The best way to protect children is through the power of education. It is paramount to teach your children how to protect themselves, whether it is online, on a playground, the mall or at home.

ABC Dateline reporter, Chris Hansen presents a series, “To Catch a Predator.” Using decoys acting as a minor on the Internet Instant Messaging system. Predators are lured to a house where a decoy is waiting and the Dateline hidden camera crew is recording the event, while police watch nearby waiting to arrest the predator after he has learned from Chris Hansen that it is a set-up.

The website, MySpace reportedly removed 29,000 registered sex offender members from their site, according to an article by BBC News. Two articles, one each on SFGate.com and MSNBC.com reported that Facebook.com has a similarly problematic attraction for sex offenders.

May 22, 2006, the 109th Congress 2nd session declared June as Internet Safety Month. Recently, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Cox Communication released a highly disturbing survey of youth between 13 and 17 years old about their use of the Internet.

• 4 percent of the children questioned have had face-to-face meetings with people they met on the Internet. One child meeting a stranger from Internet contact is one too many.

• 30 percent said they have considered meeting someone face-to-face who they know only through the Internet.

• 71 percent reported receiving messages online from someone they didn’t know.

• 45 percent said they have been asked for personal information.

The list of tips for parents to protect their child on the Internet implies a predator could reach through the Computer screen and pull the child into an abyss.

The best tip to protect your child from any would-be child Internet predator is to provide them with the love, nurturing, guidance, connectedness and time they need to thrive in life. Children who have high self-esteem and strong family connections would not lured by a predator. The guidance they need regarding Internet conversations, no matter the web site is the same as when a stranger calls on the phone or rings the doorbell.

• Never tell a stranger on the Internet any personal information—the same as NEVER telling anyone on the phone that they are home alone or reveal any identifying information.

• Never trust a stranger on the Internet no matter how kind or friendly they seem to be—or if they tell you, “I know your Mom/Dad.”

• Never meet an Internet friend (stranger)—the same as NEVER opening the door to a stranger or getting in a strangers car.

I am baffled that many parents argue against what I am saying when I speak at teachers’ conferences, PTO meetings, day care centers and pediatricians’ offices. “That will never happen in my family or my neighborhood.”—they argue. They seem to only believe the neighborhoods on the other side of town are vulnerable to sex offenders. Studies reveal sex offenders are from all professions and socioeconomic status.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, author, “If I’d Only Known… Sexual Abuse in or Out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention, specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life’s challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. www.drdorothy.net

When will the majority come out of its well-guarded denial and stop Pedophiles/Ephebophiles from proliferating. Incarcerating sex offenders after the damage is done does little to stop the crime. The majority of sex offenders get out of jail in four years—85% re-offend. Not to mention the majority of sex offenders are in the family. We need to change the approach to stopping this insidious crime. Stopping this crime begins at home. www.gen-assist.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorothy_M._Neddermeyer,_PhD

- FREE- Find Sex Offenders in Your Neighborhood - FREE -  [CLICK HERE]

The sex offender didn’t seem like one — yet, there he was plotting his next move.

There is a way to find out if a sex offender lives in your area. You can use the - FREE- National Alert Registry- FREE -  [CLICK HERE] to check your area and neighborhood.

It takes just a few minutes to find out if sex offenders in my area could be in yours too.

To set the record straight, the fact, Representative Mark Foley (R-FL) is a sexual abuse survivor is no surprise. All sex offenders–Pedophile, Ephebophiles and rapists are sexual and/or physical abuse survivors. While this does not condone their behavior, it explains what prompts them to act out sexually.

Foley’s reported email to pages who reportedly are 17-years-old suggests he is an ephebophile. These abusers are called “ephebophiles” because they have a sexual interest in children who are post-puberty–14 to 17 years of age. Pedophiles abuse children under age 14.

Recent research indicates that the ratio of male pedophiles who molest boys versus male ephebophiles who molest boys, is four to one. That means male pedophiles are four times more frequent than male ephebophiles.

But male ephebophiles who molest boys frequently will target other children. A study of over 600 male ephebophiles found that slightly over 50% also had a history of molesting boys under age 14. In addition, over 28% had molested girls under age 14, and 20% had molested girls 14 to 17 years of age. From this information, it is clear that one can not assume that a male ephebophile who molests adolescent boys doesn’t also molest other categories of boys and girls.

Having worked twenty-six years specializing in sexual child abuse prevention and recovery and working with sex offenders in the recovery process, it is clear to me that society’s approach to stopping sexual child abuse isn’t working.

