year period and that case involved 2,500 victims. Finkelhor estimates that the risk to children of being sexually abused in a day care center is 5.5 children per 10,000 enrolled versus 8.9 per 10,0000 enrolled under six reported as being sexually abused in their own homes. Overall, out-of-home abuse constitutes less than 5% of all sexual abuse cases reported to CPS (Child Protective Services) agencies. Children are sexually abused by someone that they know, it could be a friend, relative or even their own parents. Surveys conducted have indicated that 10-30% of offenders were strangers. In abuse cases involving females one third to one-half were related to them. Only one-tenth were related to males. The most common perpetrators are ones who are acquaintances. This to me is the most terrible thought of all. To have someone you know violate a child in that manner. These are the things that can ruin a child for life. Their lack of trust to adults and the ones who they trusted, can they ever trust again. Does this lead the victum to be the one who in later life does the abusing? I believe in many cases it does, it leads to abuse of their children, as it once was them who were abused. Child abuse reports continue to climb at a steady rate despite the absence of significant new funding to states for investigation or service provision. In 1997, the number of child abuse reports rose by 1.7%. One million new cases entered child protection services case loads alone last year....
