Recognizing Child Molesters: a New Approach to Protecting Children

Abuse survivors are warned that the presentation includes video-taped interviews with sex offenders.

Poster from the Salem-Keizer School District

(SALEM, Ore.) - The public is invited to a community training Thursday, October 15th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., about preventing child sex abuse.

The training will be held at Houck Middle School, located at 1155 Connecticut SE, Salem. Topics will include warning signs of sex abuse, responding to sex-abuse disclosures and reporting sex abuse. Admission is free.

Spanish interpretation will be provided. Child care will not be available, and school district officials say NO children will be allowed to attend the presentation.

(Warning: adults with a personal history of abuse should have support people available. The presentation includes video-taped interviews with sex offenders.)

Presenters include representatives from some of the following organizations: Salem-Keizer School District, Salem Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County District Attorney’s Office, Victim’s Assistance and Liberty House.

A news release from the district stated, "By attending this informative training, you will learn what you can do to prevent child abuse. Many boys and girls will be sexually abused prior to their 18th birthdays. The offenders will typically be someone they know—perhaps a relative, friend, neighbor or one of the many volunteers and professionals who come in contact with them every day."

Statistics indicate that few offenders are caught, "because they work just as hard deceiving adults as they do seducing and silencing child victims".