January is National Stalking Prevention Awareness Month

January is Stalking Prevention Month

Stalking affects millions of people each year, yet is highly underreported. Stalking is directed at an individual or group of individuals over a specified time to cause emotional fear, harassment, physical or psychological damage. President Obama declared January as National Stalking Awareness Month.
Like many crimes, education, awareness, and prevention are crucial to the survival of an individual. It is imperative to report someone stalking you, even if you feel compelled to brush it off and think it is nothing. If something does happen, you want to make sure it is recorded on file; keeping a journal of events is helpful as well.
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which released its first National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), reported stalking is a serious issue. NISVS data shows that:

• Nearly one in six women has experienced stalking so severe that she felt very fearful or believed that she or someone close to her would be harmed or killed.
• One in 19 men has experienced the same level of stalking.
• Women were particularly likely to be stalked by a current or former intimate partner.

Stalking behaviors can include seemingly innocuous acts, such as making unwanted phone calls; sending unsolicited or unwanted letters or emails; or leaving unwanted items, presents or flowers, but when taken together, and when feared by the victim, may constitute a criminal act. Other forms of stalking include following or spying on the victim; showing up without a legitimate reason at places where the victim is likely to be; waiting at places for the victim; and posting information or spreading rumors about the victim on the internet, in a public place, or by word of mouth.
Newer technologies, such as text messaging, emails, and electronic monitoring devices (including cameras and GPS), are also used by perpetrators to stalk victims. Stalking is also frequently a precursor to much more serious, and sometimes lethal, acts. In fact, 76 percent of female intimate partner murder victims had been stalked by their partners prior to their death.
The Stalking Resource Center provides training and technical l assistance to enhance responses to stalking and is committed to collecting the best knowledge about stalking, including researching policy and tracking program success.
According to Louisiana Stalking Laws:

Stalking Defined as	Willful, malicious, and repeated following or harassing with intent to place in fear of death or bodily injury.
Punishment/Classification	Maximum 1 year jail and $1000 fine. If had dangerous weapon: fine $1,000 and/or jail 1 year. If stalking and protective order for same victim, or criminal proceeding for stalking victim or injunction: jail 90 days minimum and 2 years maximum and/or fined maximum $5,000. If victim under 18, maximum 1 year and/or $2000 fine. Note: anyone over 13 who stalks a child 12 and under and is found to have placed child in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury of family member shall be punished by 1 year minimum, 3 years maximum in jail and/or $1,500 minimum, $5,000 maximum fine
Penalty for Repeat Offense	If 2nd within 7 years: jail minimum 180 days and maximum 3 years and/or fined maximum $5,000. If 3rd or subsequent within 7 years: jail minimum 2 years and maximum 5 years and/or fined maximum $5,000

For more information, please visit the Stalking Awareness Month website at: http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org.
For more information about the Office on Violence Against Women, visit ovw.usdoj.gov. We remind all those in need of assistance, or other concerned friends and individuals, to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE.
Connie Lee/FACSA Foundation/ Founder/President
(318)539-2571
Facsasavethechildren.com
http://facsafoundationvirtualexpo.ning.com/

http://law.findlaw.com/state-laws/stalking/louisiana/
http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/1797

Parents Guide To Pedophiles and Grooming

What Every Parent Needs To Know About Pedophiles and Grooming


I am often asked, how can you spot a pedophile? The answer to that is, you can’t. They look like your neighbor, coach, teacher, lawyer, judge, law enforcement, clergy or pastor, anyone, because they can be anyone. It does not matter if they are rich/poor, educated/uneducated, race, religion, or gender. There are certain characteristics and habits that pedophiles possess, as well as questionable behaviors which are telling warning signs.

It is important to distinguish between a pedophile and a sexual molester. A pedophile has strong recurrent sexual fantasies about their victims and usually the target of their affection is less than 12 years old. They see nothing wrong with sex with a child and feel it is healthy for the child. They not only target one child, but can target many simultaneously. They can be single minded and focused to stay close to children, until they get what they want; which is one of their defining trademarks. They may even marry a single mother to get close to the child. A child molester usually desires power, fear, and control, as exhibited in many homes of domestic violence.

