What We Should Know About Child Sexual Offenders

Here is a helpful post from The Resurgence that gives 5 things we should know about child sexual offenders. The pose begins with the most startling statement: "Child molesters are very professional at what they do and they do a good job at it."

If this is the case, how do we protect our children? Below are five things we should know about sexual offenders.  I have condensed the article significantly.  If you are interested in reading the full article, you can find it here.

1. OFFENDERS HAVE MANY VICTIMS.

One study indicates that child molesters who sexually victimize females outside of the home averaged approximately 20 different victims. That same study found that child molesters who sexually victimize males outside of the home averaged approximately 150 different victims...Not only does this open our eyes to the prevalence of this tragic epidemic, but it should also prepare us in how to respond to individuals within our faith community who get “caught” for engaging in criminal behavior against a child, demonstrate outward remorse (usually by a lot of tears), and beg for “grace,” claiming that this was the only child they had ever victimized. Based upon these statistics, the offender is most likely lying, which means they are continuing to deceive in order to reestablish trust and access to our children.

2. OFFENDERS CAN BE THE MOST UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE.

[C]hild molesters cannot be identified by appearance or social status. In my years as a child sexual abuse prosecutor, I prosecuted physicians, computer programmers, financial advisors, teachers, and even a child sexual abuse investigator! As a faith community, our protective antennas should be focused on behavior, not looks or economic status.

3. OFFENDERS ARE NOT STRANGERS.

Another unfortunate stereotype is that most offenders are strangers to the child. Again, the faith community must be vigilant in protecting our children from interacting with strangers. However, it is common knowledge that most children are not sexually victimized by strangers. In fact, one study found that only 10 percent of child molesters molest children that they don’t know.

4. OFFENDERS OFTEN PREY UPON TRUSTING AND VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE.

In order to sexually victimize a child, an offender will first have to gain access to the child...Once such a relationship has been created, the perpetrator is often free to abuse. Access to such children is obtained by:

1) The already-existing position of the offender to the child or the child’s family (this can include family members, friends, coaches, youth pastors, etc.), or, 2) The intentionally created position by the offender who targets a child and begins to lavish that child with attention, gifts, and “love” (this can include the person who takes an interest in a troubled child, a child from a broken home, or one who has similar interests).

Both categories of access assist offenders in targeting vulnerable children—those who trust and obey the offender. The faith community must keep its antennas up to make sure that children who fall into both categories are carefully watched and protected. We must be vigilant in protecting all children.

5. OFFENDERS ARE OFTEN ATTRACTED TO THE FAITH COMMUNITY.

Though there are many reasons why those who want to hurt our children target the faith community, I want to focus on two that I believe to be fundamental:

CHURCHES ARE VERY TRUSTING.

There is no other environment where they can obtain access to so many children so quickly and nobody seems to be concerned. The faith community must keep its antennas up to make sure that clear policies are in place that prohibits others from exploiting the trust that so often accompanies Christian fellowship. We could all probably benefit from following the advice of former President Ronald Reagan when he said, “Trust, but verify.”

CHURCHES ARE ALWAYS IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS.

How many churches can you think of that are not in need of volunteers to help out with our children and young people (e.g., nursery, youth group, vacation Bible school, etc.)? Many offenders have grown up in the faith community and are well aware of this constant need for assistance. They will always use this need to their advantage to gain access to our children. The faith community must keep its antennas up by developing ways to carefully screen those who volunteer, while also putting up accountability and monitoring safeguards.

There are many other behavioral characteristics of child sexual abuse offenders that we must learn about if we are going to be proactive and successful in protecting our little ones. A great resource to help you further learn the manner in which these individuals think and act is a book by clinical psychologist Anna Salter, titled, Predators, Pedophiles, Rapists, and Other Sex Offenders: Who They Are, How They Operate, and How Can We Protect Ourselves and Our Children. Every parent and pastor should read this book. That said, the characteristics provided above are a starting point for the faith community to study and consider as we prayerfully seek God’s strength and wisdom in keeping our protective antennas up and active.