Society needs to take a hard look at the fact that laws can not prevent behavior. If laws and the threat of incarceration prevented behavior, then why are we constantly building more prisons? The laws such as: Megan’s Law and laws to prevent sex offenders from living closer than 2,000 feet of a school are giving families a false sense of security. This decision is fool-hardy because sex offender’s behavior is the result of a compulsion and not as a result of a poor decision. If sex offenders are unable to control their compulsions they will find access to children no matter where they live or no matter how many registries they are listed on. The compulsion is so strong they will risk anything to have access to children of their choice. Furthermore, national statistics reveal 80% of children, who are sexually abused are abused by family members.

Incarcerating sex offenders for life doesn’t stop sexual child abuse either. As a society we are ‘creating’ new sex offenders every day. Sex offenders are men or women, who are sexual or physical abuse survivors and they are using sex with children as a way to cope, to numb or distract themselves from the emotional pain. Frequently, the sex offender is seeking a similar experience to the pain they endured as a child. Unbeknownst to them, they are creating the moth to the flame scenario. In other words, the offender might believe she/he will never offend again, but when the compulsion to relieve the internal pain becomes too great they will offend. It is a compulsion that she/he can not stop. This compulsion solves the internal pain if only for a brief period albeit at the peril of going to jail. However, since the internal pain is beyond their ability to override its excruciating effect, they can not merely stop themselves.

Healing emotional issues for anyone who was sexually abused—no matter the reason—is possible. An innovative and highly effective process to achieve deeper and more total healing can be achieved through healing mind, body and spirit. This process is direct, focused, and combines healing the past while creating the future. People will make a subtle and effective transition to self-discovery and empowerment.

Healing emotional issues at the core addresses the all-important relationship to one’s true spiritual nature. Transforming the psychological conditional patterns and unconscious beliefs that arise from our personal histories and adaptations effectively transforms our mind, body and spirit. Thus, you transform how you feel, sense, and experience global political mass consciousness, as well as your individual consciousness, like never before. A Mind, Body, Spirit approach addresses the three critical aspects of one’s being, therefore opening the door to true balance and emotional healing.

Well-being comes from the understanding of the Self, the family, the local community in which we live, and the global community of which we are a part. We are each one heart of the Whole; each heart here to express its unique piece of the Whole. Knowing Self creates a sense of “I as a piece of this Whole,” different and one at the same time.

The real answer to stopping sexual child abuse is stopping what creates people to sexually abuse children and to heal those who are sex offenders.

Contrary to popular belief, 99.44% of sex offenders can heal their compulsions. Once their sexual/physical abuse emotional trauma is healed the compulsions disappear. The final stage of healing is forgiving their abusers and forgiving themselves for abusing others.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, author, “If I’d Only Known…Sexual Abuse in or Out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention, specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life’s challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. www.drdorothy.net

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorothy_M._Neddermeyer,_PhD

URL: ezinearticles.com/?Sex-Offenders—Setting-the-Record-Straight&id=318078

- FREE- Find Sex Offenders in Your Neighborhood - FREE -  [CLICK HERE]

They protect themselves by manipulating the child into being a co-conspirator or forcing the child to take responsibility either through intimidation, threats or sometimes even physical violence. They justify their actions by aggrandizing their authority. “I’m a good [father, grandfather, uncle, a good provider.] I am your [father, grandfather, mother, aunt], I can do what I want. I put food on the table and clothes on your back. Once the sex offender has rationalized and justified their actions they believe their own lies. They become an expert at manipulation; they escape adult reality; and are good at pretending that their behavior is not harming the child. They may expend great energy maintaining this illusion to themselves as well as others. They create a persona of goodness beyond reproach. Any one who sees through this well-honed facade is met with admonishment and rebuke for being critical, irrational and/or jealous (Michael Jackson and his legal team–simply distracts our attention from his behavior by accusing the victim is using him for their own greediness–they want to extort money.) The sex offender is the family and society’s emperor with no clothes. And we are, as a society, allowing it.

The media is the major purveyor of misinformation regarding sex offenders and sexual child abuse. See articles at ezinearticles.com: Oprah Isn’t Always Right, Common Myths About Child Sexual Abuse and Incest, Obfuscation Rules the World, More Evidence: Obfuscation Rules the World.

