Why are so many child abuse victems scared to go to the cops and report their attackers?
953765
Embarrassment. In cases of sexual abuse, it's shame. They don't want people to know they were victimized and violated in that way. It becomes their little secret and they put it in the back of their head. I know some people who were abused when they were children and never did they said anything. Now they are finally coming to terms with their past. Another reason it's intimidation by the attacker, in most cases it's a parent so the child is intimidated to say anything because they fear for their life.
968128
If they are in enough danger that they need a weapon, they should go to the police and seek protection.\n\nThe law errs in favor of the child seeking help. If you really know someone who is being abused to the point that they need a weapon, please call the police on their behalf.\n\n.
542115
ABSOLUTELY.  Cops have been given entirely too much power and abuse it on a daily bases, AND they get away with it!  Most cops are those guys who were kicked around and stepped on in their school days...so they are out to get even when released into society with their shiny new badges!  Also, it doesn't matter if you are the victim or not, once they judge you, it's all over and then THE COPS victimize you one way or another!
913548
The police are often the only people who see first hand those in situations crying out for help, who can try to connect people in need to community services.\n\nI'm sure community service agencies are inundated by requests for assistance, and must have to turn away far too many people. It must be really difficult for police to see the kinds of things they see every day, knowing that there is very little anyone can do about it, or that the kind of assistance they can offer is too little, or not what is needed to address a specific problem. \n\nKids must be really hard.  Not only is it distressing to see kids whose lives are headed in a very bad direction, but it's got to be very difficult when you can't get though to them.  Or, to promise help that you find out you can't actually deliver.\n\nPolice officers who try to help by making unofficial referrals are probably acting out of a sincere desire to help, knowing that they are severely hampered by the rules in how much they can officially do.  I think it must be next to impossible to keep doing that job if you can't believe you are making a difference.  I don't believe it's a wise idea to force them to stop trying.
466285
Wow, this is a hard one.  First of all, all kids are not the same.  Some have learnig diasbilities and really have no idea what the consequences are for their crimes, and even if they are puniched as adults, still won't understand what is happening to them.  The ones who are fully capable of understanding what they are doing at the time of the crime, if violent, should be treated as an adult.  To do things they know are wrong just for the sake of dong them is wrong.  So, in answer to your question, I guess you would have to take it case by case and see who knows what and if the mentality is that of an adult.
578890
Hi,\nI don't know how big your local police department is, but call them and ask to speak to a detective in the sex crimes unit.  If your local police don't help, call the State Police or even the FBI (if this is on the computer, it can be a Federal offense).  It might take more than one call to get to the person you need to talk to, but I hope you will not stop until someone takes your report and promises you that they will open an investigation on the matter.\n\nI want to say two very important things:  First of all, I hope that you will have the courage to turn this person in.  Secondly, if this is someone you know, you MUST make sure that they have NO IDEA what you are going to do.  \n\nPlease be brave, call the police, work with them if they ask you to and when you get scared or it seems like maybe you shouldn't do it, think of all the innocent children who are in those pictures - some of them are victims of kidnapping; most others are victims of their own family members or friends who take those pictures and pass them around.  I hope that you get so mad and disgusted that you will take action and that you will also keep yourself safe from whoever this person is while the law enforcement process is happening.\n\nI put a link to the National Child Abuse Hotline and they should contact Law Enforcement for you if you make the report to them.  However, it would probably be better for you to call the police yourself.  At this point though, whatever you feel strong enough to do to help protect children; just take that step.\n\nTake care...
660894
I think it is because power and authority corrupts some people. Police officers have a lot of power over citizens and citizens have little recourse if you have no witnesses if a cop does something wrong to you. Many other people have power and authority that abuse it. Politicians, doctors, teachers, military personnel, supervisors, managers, big company CEO's, etc. Just to name a few. That's just the way it is.\n\nThe only way we can protect ourselves, is to protect our rights. Particularly the right to keep and bear arms, the 2nd amendment, ensures that we as Americans can protect the other rights that we have.
730464
While I certainly appreciate the need to protect underage girls who are in abusive situations, I agree that pedophiles end up with the most protection. When I was a teenager, if I would have gotten pregnant, I certainly would have said "my parents will KILL me!" They wouldn't have. The girls who need protecting definitely need it - but not always from their parents. \n\nOf course, if we'd quit letting baby rapists go, it would certainly help the issue. Put those bastards away for life!
509029
The threats are disturbing.  Consult the police and be very very careful.  People like that carry out their threats.
96940
Because it gives parents a false sense of security. I hope they make registries for arsonists, drug dealers (especially dealers that sell to kids), people with violent tempers, corrupt politicians and cops, and murderers (they can even list those convicted of manslaughter in with the murderers so people will assume the worse, like they do with the sex offenders.)\n\nJust keep in mind that not all sex offenders are pedophiles. Most people tend to lump them all together.
688757
Had to call the police on several occasions mostly domestic violence stuff. Neighbors fighting. Scaring me to thinking they were going to seriously hurt one another. Police came talked to them and they left. NO big deal. It gets put on record. Too many calls and they get fined or arrested. Some neighbors appreciate me calling some think I need to mind my own business. But I could never live with myself If anything were to seriously happen and send one of them to a hospital or their grave and I did not do anything to help.
506230
I think that is a great idea for dateline to do stories about child sex offenders.  If you are a parent or have nieces and nephew this a serious problem.  They are everywhere and they don't care who they hurt in the process.  Most of them had children themselves and did not care.  They are a serious threat to our children in todays society.  I am all for it as long as adults and parents take it serious.  Know who your children are chatting with and take an active roll with them.  It is better for them to catch them now before someone's child is taken as a victim.
872281
Because most cannot handle the truth.  Most cannot be trusted with being good parents, but they have kids anyway and look how they turn out.  Could you imagine matters of security?
825873
It is everyone's right not to be abused, that is the law. Sometimes the police step over the line, most often the criminals do. Still it is an officer's duty to see the scumbag gets to jail in as best shape as is humanly posssible to deliver him/her. Otherwise they will cry and kick up a fuss hoping people will forget they broke the law in the first place.
821444
I remember those days and God Bless them. Back then there was no fear of seriel killer or child molester because whether we new it or not the neighborhood watched out for us. When I was a child my parents busted my butt when I did wrong and I am a better person for it. God help this generation where the state and local governments have stepped in a taken the right to discipline away from parents, yet they act baffled when one of those young people do things that those of my generation would have never considered. Life was good back then, I wish we could have those days back.
1153347
that is just sad. Hearing that often enough would teach kids the bad stuff...but then they're probably learning things that put them in conflict with y'all later. I've lived in a neighborhood like that - and those with the worst attitudes had reason to be stopped and harassed...and the officers' attitudes weren't the best either. Understandable I guess to deal with that all the time. \nOn the other hand - you doing what you do gives them a bit here and there that shows them parents aren't always right too. Maybe some day down the road that will come back in good stuff being passed along. It's not for nothing even when it sometimes seems it is.
710516
Cops are in schools to educate. Unfortunately a large amount of crimes are committed by kids for whatever reason. In hopes of stopping them before they start cops were put into the schools to mingle with the kids and have themselves be seen as more human than just another cop. I know where I live that cops can't talk to kids who are suspects without making a diligent effort to speak to the parents first. Anyone who thinks cops like to arrest kids is sadly mistaken. It breaks your heart a lot of the time.