Child Sexual Abuse Reports Rise in Fairfax County

The number of child sexual abuse reports in the area has dramatically increased, Fairfax County Police announced recently, attributing the cause in part to the heavy publicity surrounding the scandal at Penn State. 

Thirty-nine reports were made to the Child Sexual Abuse Squad in December 2011, versus just 19 in December 2010. "In 2011, officers in that unit investigated a total of 329 cases covering child rape, sodomy, aggravated sexual battery and indecent liberties with a juvenile," the department wrote in a press release. 

The Office for Women’s Domestic and Sexual Violence hotline has also taken more calls since the news surrounding Penn State. . 

Two FCPD detectives will hold an online chat this week to answer questions from the public, along with a representative from the Office for Women & Domestic and Sexual Violence Services. The chat will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 18th, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Questions may be submitted in advance by clicking here. 

Here are some signs of child sexual abuse, from the American Academy of Child and Adolescant Psychiatry. A child being abused may:

• become withdrawn and develop low self esteem
• have an abnormal view of sex
• become suicidal
• develop depression, withdraw from family
• be secretive
• have delinquency or conduct problems

See a more complete list and discussion by clicking here.