STATISTICAL
RESEARCH
Statistics
are not just numbers collected and labeled. They represent real people and
real children.
It
is required that sex offenders register now in most states. The statistics
on the numbers of offenders IN THE AREAS WHERE THEY WERE CONVICTED are readily
available. Once paroled, however, they may, with permission, move about the
country. Because of this fact, it is difficult to ascertain exactly how many
offenders there are in one county at one time.
There
are problems with statistics. For example, molestation and incest are a separate
crime. They may be statistically grouped into "Other Sex Offenses." Also,
it is a general practice to "seal files" that regard children in court cases
in order to protect the child, therefore these statistics are not available.
Many cases that involve young children are not included on the State and Federal
records. Consequently, the numbers that are available in regards to children
being offended are very low in comparison to the real numbers.
We
are all able to see the horrifying growth of pictures of missing children
on our courthouse walls. We have no choice but to wonder how many kidnapped
and missing children were taken to be molested. Most importantly, we helplessly
wonder how many children are being sexually molested every day. Every unsupervised
sex predator will molest more than one child. It is no mystery, then, that
there are so many missing children, when one views the number of sex offenders
out on parole.
When
child molestation becomes an issue that people are no longer uncomfortable
addressing, statistics will become more readily accessible.
"Silence,
Ignorance and Apathy are the child predators greatest allies". - Dr. Nancy
Faulkner
MASPAL
believes there is a strong connection between the numbers of sex offenders
and the numbers of missing, murdered and violated children. To this end, we
are compiling statistics to construct a graph that will show at a glance this
correlation.
If you
can help or contribute, please go to our Contact Us page!