About Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse is when one or more individuals use a child in a sexual way to meet his or her own needs. Adults are not the only ones who sexually abuse children. An older child may abuse a younger one, or a physically larger child may force or scare a smaller child into sex play. The use of the word child refers to anyone under the age of 18.As difficult as it may be to believe, most child sexual abuse takes place in the child’s own home. The abuse might occur during a time when the child is alone with the abuser (e.g., one parent may be out of the home on a temporary or permanent basis) or even when there are other people in the house or apartment.
Some Definitions
INTIMATE PARTS – by state statute this refers to the genital area, groin, inner thighs, buttocks, or breastsSEXUAL CONTACT - means the intentional touching of the victim's intimate parts (clothed or unclothed) or having the child touch the abuser’s intimate parts (clothed or unclothed). A recent change in the law includes the touching of any part of the child’s body by the abuser’s intimate parts. Sexual contact is intentional, not accidental, and is intended for the sexual arousal or gratification of either person. Any form of sexual contact with a child 14 years of age or younger, when the perpetrator is 19 years of age or older, is a felony.
SEXUAL PENETRATION – includes penetration, however slight, of the genital/anal openings or of the mouth with the abuser’s penis or any other object. This is not to be confused with touching that a physician or nurse may do during a medical examination or normal washing of a child’s private parts by his or her caretaker. Sexual penetration does not require emission of semen. Sexual penetration, without consent, is against the law and is prosecuted as a felony.
STATUTORY RAPE - This refers to sexual intercourse or penetration with a child who is less than 16 year of age when the perpetrator is 19 years of age or older. Consent is not an issue. Statutory rapes are prosecuted as a felony.
INCEST – is a term used to refer to sexual intercourse or penetration between certain family members as defined by law. This includes parents and children (including stepchildren), grandparents and grandchildren, brothers and sisters, uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews. Incest is a felony.
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS – There is no longer a statute of limitations for prosecuting cases of child sexual abuse. This was eliminated by the Nebraska Unicameral in 2004.
Other Forms of Sexual Abuse
Children do not always have to be touched to be sexually abused. The non-touching form of sexual abuse includes such things as:- Encouraging or forcing a child to watch adults and/or other children engaged in sexually explicit activities – whether in real life or in movies, books, magazines, on a computer, or on playing cards
- Taking sexually explicit pictures or movies of a child
- Encouraging or forcing a child to engage in prostitution
- Exposing genitals or engaging in sexual acts in a public place
- Soliciting a child 16 years of age or younger by means of a computer for sexual activities
Some Facts About Sexual Abuse
- Research indicates that 1 in every 4 girls and 1 in every 6 boys will be sexually abused before they reach the age of 18. Based on our experience, we believe that as many boys as girls are victimized, yet boys often remain silent.
- Most children do not report the abuse for fear of being blamed or not believed. Conservative estimates indicate that for every case of child sexual abuse that is known, ten cases continue in secrecy.
- Generally, children are sexually abused by someone they know or a member of their family. Less than 10% of the abusers are strangers.
- Sexual abuse happens to children from all backgrounds. It affects poor and wealthy children; children from all ethnic groups; developmentally delayed and very bright children; and children of all religions.
- 75% of the children we see at the Center are under the age of 12 and one-third are under the age of 6.
- People who molest children are single and married; heterosexual and homosexual; male and female.
- Most sexual offenders do not molest just one time.
- The use of alcohol or drugs by the offender should not be used to minimize or justify the offense.