Communities Against Predators

National Missing Children's Day is on May 25. This is the 26th National Missing Children's Day, which was first proclaimed by President Reagan in observance of the disappearance of a young boy in New York, and in observance of the thousands of children that are abducted in the US every year.

Washington Communities Against Predators, and Washington State, are observing National Missing Children's Day with the creation of Safe Child Week, which will occur May 19-25. 

Safe Child Week is a week of prevention education across Washington State, working with the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children's Take 25 program. Our goal is that Take 25's common-sense and non-scary message will reach every single care-giver and parent in Washington State.

We're off to a great start.

The Governor's Office, Attorney General's Office, the State Senate, the PTA, the Association of Washington Cities, several of the regional library systems, Moms' Clubs of Washington, a number of hospitals, Safe Streets and other community based organizations, have all signed on to raise awareness, educate, and empower communities, families, and children.

But will it be enough? In 2006, 58,000 children were abducted by non-family members. 67% of reported sex crimes were committed against children under 18, 33% were committed upon children under 12. 14% of all reported sex crimes were committed upon children under 6 years old. And that's the crimes that were reported. Law enforcement indicate that a large number of these crimes go unreported as the criminal is in a position of authority over the child.

The effects of this type and amount of child victimization are felt by the family, the community, and society. We would ask that society 'Take 25' to realize that it is a serious risk to society: 33% of girls, and 20% of boys will experience sexual assault as children, and the damage will be lasting.

We can prevent it, and Safe Child Week, with Take 25, is a solid step in that direction.

HBs 2728, 3103, and SB 6358 are all in the Rules Committee for the last series of readings before they, hopefully, are voted into Law. Three simple bills that can  make a tremendous difference for Washington communities.

HB 2728 deals with Indecent Exposure with Sexual Intent directed at a child. HB 2728 was written in response to the incident with a Bellevue lawyer who admitted to approaching and exposing himself to approximately 200 young girls in Washington state, and is also a current member of the Washington State Bar Association.

Currently, someone convicted of multiple counts of Sexual Exposure to a child can still work and volunteer with children. HB 2728 makes it possible for prosecutors to file a separate charge, that would have to proven separately, conviction of which would require mandatory registration.

HB 3103 expands the list of crimes that require dismissal or certificate revocation for school employees. This has long been a need in the state of Washington and elsewhere, and was also the topic of a recent King5 news article. [all links below]

SB 6358 is a very important and extremely necessary bill that adds volunteers, preschool teachers, and employees to the definition of 'predatory perpetrators' for the purpose of sentencing enhancement. As we recently saw in Remond, WA., where a youth pastor recently was sentenced to six months for conviction on three counts of Child Rape and Child Molestation, this bill is extremely important, and will make a tremendous difference for families and communities in Washington State. 

HB 2728 - http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2728&year=2008

HB 3103 - http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=3103&year=2008

SB 6358 - http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6358&year=2008