Protecting children

It was chilling to hear U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway's assessment that sex crimes against children are increasing, and many of them are occurring in Southeast Missouri. Her statistics were backed up by Tammy Gwaltney of the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, which has seen an increase to 500 a year from 42 in young victims since 1997. And even those figures may be low. "Sexual abuse is the most under-reported violent crime," said Gwaltney.

With so much available communications technology, the potential for exposure to situations that could lead to sex crimes involving children has increased substantially. U.S. Attorney Hanaway said parents can help protect their children by monitoring the use of text messaging on cell phones and the use of Internet chat rooms. Both are prime contacts for would-be sexual predators who seek out children as victims.

With all the benefits of cell phones and the Internet, it's sad to realize how good can be turned to bad by those with evil intent on their minds.

Hanaway and Gwaltney's warnings need to be heeded. Children who think they are innocently participating in a bit of fun on cell phones and computers could all too easily be targeted as sexual victims.