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Parents hear reality of child sex abuse

A sheriff's corporal urges awareness of dangers - by strangers and friends.

By JARED LEONE
Published January 28, 2007

There are 1,250 registered sex offenders and predators in Pinellas County.

For every one that is identified, 12 are not.

Thirty-three percent of girls and 16 percent of boys will be sexually abused before they become adults.

Those were facts shared with parents during a workshop Thursday on child sexual abuse and abduction prevention. Pinellas County sheriff's Cpl. Denise Nestor taught the two-hour class at the Town Hall in Redington Beach.

Jennifer Tennant, 33, of Redington Shores found out about the workshop from a flier her kids brought home from school.

"You know it happens all the time, but to hear the numbers, it was absolutely scary," Tennant said.

It's important to teach children to be wary of strangers, Nestor said, but it's also important for parents to know that most sex abuse is by someone who is close to the family.

Make good choices about the people you are friends with, Nestor told parents.

"You need to wrap your brain around the fact that this person is trying to gain your trust to get access to (your children)," she said.

Nestor said the average molester of girls will have 50 or more victims; the average molester of boys will have more than 150 victims. Molesters also have a process of selecting their victims, she said as she pointed to a yellow school crossing sign on the big screen.

"Hunters go where the deer are," Nestor said.

After hearing Nestor's crime prevention class, Tennant said she was fearful for her children but with education and reinforcement, she said she can keep them safe. Tennant said one tip, urging children to kick and scream, is something she will reiterate and work on with her children.

"I am going to talk with them all week," Tennant said. "I don't want my kids to be victims."

Fast Facts:

To keep kids safe

- Ask children open-ended questions and never punish them for what they say to make sure they feel they can tell you anything.

- Discuss some of the lures a predator might use, like helping to find a lost puppy or checking out video games in the car.

- Establish emergency plans. For instance, if a parent and child are separated, tell children to wait at the last place both were together.

- Because most predators are men, teach children to seek help from women in emergencies.

- Keep an updated identity kit that includes the child's recent picture, height and weight.

- Teach children their full names, those of their parents, their address and phone number.

- Monitor children's online activities.

Source: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

[Last modified January 27, 2007, 21:29:33]