WHY We Teach Child Abuse Prevention
As time has progressed, the knowledge of how perpetrators use relational tactics and “grooming” has stayed relatively the same, although predators now utilize technology-based communication in both contact and non-contact offenses. With the rise in technology, there has been an increase in the availability of pornography and ease of creation of child sexual abuse images. These dynamics have facilitated perpetrators opportunity to commit sexual abuse offenses upon children in which they have easy access and at much younger ages. Due to these shifts in trends and awareness of child sexual abuse, a shift in focus of messaging is even more important, some forty years later. The challenge remains to stay consistent within prevention messaging, while staying relevant during the place and time these crimes are committed.
Through continued service to child victims through investigations, Holly’s House collects data on the type of crime and demographics for both victim and perpetrator. Known perpetrators continue to be the constant for in person crimes of abuse, with 94% of perpetrators at Holly’s House listed as family members or close family friends. When the Holly’s House team analyzed this data, we found the following significant shifts:
Additionally, while the age of child victims had remained stagnant until 2020, the pandemic facilitated an unprecedented age widening. Rather than 40% or more of child victims aged 7-12, we now note more than 40% of child victims are age 13+. Younger child victimizations have grown by 6%.
Another alarming trend in victimizations monitored by Holly’s House is the amount of digital solicitation occurring. The US Department of Justice indicates that 1 in 5 children will be solicited online. Holly’s House is the home of the regional Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. Agents for the taskforce indicate that even the most recent DOJ statistics do not indicate the true increase in volume in online solicitation.
Through continued service to child victims through investigations, Holly’s House collects data on the type of crime and demographics for both victim and perpetrator. Known perpetrators continue to be the constant for in person crimes of abuse, with 94% of perpetrators at Holly’s House listed as family members or close family friends. When the Holly’s House team analyzed this data, we found the following significant shifts:
- 47% of alleged perpetrators are the mother’s romantic partners
- 20% of alleged perpetrators are children, age 17 and under
Additionally, while the age of child victims had remained stagnant until 2020, the pandemic facilitated an unprecedented age widening. Rather than 40% or more of child victims aged 7-12, we now note more than 40% of child victims are age 13+. Younger child victimizations have grown by 6%.
Another alarming trend in victimizations monitored by Holly’s House is the amount of digital solicitation occurring. The US Department of Justice indicates that 1 in 5 children will be solicited online. Holly’s House is the home of the regional Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. Agents for the taskforce indicate that even the most recent DOJ statistics do not indicate the true increase in volume in online solicitation.