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Posts Tagged ‘Sexual Abuse’

Penn State Sex Abuse Claims Highlight Need for ‘Moral’ and Legal Obligations to Report Crimes

November 16th, 2011   No Comments   Abuse

When graduate assistant Mike McQueary told Penn State head coach Joe Paterno about the alleged sexual child abuse he said took place by assistant coach Jerry Sandusky on a minor in the school’s showers, some believe he adhered to his legal responsibility. But legal scholars, children’s rights attorneys and lawmakers wonder: Did he rise to his moral responsibility to see his allegations through?

According to USAToday, “Lawmakers and university officials across the USA are moving quickly to tighten up rules on who must report sexual abuse on campus in the wake of the Penn State scandal…A key issue likely to be debated in state legislatures is whether reports should go straight to police, and whether new laws are needed to shore up vague guidelines and polices about child safety on campus.”

Read the entire story here.

Penn State Child Sex Case Reveals Lost Chances to Stop Abuse, Need for State Law to Report Abuse

November 14th, 2011   No Comments   Abuse

Outside observers, child advocates and attorneys following the Penn State University alleged child sexual abuse case of assistant coach Jerry Sandusky already see a pattern unfolding: adults keeping quiet and engaging in cover-up, children affected by a horrible personal injury growing in number, and a community left to wonder how this could happen. From Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to State College to around the nation, “The case has drawn comparisons to the child abuse scandals that rocked the Catholic Church, whose top officials are also accused of covering up child abuse over decades,” notes one paper.

The case also will bring to light the fact that, even though adults knew a child predator was afoot, no Pennsylvania law requires anyone alert the police. Florida has such a law. Sadly, in retrospect, Pennsylvania lawmakers might take this matter up during their next session.

That remains to be seen. In the meantime, the multi-point focus should be on helping the victims find the help they need, bringing all those involved to justice, and implementing safeguards and systems that help protect our most vulnerable citizens.