UPDATE 2006: Changes in child sexual abuse statistics since 2003

Editor's note: In 2003, the Daily Mail did an in-depth report on sexual abuse against children. Today, there are new laws and stronger resources, but the problem still persists. The Daily Mail is revisiting this issue in a series of stories. Today, the series will look at how the numbers have changed in the past three years.

On Tuesday, the Daily Mail will continue the series, delving into the psychology of sexual predators.

Future stories will discuss the lasting impact of abuse on its victims, and the personal story of one whose life has been touched by such abuse.

By Colette Lefebvre

Nevada Daily Mail

In 2003, reporter Justin Baldwin produced a shocking three part expose on child sexual abuse. The statistics were alarming and what is even more so is that these statistics have since risen.

Child abuse is still an unnerving problem, and it hasn't lowered since 2003 -- in fact, it has risen. In 2003, Baldwin reported that the Missouri State Highway Patrol's sex offender registry had 40 names listed, 31 perpetrators were located in Nevada, three were in Sheldon and one was located in each of the towns of Milo, Richards, Walker, Bronaugh and Harwood. The registry has since been updated and in 2006 there are 52 official sex offenders listed on the registry. Of those, 36 offenders reside in Nevada, four offenders in Sheldon, two in Walker, one in Richards, two in Milo, two in Schell City, one in Vandalia, one in El Dorado Springs, one in Moundville, one in Overland Park and one in Pleasonton, Kan. Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman said that the county deals with at least one child sexual abuse case a month.

The statistics for reported child sexual abuse in Vernon County for the 2005 year were one reported rape, two sexual assaults, and 16 juvenile cases. Peckman states that a juvenile case can be anything involving a juvenile relating to sex crimes. Already, the rates for 2006 have surpassed last year's statistics. In 2006 the Vernon County Sheriff's Office reports that there was three reported rapes, 10 juvenile cases and three sexual assaults.

It wasn't until 1994 that many states required a sex offenders' registry. Prior to 1994, only five states required offenders to be placed on the list. Congress passed the Jacob Wetterling Crimes against children and sexually violent offender act, 42 U.S.C. or otherwise known as the "Wetterling Act."

The Wetterling act requires state implementation of a sex-offender registration program or a 10 percent forfeiture of federal funds for state and local law enforcement under the Bryne Grant Program of the U.S. department of Justice.

In 2006, all 50 states have a sex offender registry. Soon, the idea that a registry was not enough came after 7-year-old Megan Kanka was murdered by a released sex offender living on her street. Congress passed Megan's law in 1996, which requires all states to conduct community notification but does not set out specific forms and methods, other than requiring the creation of Internet sites, containing state sex offender information.

The national center for children reports that currently there are 566,782 registered sex offenders in the United States.

The center reports that most sex offenders are not in Prison and those who are tend to serve limited sentences.

Also, most sex offenders are largely unknown to people in the community, sex offenders have a high risk of re-offending and while community supervision and oversight are widely recognized as essential the system is overwhelmed.

"Perpetrators are typically male. We have seen perpetrators as old as 70 and as young as under 10." said Peckman.

Peckman made it a point to make all Vernon Countians aware that a free list of current sex offenders is available at the Vernon County Sheriff's Office and for an online list visit www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov.

For crisis intervention and immediate assistance contact the Child abuse and neglect hotline at (800) 392-3730.