“For too long we have focused on What To Do after the damage is done. It is time to focus on What To Do before the damage is done.” Claire R. Reeves, President/Founder/CEO, Mothers Against Sexual Abuse (MASA)

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, author, “If I’d Only Known…Sexual Abuse in or Out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention, specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life’s challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. www.drdorothy.net

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorothy_M._Neddermeyer,_PhD

URL: ezinearticles.com/?Sex-Offenders-Rationalize-Their-Behavior&id=341020

http://sexoffenderslist.net/Sex-Offender-Info-Blog/sex-offender-records-criminal-search-online Looking for Someone? Find Someone, Find Anyone  [Click Here]

In many ways, the worst criminals are sex offenders. These people are mostly distorted in the mind and their victims are often children. Even hardcore thugs pose no direct danger to people who get out of their way, much less children. On the contrary, sex offenders search out the easiest and most vulnerable, regardless of age. Fortunately, their threat and danger is well publicized and legal measures are in place to keep them in check.

Convicted sex offenders are required by law to register their whereabouts and activities with the authorities even after they have served out their sentences. It is necessary to keep track of them as such people are prone to repeat offense. Statistics vary over different states but the recidivism rate within 3 years of released sex offenders in general is around 3% and 15 to 20% of their repeat offenses are actually committed while on probation or parole. Another stringent restriction on convicted sex offenders in many states is their residency. Such people are forbidden from staying within certain distances, say 1000 or 2000 feet, of child-centered amenities such as schools, playground, childcare centers or even bus stops. Sex offender registries are also made available for public viewing by many jurisdictions through government websites, notice boards, mail and other media.

Yes, it’s comforting to note that the drive against sex offenders is clear and concerted. Having said that, we never let our guards down where damages are usually permanent and irreparable. As tight as legislations are, there are escapees through the cracks, so to speak. It is thus a good idea to conduct sex offender record searches on a routine basis.

There are options these days to how they can be done to suit personal bandwidth. If time is not an issue, surf through the various free websites on the net and make on site visits to the respective government agencies. For people with busy schedules, there’s Sex Offender Professional Service available but be sure to engage the bona fide ones. There are many competent commercial databases to choose from on all the major search engines.

Now that you know the benefits of Sex Offender Records, find the records at http://gov-record.org/criminal-records/
Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_Jen
ezinearticles.com/?Sex-Offender-Records—Criminal-Search-Online&id=896516

The Arizona Republic, Sunday, June 10, 2007 - Sex Offenders Getting Younger, More Violent by Kim Curtis Associated Press. Stockton, CA

This headline jumps out at me and at the same time my stomach lurched with mixed emotions. This headline is thirty years late and nothing will change. I have been working to help adults recover from sexual and physical abuse for twenty-six years. Nothing has changed with regard to prevention on a global scale. Society believes having more severe penalties will solve the issue—despite everything to the contrary.

Having worked twenty-six years specializing in sexual child abuse prevention and recovery and working with sex offenders in the recovery process, it is clear to me that society’s approach to stopping sexual child abuse isn’t working.

Sex Offender Laws Cannot Prevent Behavior 

Society needs to take a hard look at the fact that laws can not prevent behavior. If laws and the threat of incarceration prevented behavior, then why are we constantly building more prisons? The laws such as: Megan’s Law and laws to prevent sex offenders from living closer than 2,000 feet of a school are giving families a false sense of security. This decision is fool-hardy because sex offender’s behavior is the result of a compulsion and not as a result of a poor decision. If sex offenders are unable to control their compulsions they will find access to children no matter where they live or no matter how many registries they are listed on. The compulsion is so strong they will risk anything to have access to children of their choice. In addition, national statistics reveal 80 percent of children, who are sexually abused are abused by family members—parent(s), grandparent, uncle, cousin, sibling, step-parent, et al.

Incarcerating sex offenders for life doesn’t stop sexual child abuse either. As a society we are ‘creating’ new sex offenders every day. Sex offenders are men or women, who are sexual or physical abuse survivors and they are using sex with children as a way to cope, to numb or distract themselves from the emotional pain. Frequently, the sex offender is seeking a similar experience to the pain they endured as a child. Unbeknownst to them, they are creating the moth to the flame scenario. In other words, the offender might believe she/he will never offend again, but when the compulsion to relieve the internal pain becomes too great they will offend. It is a compulsion that she/he can not stop. This compulsion solves the internal pain if only for a brief period albeit at the peril of going to jail. However, since the internal pain is beyond their ability to override its excruciating effect, they can not merely stop themselves.

