Last year, Vermonters watched as a man who sexually abused a young girl over a 10-year period received a 60-day prison sentence.
More recently, Vermonters were saddened and outraged by the rape of a 4-year-old child by an adult man in Bennington County. Adding to our outrage was a sentence that includes no jail time for this convicted child predator.
It’s difficult to find the right words to talk about these terrible crimes. But we must talk about them.

Child sexual abuse is a national problem, both serious and widespread. Estimates say 1 in 7 boys and 1 in 4 girls has had some experience with sexual abuse.
The most recent US government statistics show a rate of overall child abuse at 11.9 victims for every 1,000 children. In Vermont, the rate was 8.4 – placing Vermont in the safest third of all states.
Vermont is a relatively safe place for children, but it’s not safe enough – not as long as a single child is abused in our state.
Nationally, the vast majority – possibly as high as 90% -- of child sexual abuse is committed not by a stranger, but by someone the child knows and trusts – a parent, grandparent, sibling or other family member, a teacher, coach, clergy, camp counselor, scout leader, or neighbor.
How can we prevent child sexual abuse? First, child predators must be kept away from innocent children, by incarceration and other means.
That’s why Vermont enacted tougher sentencing reforms, and stiffer consequences for child sexual predators following last year’s high profile case. Vermont’s children are safer as a result of these reforms.
We also expanded Special Investigative Units (SIU). The Chittenden SIU opened in 1997. New units will now come to Bennington, Franklin-Grand Isle, Windham and Windsor counties. Through the work of trained investigators, SIUs bring more predators to prosecution, conviction, imprisonment and treatment. Abused children and their families receive treatment to heal the trauma and to help break the cycle created when untreated victims grow up to become abusers themselves.
We still have work to do.
First, we must clamp down on child pornography. I strongly believe that sex crimes against children frequently begin with viewing child pornography. Because these images don’t recognize state boundaries, I will work with Vermont’s congressional delegation to bring about change nationally.
Adults in positions of authority -- such as teachers, coaches, clergy and counselors – who take sexual advantage of children must face stiffer consequences for their crimes. I will press for passage of a bill to address this issue in Vermont this year.
It is time for Vermont to enact a civil confinement law (H.0172), to keep violent sexual predators in prison until they have successfully completed treatment. I have also been working with Senator Dick Sears and Public Safety Commissioner Kerry Sleeper on legal measures to “shorten the leash” on serious sexual offenders on probation.
I recently met with State’s Attorneys, to ask them what legal tools they need to bring more child sex offenders to justice. This dialog will continue.
We must promote programs that make it safe and easy to report abuse or suspected abuse. We must continue to fund and support Special Investigative Units all over our state.
Perhaps most importantly, we must help every Vermonter learn to prevent, recognize and act when they see child sexual abuse.
If you are a parent, talk to your children about the privacy of some body parts, and the difference between “good touch” and “bad touch”. Teach them to say “No” and to tell you if someone touches them inappropriately. Find out if their school has an abuse prevention program. If it doesn’t, start one. Know when your children spend time with other adults, especially in out-of-the-way places. Very young children can be especially vulnerable to predators.
What can you do if you suspect that a child you know is being sexually abused?
Simple: come forward. Call police, or your nearest Department of Children and Families Field Office (look in the white pages under “Vermont, State of, Children and Families”).
How can you spot child sexual abuse?
Pay attention to your own children and those around you. Watch for nightmares and other sleep problems, mood swings, fear of certain people or certain places, or refusal to talk about a “secret” shared with an adult or older child. Watch for sexually oriented play. Watch for signs of pain or injury around parts of the body where abuse may have taken place. Remember that abusers are seldom strangers. They are usually family members or other trusted individuals. If you suspect abuse, call for help.
Each one of us should take responsibility for the children in our lives, and if we suspect abuse, come forward.

At the same time, it’s our job as state leaders to find child predators and bring them to justice. It’s our job to protect Vermont’s children and to treat those whose young lives have been scarred by sexual abuse.