Think about this crazy world we live in. Do you REALLY know who your neighbors are? Do you REALLY know if your neighbor hood is safe? Do you REALLY know who your kids are associating with? According to RAINN.org, EVERY TWO MINUTES someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted.
For our Final project in my Mass Media class, we had to get in to groups of four and come up with something that we could do to help make the world a better place. We are to use at least three different forms of Mass Media to get the word out. We chose to do an article in our local newspaper, create a Facebook page, and this blog post. We are doing our project on Sexual Predators. We hope to inform people of where they are, how to find out if they are in your area, as well as the kind of people and signs to watch for and what you can do to get help.
First off, in Sevier County {where I live}, there are about 10 or so small towns and there are a total of 43 REGISTERED sex offenders. Now, know that these are just the ones that have been caught and had to register. There are many more out there that have yet to be caught – and that’s the scariest part! {We found this info here.} Just in the town where I live, there are 23 REGISTERED!! Ahh! Hide yo kids and hide yo wife!
Where to find sexual predators in your area:
I like City-Data.com {http://www.city-data.com/} because it breaks it down by cities/towns. From there, you can see exactly who it is {name and picture}, their aliases, description, address, crime, and other info. You can also Google it and lots of search results will come up, but I like this one best because you don’t have to add in a lot of info, just click on your state and town.
People and signs to watch for:
Another scary stat I found on RAINN.org, approximately 2/3 of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim and 38% of rapists are friends or acquaintances.
The following is directly from Dr.Phil.com
Dr. Frank Lawlis, chairman of the Dr. Phil Advisory Board and Dr. Phil’s mentor, offers some insight into the development of a sexual predator:
“The typical sexual predator is very immature in his or her understanding of intimacy. It is like they really want closeness, but they lack the skills to feel satisfaction and trust. These feelings of frustration erupt into anger many times, and it is in this stage that the individual can become dangerous. Their acts are desperate. They try to find intimacy and caring for themselves, but when they can’t find it in appropriate ways, they demand it or find a child who has little resistance,” says Dr. Lawlis. “It is common to find parents of sexual predators also weak in skills of affection. Consequently, they cannot train or offer to meet these needs for their child. And then the cycle continues.”
There are some common characteristics of sexual predators. If you’re worried your teen may be a sexual predator, look for these warning signs:
- Refusal to take responsibility for actions and blames others or circumstances for failures
- A sense of entitlement
- Low self-esteem
- Need for power and control
- Lack of empathy
- Inability to form intimate relationships with adults
- History of abuse
- Troubled childhood
- Deviant sexual behavior and attitudesFrom the book, Protecting Your Children from Sexual Predators, by Dr. Leigh M. Baker.Other Tips on Spotting a Sexual Predator:
- Often offend where they won’t get caught ” when they have misdirected people’s attention
- Often married or in relationships
- Offend when the victim is handy
- Not always strangers, often family members, family friends and neighbors
- Most attracted to adults
- Good manipulators (seduction is an integral part)
- Overly self-indulgent
- Arrogant
- Sexualize, objectify women
- Users of various kinds of pornography
- Typically known as rationalizers, intellectualizers, justifiers
- Great helpers ” are there to lend a helping hand ” prey on people in need, when they can insinuate themselves in your life
- Use stressful and vulnerable situations to get in ” they find a need they can fill and they use that to get next to the victim
Common Attributes of Child Molesters:
— from A Profile of the Child Molester
- Pedophiles are notoriously friendly, nice, kind, engaging and likeable.
- Pedophiles target their victims, often insinuating themselves into that child’s life through their family, school, house of worship, sports, and hobbies.
- Pedophiles are professional con artists and are experts at getting children and families to trust them.
- Pedophiles will smile at you, look you right in the eye and make you believe they are trustworthy.
Dr. Phil reminds parents they must watch everyone in their child’s life!
What you can do to get help:
If you ever feel like you are in a dangerous situation, get to a phone and call 911. SO many people do not report their crimes {in general, but I am trying to stick to sexual crimes} and it’s extremely important that you do! According to RAINN.org, 54% of sexual assaults are NOT reported. That’s awful! It also states that 97% of rapists will never spend a day in jail. I understand it’s difficult, but it’s not okay to let these awful people get away with hurting others. There are also Hotlines that you can call for help.
Did you know that April is National Sexual assault Awareness Month? Click on the picture above to find out more info.
Another very important tip – in ANY situation – is to TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!! I cannot tell myself that enough! I’m 20 years old and my gut instinct has yet to fail me!!
I will continue to post helpful tips as time goes on, but in the meantime, PLEASE like our Facebook page so you can be informed all the time.
Two Million Miles 