Child abuse is a growing problem is today's families. Although most abused and neglected children never come to the attention of local authorities. This is especially true with sexually abused children because there may be no signs of physical harm, but there is always intense shame. For some reason the child may think that it is his or her fault and not want to say anything. Even adults who know of the abuse are secretive about it for fear of destroying the family. Family situations are usually harder to cope with for the child and other members of the family. In most states the penalty for an adult who rapes a child is twenty years plus unless that adult is related to the child in which case the maximum sentence could be probation!
             Statistics report one in three girls will be sexually abused before their twelfth birthday with fifty percent of the remainder being sexually assaulted sometime during the remainder of their lifetime. With boys the statistics report one in five before their twelfth birthday. The actual occurrences is probably much higher, since most cases aren't even reported. Although the majority of molesters are males, they aren't alone in these acts.
             Children are easily manipulated or bribed by an adult. Therefore, force is rarely required by perpetrator of child sexual assault except where the assault comes from a stranger. A recent Canadian study found that the victim such as a family member, babysitter, neighbor, family friend, uncle, or cousin knows eighty-five percent of the offenders. Some child abusers can be other children (about one in six). The sexual abuse of a family member, or incest, is estimated to occur in fourteen percent of all families. Incest commonly begins when the victim is about ten years old and continues until intervention occurs. More than six out of 10 of all rape cases (sixty-one percent) occurred before victims reached the age of eighteen. Twenty-nine
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