Did You Know That....

	Did You Know That...
	Teenagers 12-17, especially GIRLS are the most victimized segment of the population in the United States! Everybody thinks it happens to little kids. Well, it doesn't. It happens to you and your friends and kids you know at school. Sometimes it happens and nobody finds out because no one talks about it. That's WRONG. If it happens to you, talk about it with an adult you trust.
	You care because you are: The brother of young, pre-teen and/or teen-age sisters, and you don't ever want anything like this to happen to them; or you have a girlfriend who may or may not have sisters, and you wouldn't want it to happen to them either.
	One out of every 3 girls and one out of ever 6 boys will be molested before they reach the age of 18.
	You care because: You know that if it hasn't already been you, it could be unless you know what to do and how to do it.
	Adults who abduct and molest kids, mainly do so for two reasons! Those reasons are control and sex.
	You care because you are: The sister of young, pre-teen and/or teen-age brothers, and you don't ever want anything like this to happen to them; or you have a boyfriend who may or may not have brothers, and you wouldn't want it to happen to them either; and you realize that this can happen to boys as easily as it can happen to girls.
	Teenagers and girls are among the most frequest victims of sexual attacks.
	You care because: You have been a victim of abuse and don't want to see anyone else have to go through what you did.
	Two-thirds of imprisoned sexual assasult offenders reported that their victims were gounger than the age of 18.
	You care because: You don't want to see the creeps who prey on the vulnerability of kids of any age win. You understand that when you know what to do to stop abuse in any form, you win and they lose.
	Sixty-two percent of all rape victims are younger than 18 years old.
	You care because: You have a good friend who was raped when she was only 13 and you see how it has hurt her ability to trust.
	Thirty-two percent of all rape victims are 11-18 years of age.
	You care because: You believe that everyone, especially kids (that includes teenagers) all have the right to a great childhood and fun high school years, it shouldn't be ruined by some pervert or bully taking out his or her sexual aggressions and needs on any kid.
	The average victim of abduction and murder is an approximately 11-year-old girl who is described as a "low-risk," "normal" kid from a middle-class neighborhood with a stable family relationship who has initial contact with an abductor within a quarter of a mile of her home.

	KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. KNOWING WHAT THEY DO, WHY THEY DO IT, AND HOW THEY DO IT (abduction, molesting and exploiting, luring or tricking their victims) IS THE BEGINNING OF TAKING THE POWER AWAY FROM THEM AND GIVING IT BACK TO YOU. THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE LESS OF A CHANCE THEY HAVE OF TRICKING OR CATCHING YOU OFF-GUARD.
	Resources for informaiton provided above: Bureau of Justice Statistics Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics 1996, Washington, D.C.: Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Dept. of Justice, pages 210-211 Sex Offenses and Offenders. Wash, D.C., Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Dept of Justice, Feb 1997, pg iii Rape in America: A Report to the Nation, Arlington, VA: National Victim Center, April 23, 1992, pg 3 Kenneth A. Hanfland, Robert D. Keppel, and Joseph G. Weis, Case Mgmnt for Missing Children Homicide Investigation: Executive Summary. Olympia WA: Office of the Attorney General State of Washington and U.S. Dept of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinuency Prevention, May 1997 pg 8