• Even those who display suspicious behavior indicative of sexual predation cannot be convicted of a sex crime unless they are proven guilty through the legal process. As with all criminals, sexual predators have the right to a fair and speedy trial.
• RAINN or the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network reports that nearly 15 percent of all sexual assaults involve children under the age of 12. Evidence has shown that a child who is or has been a victim of a sexual predator has a higher risk of becoming involved in drugs and alcohol at an early age as well as an increased risk of self-destructive behavior and suicide.