How many children are sexually abused?

How many children are sexually abused? Nationally, it is estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys will have experienced some form of sexual abuse by the time they reach adulthood.  In Kentucky, 46,494 children were reported to and investigated by the Health & Families Services Cabinet for abuse, neglect and dependency in 2003.  3,968 of those children were reported as victims of sexual abuse.  278 lived in the Barren River Area Development District (Health & Families Services Cabinet’s 2003 TWIST Report).  Unfortunately, those statistics only reflect the number of children’s cases that were investigated by “social services” and not necessarily those cases that were involved law enforcement only or a combination of the two agencies. That information is not available, so a complete and accurate figure of how many children are sexually abused in Kentucky is not known.

The Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center worked closely with the region’s multidisciplinary team professionals to coordinate and provide services to more than 350 child victims and 250 non-offending parents and/or caregivers during its fiscal year 2004 (July 2003 – June 2004).  While the majority of the children are entering “the system” for the first time, roughly 20% of the Center’s caseload will consist of cases involving children who are waiting for their case to go to trial.  The Center follows each child’s case through that process through regular attendance at each county’s multidisciplinary team meetings.

The following are also considered common facts about child sexual abuse:

·         Almost one-third of victims are the children or step-children of the offender.

·         One in seven child victims are abused by a stranger.

·         Offenders typically prey on children they know – not strangers.

·         One-third of offenders report they had committed crimes against multiple victims.

·         Three of four child victims are female.

·         One-third of child victims are abused by a biological parent.

·         Fifty percent of child victims are abused by someone with whom they have an established relationship such as a friend or a relative.

·         Three-fourths of violent crimes committed against a child are committed in his or her home or the home of the offender.

·         Four in ten children suffer either a forcible rape or another injury.