SEX OFFENDERS AND VICTIMIZATION IN OUR COMMUNITY

1. SEX OFFENDERS AND VICTIMIZATION IN OUR COMMUNITY Awareness, Support and Prevention San Diego County Sex Offender Management Council www.sdsomc.com

2. Why are we here? • Acknowledge your fears and concerns; • Clarify Myths vs. Facts; • Understand how San Diego County is addressing sex offenders in our community;

3. Learn tips for community safety; Understand the pros and cons of community registration and notification; Learn about resources for you and your family; Learn what you can do!

4. San Diego County Statistics

5. Child Victims… • 90% of Child Victims are sexually assaulted by someone known to the child or the child's family. Relatives Friends Babysitters Person(s) in a position of authority over a child, or person(s) who supervise children pose the greatest threat of sexual abuse. • 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted in their childhood.

6. Adult Victims… • 1 in 3 women and 1 in 12 men are sexually assaulted in their lifetime • 80% of assaults are committed by a known assailant • Sexual assault is the least reportedviolent crime • Less than 10% report the crime

7. REGISTRATION A LIFETIMElegal requirement for offenders to notify the local police agency of their residence and employment. NOTIFICATION A process permitted by law in which police and sheriffs notify the public of certain sex offenders in their community. Registration and Notification

8. Sex Offender Registration • Registration is a “lifetime” responsibility for the offender! • Failure to register or update information can result in additional criminal charges. www.meganslaw.ca.gov www.sdsomc.com

9. Pros Awareness Prevention Education Increased supervision of offenders Cons False sense of security Pros and Cons of Registration and Notification

10. The Containment Approach: Focused on Victim and Community Safety Through the Control of the Offender Supervision: Specialized Sex Offender Treatment: Probation/Parole Teaches self-control Agents: and accountability Monitor and limits activities Preventing the Sex Offender from committing future sexual assaults Monitoring: Victim Advocacy: Law Enforcement, Supports victim (s) Polygraph, and and provides Offender’s family, community education and the Community

11. Why do we need to talk about sex offenders our community? • Offenders live in all our neighborhoods • Some can be safely managed

12. Harassment is Against the Law! • What happens if you take things into your own hands? • Increase the risk of perpetrator re-offending • You can/will be prosecuted for your actions • Report concerns to local police department

13. Remember… • Harassment of offenders can DECREASE community safety- • Offender may stop registering and law enforcement will lose track of him • Offender may feel out of control and act out--harming someone again • An offender in treatment may stop going

14. To Increase Community Safety You Can… • Talk about it • Educate yourself and others • Know the facts • Take action • www.sdsomc.com • www.missingkids.com • www.safenowproject.org

15. Tips for Parents • Talk with your children • Know where your child is, and the people they spend time with. • Screen baby-sitters, coaches and other care-givers • Be sensitive to changes in your child’s behavior. • Spend time with your kids! • Internet Safety

16. Keeping Yourself Safe • Trust your instincts—if a situation or person makes you uncomfortable, even if you know the individual, get away; even at the risk of being rude. • Be wary of friends or dates who “test” your boundaries with unwanted physical advances.

17. Test Review

18. Facts about Sex Offending Behavior 1. Most offenders are strangers to the victim. False Most offenders know their victims. Under the guise of a trust relationship, the offender uses deception and manipulation as a mode of assault.

19. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) 2. San Diego County has an organized group working on the effective management of sexual offenders in our communities? True San Diego County has a committed group of professionals from Supervision, Monitoring, Treatment & Victim Advocacy working together on this issue.

20. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) 3. Most sex offenders have formal supervision in San Diego. False Most sex offenders have no formal supervision. That is why we need other safety strategies.

21. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) 4.Child sexual abusers are only attracted to children sexually. False Most offenders are also attracted to people their age.

22. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) 5. Children rarely make up stories of abuse. True Often children recant due to the reactions of loved ones, guilt, shame and fear felt after the disclosure.

23. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) 6.Offenders could stop perpetrating sexual victimization on their own if they wanted to. False Offenders need help to control their victimizing behaviors.

24. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) • 7. It is common for child and adult victims to wait some time before telling of their abuse. • True • Children & adults often wait months if not years to tell. The majority of sexual assaults are never disclosed to anyone.

25. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) • 8. www.meganslaw.ca.gov is a website you can visit to check on registered sex offenders in your area. • True • Visit www.meganslaw.ca.gov to be informed.

26. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) 9.Harassment of sex offenders is legal as long as the offender has been convicted of a sex crime. False Harassment is against the law and you could be prosecuted for it. Also, it increases the risk of the offender victimizing another person.

27. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) 10.One way to increase your safety is to educate yourself about sex offending behaviors. True Education and information is key to community, family and personal safety.

28. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) 11.Children are NOT at risk of sexual predators while on the internet in the safety of their own home. False The internet is a “playground” for predators and children & teens are very much at risk even in their own homes.

29. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) 12.Trusting your instincts is one way of keeping yourself safe. True Pay attention to what your body is telling you. “Trust your gut”!

30. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) 13. Most child sexual abusers find victims in schoolyards or playgrounds. False Most offenders assault children with whom they have a relationship.

31. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) 14.Registration & Notification can provide a false sense of safety for you and your family. True Registration and notification is limited to a small number of sexual offenders in our communities.

32. Facts About Sex Offending Behavior (continued) 15.If a victim does not fight back it was not truly forced. False There are a variety of reasons victims may not fight back or say ‘no.’ A victim does what she/he needs to do to survive a sexual assault.

33. Discussion Questions/Answers

34. PRESENTERS • For further information, please contact Denise Roth at (619) 884-5170 or deniseroth@cox.net