FAQ'S
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I'm concerned that I really cannot tell who is and who is not a sex offender. You are exactly right. There is no such thing as a typical sex offender. That is why it is important for you to understand common sense strategies for protecting yourself and your children that you should always follow. Who must register as a sex offender? The Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) requires anyone on parole or probation or imprisoned for a sex offense on January 21, 1996, to register with the Division of Criminal Justice Services. In addition, sex offenders sentenced to probation, local jail, or state prison after that date must register upon their return to the community. In 1999, eight new offenses were added to the list of registerable offenses. Any person on parole or probation or imprisoned for one of these offenses on January 1, 2000, as well as any person who is convicted of one of the new offenses on or after that date, must also register. On March 11, 2002 seven new offenses were added to the list of registerable offenses, three misdemeanors and four felonies. Any person who commits one of the misdemeanor offenses on or after March 11, 2002 and is subsequently convicted of that offense must register. Any person on parole or probation or imprisoned for one of the felony offenses on March 11, 2002, as well as any person who is convicted of one of the new offenses on or after that date, must also register. The law is amended periodically by the New York State Legislature to add additional registerable offenses. For additional details on this question and more questions about sex offenders go to: http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/faq.htm How will I know if I can believe allegations about sexual assault - do people make false accusations? The majority of victims tend to minimize sexual assault, or out of self-blame, fear, or shame do not disclose the abuse. This is particularly true of child victims. Research indicates that sexual assault is no more falsely reported than any other crime. The best approach is to believe the victim, listen to her or his allegations, offer your support, and support the victim in getting the help that s/he needs. What do I do, or whom do I tell, if I am sexually assaulted or my child is sexually abused? Ultimately, the choice of reporting the sexual assault of an adult is a choice that a victim must make. Perhaps the best course of action is to call a rape crisis center to explore your options and what the implications might be for you. Clearly, criminal justice authorities will encourage you to come forward and report the crime to the appropriate person who can support them through this process. In the case of the victimization of a child, there are agencies and individuals who are required by law to report. I do not know how to help a friend who has been sexually assaulted. Listening to your friend without judging her/his choices is the best thing you can do. Reinforce the message that your friend is not to blame for what happened. Be sensitive to new fears and behaviors associated with the assault (such as avoiding crowds or feeling unsafe in previously comfortable locations). Most importantly, give your friend time to heal and let her/him know you are there to listen whenever needed. I do not want to talk to my children about sexual abuse, because I do not want to frighten them. Is this really the right thing to do? It is helpful for parents to keep in mind that: •You, as a parent or adult, may be more uncomfortable or frightened by this than your children are; •You teach your children about safety information in a number of other areas, so this subject should not be different. (You can draw a parallel between teaching kids to "drop and roll" if clothes catch on fire [which is a pretty scary thought] or teaching kids to cross the street by looking both ways so they are not run over [which is a pretty scary thought]) If my child were a victim of sexual abuse, would talking about it with my child afterwards make it worse? Making the child talk when they are not ready and implying blame can make it worse. Encouraging your child to talk but not demanding or forcing information from her or him is helpful. I am concerned about protecting my child from this type of crime. In fact, I think if my child were a victim, I do not know how I could possibly handle it. Perhaps the best thing to remember if you know or suspect that your child has been victimized is that they need you - more than ever - to be a calm, nurturing, and protective parent. The child has endured one of the most profound violations of her or his person. It will probably be extremely difficult for your child to disclose this to you, or to deal with the emotion of knowing that you are aware of what has happened to them. It will be even more difficult for your child if they observe you losing control of your own feelings or behavior. In order to help your child, and prevent further trauma to her or him, you have to be strong for her or him. Seek help for your child. Seek help for yourself in the form of specialized counseling to help you handle your reactions. Source: Center for Sex Offender Management |