Take a moment and view this article, written by Ruben Rosario in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
The article that appeared July 11th does an excellent job of describing the horrible effects a child suffers when he or she is sexually assaulted. In this particular case, the assault came from a family member.
In light of recent events, a lot of attention is focused on child abductions and assaults by unknown strangers. Please remember that many of the assaults we see as law enforcement officers are the result of a family member. Unfortunately, many of the assaults never are reported because the child is terrified of the consequences or the threats made by the offender.
Kids need to feel safe. They need to know that no one is entitled to assault them in this manner. Advocacy programs work hard to provide instruction and support. It’s a daunting job and I appreciate their efforts.
If you are reading this and are a victim of a sexual assault, know that you do not have to put up with it. There are many places you can go for help. You can contact school officials, social workers, ministers, and police officers. No one, especially children should be afraid to ask for help.