Safety Tips

Children are particularly vulnerable to sex offenders. Open communication between parents and children is vital to family safety. If a picture is available from the local law enforcement's website, show it to your family. In general terms, tell your children that this person has hurt someone before. Explain to them that they should stay away from this individual. Avoid scary details. The purpose behind community notification is to reduce the chance of future victimization by better informing the public.

Frequently Asked Questions...

Q: Is it a matter of time before the offender commits another crime?
A: While there is no way that anyone can accurately predict the future behavior of another person, past behavior is an indication of whether an individual, or group, poses a higher risk to the public. Not all offenders will commit another crime; however, knowledge of a potential risk should assist you and your family in avoiding situations that allow for easy access to victims.

Q: What do I tell my children about known offenders in our area?
A: DON'T accept a ride from this person. DON'T go into their home or yard. Tell your parents if this person offers you toys, money or gifts.

For other safety information, please select from the links below:

Things to Know | Behavior to Watch | Talking to Children | Warning Signs

Safety Tips - Things to Know

Facts about Sex Offenders

In 2003, there were approximately 455,000 registered sex offenders in the United States.
Most sex offenders (80- 95%) assault people they know.
Sex offenders vary widely in their risk to re-offend. Estimates suggest that 40% - 45% of untreated sexual offenders will sexually re-offend in their lifetime. These rates are considerably lower than rates of re-offense for other types of violent offenders. (ATSA)
Research studies by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Canadian Government have found that sexual offense recidivism rates are much lower than commonly believed, averaging between 14% and 20% over 5-year follow-up periods. Studies that have tracked sex offenders over longer follow-up periods have found that pedophiles, who molest boys, and rapists of adult women, were the types of offenders most likely to recidivate at rates of 52% and 39% respectively. (ATSA)
Child molesters may have assaulted both male and female children, especially if they target pre-pubescent children.
Many sex offenders report having engaged in more than one unusual sexual activity, such as window peeping, exposing themselves, rubbing against someone for sexual gratification, etc.
Those sexual offenders that victimize people inside their homes are also capable of having victimized people outside their homes.
It is estimated that less than 10% of all sex crimes result in a criminal conviction. This means that there are many sex offenders in our communities who have not yet been identified. (ATSA)
An ATSA supported summary of 43 studies indicated a recidivism rate for treated offenders of 12% and 17% for untreated offenders over an average follow-up time of 46 months. (Doren)

Sex Offender Characteristics

Sex offenders come from all gender, age, socioeconomic, and racial backgrounds.
It is possible for offenders to commit multiple crimes against multiple types of victims with whom they have varying types of relationships (adults, children, male, female, known, and unknown). This behavior is known as "crossover".
It is possible for sex offenders to have victimized many times without having been convicted of a sex offense.
Sexual deviancy often begins in adolescence.
Sexual offenders with numerous victims may have begun having those urges in adolescence and continued sexual offending for many years.
The majority of those that commit juvenile sex offenses do not commit sex offenses as adults.
Approximately 4% of sexual assaults are committed by women.

Safety Tips - Behavior to Watch

Adult Behavior that may signal Sexual Interest in Children

Remember: Children are most often molested by someone they know, or whom the parents know. Do you know an adult or child who:

Refuses to let a child set any of his or her own limits?
Insists on hugging, touching, kissing, tickling, wrestling with or holding a child even when the child does not want affection?
Is overly interested in the sexuality of a particular child or teen (e.g. talks repeatedly about the child's developing body or interferes with normal teen dating)?
Manages to get time alone or insists on time alone with a child without interruptions?
Spends most of his / her spare time with children and has little interest in spending time with someone their own age?
Regularly offers to babysit many different children for free or takes children on overnight outings alone?
Buys children expensive gifts or gives them money for no apparent reason?
Frequently walks in on children / teens in the bathroom?
Allows children or teens to consistently get away with inappropriate behaviors?
Talks again and again about the sexual activities of children or teens?
Talks about sexual fantasies with children and is not clear about what's okay with children?
Encourages silence and secrets in a child?
Asks adult partners to dress or act like a child or teen during sexual activity?
Often has a "special" child friend, maybe a different one from year to year?
Spends most spare time on activities involving children or teens, not adults?
Makes fun of a child's body parts, calls a child sexual names?

From: "Because There Is a Way to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse: Facts About Abuse and Those Who Might Commit It", Joan Tabachnick, Editor, Stop It Now!, Haydenville, MA, 1998.

Safety Tips - Talking to Children

What to Say When Talking to Your Children:

Avoid scary details. Include general information when speaking to children. You know more than your child needs to know. Use language that is honest and age-appropriate (e.g. "there are people who do bad things to children").
If your children could possibly have contact with a registered sex offender, you should show your children the sex offender's photo. In a manner that does not incite panic: instruct your children to avoid contact with the offender, even if the offender's offenses of conviction do not involve an offense against a child. Instruct them to avoid being in the vicinity of the offender's residence or workplace.
Encourage your children to tell you if the sex offender initiates contact with them.
Encourage your children to tell you about any contact from any other person who makes them feel uncomfortable. It is important to teach your children about appropriate and inappropriate contact and to encourage regular discussion about their interactions with other people.
Teach your children: DON'T take rides from strangers; DON'T harass or visit any sex offender's home or yard; DO tell a safe adult if anyone acts inappropriately toward them (e.g. creepy, too friendly, threatening, offering gifts in a secret way, or touching them); DO RUN, SCREAM, and GET AWAY if someone is bothering them; DON'T keep secrets; DON'T assist strangers; DON'T go places alone; DO ask questions and DO talk about any uncomfortable feelings or interactions.
Make it a habit to LISTEN to your children and to believe them. If a child feels listened to and believed about small everyday things, they are more likely to share the big scary things with you. Be sensitive to changes in your child's behavior. Pay attention to your child's feelings.

Safety Tips - Warning Signs

Behavioral and Physical Warning Signs that a Child has been Abused:

Any one sign does not mean that the child was abused. Some of the behaviors below can show up during stressful times in a child's life, as well as when abuse occurs. If you see several of these signs in a child you know well, please begin to ask questions.

Nightmares, trouble sleeping, fear of the dark, or other sleeping problems.
Extreme fear of "monsters".
Spacing out at times.
Loss of appetite, or trouble eating or swallowing.
Sudden mood swings: rage, fear, anger, or withdrawal.
Fear of certain people or places. For example: a child may not want to be left alone with a baby-sitter, a friend, a relative, or some other child or adult; or a child who is usually talkative and cheery may become quiet and distant when around a certain person.
Stomach illness all of the time with no identifiable reason.
An older child behaving like a younger child, such as bed-wetting or thumb-sucking.
Sexual activities with toys or other children, such as simulating sex with dolls or asking other children / siblings to behave sexually.
New words for private body parts.
Refusing to talk about a "secret" he or she has with an adult or older child.
Talking about a new older friend.
Suddenly having money.
Cutting or burning herself or himself as an adolescent.