Healing emotional issues for anyone who was sexually abused—no matter the reason—is possible. An innovative and highly effective process to achieve deeper and more total healing can be achieved through healing mind, body and spirit. This process is direct, focused, and combines healing the past while creating the future. People will make a subtle and effective transition to self-discovery and empowerment.

Healing emotional issues at the core addresses the all-important relationship to one’s true spiritual nature. Transforming the psychological conditional patterns and unconscious beliefs that arise from our personal histories and adaptations effectively transforms our mind, body and spirit. Thus, you transform how you feel, sense, and experience global political mass consciousness, as well as your individual consciousness, like never before. A Mind, Body, Spirit approach addresses the three critical aspects of one’s being, therefore opening the door to true balance and emotional healing.

The real answer to stopping sexual child abuse between adult and child or child-on-child is stopping what creates people to sexually abuse children and to heal those who are sex offenders.

Contrary to popular belief, 99.44 percent of sex offenders can heal their compulsions. Once their sexual/physical abuse emotional trauma is healed the compulsions disappear. The final stage of healing is forgiving their abusers and forgiving themselves for abusing others.

The psychiatric profession treats sexual and physical abuse survivors as if they have done something wrong or are inadequate. “What is wrong with you?” or “What happened to you?” implies blame, sickness and fault. Asking, “What did you experience growing up?,” allows the person to begin the process of discovering the source of their pain and healing the wounds.

Sexual abuse does not heal itself. Time, marriages, children, success, wealth, buying a bigger house, or faster car, changing jobs or relocating will not CURE it. The damages are deep, pervasive and profound. It is a soul injury. The survivor is robbed of his or her innocence, core identity and trust. It is ‘violence’ that does not require force. The child is thrown into a state of shock. For some the memories remain conscious, while others drive them beneath the conscious level. These coping mechanisms are carried into adulthood and impact the person’s life on every level.

Scott Poland, past president of the National Association of School Psychologists, stated, “I don’t think it’s appropriate to suggest we have whole schools full of sexual predators… but we’re seeing more of it and more sexually aggressive acts.”

Sharon Araji, an Alaska psychologist who researched the problem and reported it in her book, Sexually Aggressive Children, thinks the number of child-on-child sex crimes is actually even higher than the statistics indicate. Only 28 percent of all sexual assaults are reported to police, according to a 1999 National Crime Victimization Survey. “And cases of incest between siblings are widely thought to be underreported and may drive the numbers even higher,” Araji says.

Some psychologists have bravely connected the dots between a sex offender’s childhood experiences and their behavior. The increase in numbers—40 percent over two decades—on a society saturated with sex and violence is considered a factor. Violence in the form of corporal punishment at home and in schools is being recognized as a contributor to creating sex offenders.

It is estimated 40 to 80 percent of child-on-child sex offenders were molested themselves. And 42 percent have been exposed to hardcore pornography, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention said in a 2001 report.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, author, “If I’d Only Known…Sexual Abuse in or Out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention, specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life’s challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorothy_M._Neddermeyer,_PhD
 

Have you thought about what you might do if you happened to check the registry and found out your new next door neighbor is a sex offender whose crime included lewd acts with a child? For most of us, our first thought would be to tell our neighbors and maybe even print up flyers for distribution within the neighborhood advising of this person’s presence.
Well, according to the California Megan’s Law website you may only use the information you found to protect a person at risk. Meaning you just can’t go around issuing flyers or telling your neighbors about the offender next door.

The California Megan’s Law website posts the following:

Legal and Illegal Uses. The information on this web site is made available solely to protect the public. Anyone who uses this information to commit a crime or to harass an offender or his or her family is subject to criminal prosecution and civil liability.

The Megan’s Law website also includes on its FAQ page, the following:

I want to share with others the information I found on the Attorney General’s Megan’s Law Website. Does the law prohibit me in any way from sharing this information? A person may use the information disclosed on the Attorney General’s Web site only to protect a person at risk. It is a crime to use the information disclosed on the Attorney General’s Internet Web site to commit a misdemeanor or felony. Unless the information is used to protect a person at risk, it is also prohibited to use any information that is disclosed pursuant to this Internet Web site for a purpose relating to health insurance, insurance, loans, credit, employment, education, scholarships, fellowships, housing, accommodations, or benefits, privileges, or services provided by any business. Misuse of the information may make the user liable for money damages or an injunction against the misuse. Before using the information disclosed on this Web site, you may want to consult with an attorney or merely suggest to others that they view the Web site for themselves.