Often a pedophile is a single male, over 30 years of age, single, and with few friends. If married, their intimate relationship is usually strained. He may be vague about employment time gaps or previous living addresses. Their hobbies are ones that would appeal to the age of the children they seek to groom and rape. Almost all pedophiles have a collection of porn that they refuse to get rid of and protect at all cost. Some pedophiles prefer children around the age of puberty, while others prefer them much younger. They work around children, put themselves in position to babysit or any need a single mother or a distressed parent may have. Some pedophiles will molest their own children and grandchildren, while others will molest and rape outside of the family,

They target children from broken homes; children who are withdrawn, troubled by their own sexuality, as in puberty; handicapped; or underprivileged homes. Then he showers them with gifts, exciting places, and expensive toys for them or something for their home. Then he makes them feel special, loved, and deserving of all the attention they are receiving. They target a child through the internet, neighborhood, malls, movies, etc. After they have made contact, they slowly gain the child’s trust and confidence; slowly leave the child with the belief that no one can understand them more, than the perpetrator. The pedophile will isolate the child from anyone that may take notice of their actions and behaviors, or that would protect the child.

Slowly, and this may even take years, the pedophile will groom their victim by slowly brushing against the child or touching the child inappropriately. His advances continue until the child accepts this as normal. If it is a small child, they tell them it is their secret; or something bad will happen if they tell. A perpetrator confides in them, gaining their trust and secrets, threatening to expose the child if the child tells; thus the abuse continues until the perpetrator moves on or the child is in a safe free zone and can express what has happened to them. Usually this takes years to disclose, if ever, because of the fear, guilt of their body responding and shame of what has happened. The children are silenced by threats and fear!

One factor that pedophiles cannot control is that all victims grow up and recall the events, usually in their twenties, thirties, and forties. At this time, the victims are so angered at the abuse, the betrayal, no one protecting them, and being victimized, that they tell to protect other children from being abused. New laws are being implemented across the nation for no statute of limitations and free DNA testing for all children of sexual assault. The truth is revealed eventually.

As in any sexual assault cases, there are false claims, which are usually dismissed. False accusations are just as wrong as the pedophile who grooms and rapes children. The biggest thing you can do for your home, school, or community is to teach children how to protect themselves through programs like the Good/Touch Bad/Touch Program which is a fun, age appropriate skit for Pre-K – 6th grades, about this is my body, yell and tell; and keep telling until someone listens. Prevention is key to combating a multiple generational epidemic.

Warning Signs Your Child May Have Been Abused:


Many times parents, grandparents, school officials, family, and friends are confronted with a situation, such as child sexual assault, and they do not know how to handle it properly. Child sexual assault happens to children 0-18 years of age; and most often the perpetrator is a family member, someone the child knows, or an acquaintance. Sexual abuse can include fondling, touching, and kissing inappropriately, or pornography with the child. Each instance is just as traumatic as the other, with lifelong effects and consequences.

• Many children will explore their bodies and this is natural. What is not natural is when their behavior becomes outside the norm or their behavior seems inappropriately sexual for their age.

• They may become more aggressive.

• They may burst into tears for no reason.

• They will have nightmares and may demand the light stay on.

• They may start to wet the bed.

• They may inappropriately touch their dolls or action figures during play.

• They may begin to hurt animals.

• They may become shy, withdrawn, have mood swings, or become depressed.

• They may become promiscuous.

• They may start using drugs and alcohol to numb the pain

• At first they may be fearful of an adult, a certain place, or a thing. It is not uncommon for an abused child to develop a bond with the abuser.

• Unexplained bruises, rashes, or cuts.

If you know a child who has been abused or suspect abuse please call the following help lines. Remember, it is not the child’s fault!



Critical Phone Numbers


Child Abuse

Childhelp's National Child Abuse Hotline

800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453)

Child Care

Child Care Aware

1-800-424-2246

Domestic Violence

National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233)

TDD 1-800-787-3224

Missing and Exploited Children

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)

Runaway Youth

National Runaway Switchboard

1-800-621-4000

National Human Trafficking Resource Center

National Human Trafficking Resource Center

1-888-3737-888

RAINN offers an online hotline. Anyone can access help over the internet.

http://apps.rainn.org/ohl-bridge/



FACSA Foundation (Family and Friends Fighting Against Child Sexual Assault)

(318) 539-2571

facsasavethechildren@hotmail.com

facsasavethechildren.com

Springhill, Louisiana Police Department 318. 539. 2511

Louisiana Abuse Hotline 1-855-452-5437

Child Protective Services in Minden, Louisiana 318.371.3004

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/psychology/pedophiles/1.html

http://crime.about.com/od/sex/p/pedophile.htm