So what can you do? Well here are a few suggestions from their site:

First and foremost, suggest to everyone you know that they check the site for themselves. Our site in California is http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/homepage.htm

Additionally:
1. Make sure you know where each of your children is at all times
2. Make an effort to know the people with whom your child is spending time.
3. Get to know your neighbors.
4. Assume preventing sexual assault is everyone’s responsibility
5. Talk to your children about personal safety issues as they relate to child sexual abuse. Do this when you talk to your children about bike safety, crossing the street, or talking to strangers. It is, in many ways, just another personal safety rule about which children need to be aware.
6. Organize neighborhood block watches, if desired by your neighbors. The bottom line is to be informed and share the Megan’s Law website with everyone you know. Knowledge is your best defense in protecting you and your family.

By: Donald P. Schweitzer

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Law Offices of Donald P. Schweitzer 201 South Lake Avenue, Suite 700 Pasadena, California 91101 (626) 683-8113 www.PasadenaCriminalDefense.com

Here are articles about sex offenders:

• Who are Sex Offenders?
  Sex Offenders are everywhere. They are male and female, young and old, rich and poor, doctors, lawyers, or unemployed …
  [Read the rest of this article]

• Techniques to Stop Sex Offenders
  Many child sexual molestations could have been prevented, if parents and caregivers had known what to do. There are several approved and child tested techniques to stop many sex offenders …
  [Read the rest of this article]

Gerlach was a bus driver for the Hayfield public schools. On July 25, Gerlach was charged in Dodge District Court with felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct and third-degree attempted sexual conduct involving a boy, who was at least sixteen at the time.

“On Aug. 1, Mower County prosecutors filed a criminal complaint against Gerlach, charging him with 12 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of first-degree burglary. The Mower County complaint alleges that Gerlach committed incidents of sexual abuse approximately between 1993 and 2001 in Brownsdale, involving a boy who was 8 when the misconduct began.”

Tori Miller, a victim advocate for the Crime Victims Resource Center in Austin, told people in the audience to “believe your kids.”

“Children don’t normally make these kinds of things up,” said Miller, one of ten panelists at the forum. “It’s very important that parents are educating their children on good touch and bad touch, what is right and what is wrong.”

Tips to keep your child safe:

• Monitor your children’s activities, including Internet use and cell phone text messages.
• Introduce yourself to your child’s bus driver.
• Be cautious of adults who are overly involved in your child’s life.
• Talk to your kids about “good touch” and “bad touch.”
• Ask questions.
• “Go with your gut.” Talk to school administrators and law enforcement officers if you suspect something is wrong.

While the tips set forth by this forum are effective, they fall short of what children need to know and exercise.

Sex offenders use acceptable touch to condition the child to feel comfortable with their interactions. Thus, when the sex offender has a sense that the child feels comfortable and trusts the interaction, he/she progresses to ‘bad touch,’ without warning. In an instant the child is sexually abused.

Children more often than not have a keener sixth sense, than adults–i.e. their sixth sense tells them–something is not right, their demeanor is slightly off, there is an undercurrent. Allowing your child to exercise their appropriate suspicion will more often than not, be a protective barrier against would-be sex offenders. If your child is uncomfortable being around a person, including, the bus driver, respect and honor your child’s sensibilities. Do what you need to do to protect your child from anyone your child is uncomfortable being around. It is far better to err on the side of caution, than to be sorry later. Furthermore, know the signs your child is being targeted.

There is no foolproof sexual child abuse prevention, because, sex offenders are cunning predators, who have perfected their skills to get what they want. Therefore, heed and investigate any warning signals.

Warning signals include, but are not limited to:

• An aversion to an adult–even an adult whom your child knows and seemingly has been comfortable with heretofore.
• Sudden outbursts of anger toward a person, event, activity, etc. and there is no apparent reason known for such anger.
• Any unusual or unexplained behavior change.
• Not wanting to go to school on a particular day of the week—the day gym or music class is held for instance.
• Not wanting to ride the bus or be around a particular person.
• The gym teacher says your child is athletically ‘gifted’ and he or she wants to develop your child’s athletic abilities if your child practiced one-on-one after school. Never allow you child to be alone with someone who could have an ulterior motive.
• A teacher gives your child a gift. A gift is sometimes an overture to win your trust and groom your child for seduction.

Source: Bus-driver case has parents asking questions, 8/16/2007 10:20:54 AM By Karen Colbenson, Post-Bulletin, Austin, MN