New law proposed to protect Michigan children from sexual abuse
Sens. Rebekah Warren and John Proos announced today they will be introducing legislation in the Michigan Senate to help prevent the sexual abuse of children.
The bill would be called "Erin's Law" and is named after Erin Merryn, a sexual abuse survivor from Illinois, whose advocacy led to the passage of a similar law in her home state.
The measure would allow school boards to adopt and implement policies addressing child sexual abuse and would create a new Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children, made up of legislators, state officials and experts.
Rebekah Warren
Under the proposal, schools could adopt age-appropriate curriculum, train school personnel on child sexual abuse, and adopt policies concerning informing parents on the warning signs of abuse. Children are currently taught to beware of "stranger danger" but not to identify abuse, especially on the part of a familiar person, according to sponsors of the legislation.
"Recent events around the country have highlighted the importance of increased awareness of child sexual abuse," Warren, D-Ann Arbor, said in a statement. "This legislation will not only educate and encourage our children to speak up, but also ensures parents and school personnel have the training they need to spot warning signs and report incidents."
After going public about abuse by a family member, Merryn made it her mission to ensure that children have the age-appropriate education to recognize and talk about sexual abuse.
"As a child, I was educated in school on tornado drills, bus drills, fire drills, stranger danger and drugs, but when I was sexually abused, I listened to the only message I was being given — and that came from my abusers to stay silent," Merryn said in a statement.
"Educating kids on sexual abuse prevention in schools is the best way to empower kids to tell so abuse won’t go on for years the way it did for me," she said.
If passed, Michigan would join Illinois and Missouri in enacting Erin's Law. Similar legislation has been introduced in at least seven other states.
"As a father, I want to thank Erin Merryn for her bravery and her tireless leadership in support of abuse survivors,” Proos, R-St. Joseph, said in a statement.
"I look forward to working with her to help Michigan children get the education and support they need to identify abuse and get help," he said.
Proos cited statistics that one in four girls and one in seven boys are sexually abused by age 18, and in more than 90 percent of these cases, their abuser is someone they know.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
swcornell
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 4:06 p.m.
The Boy Scouts have a fantastic youth protection training program, both for adults and for the youth. It was designed to keep every one safe and quickly identify problems!
EyeHeartA2
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 12:03 a.m.
"The role of the one-time task force would be to make recommendations on possible changes to Michigan laws. " The role of the one-time task force would be to give Warren and Proos something to crow about during re-election. There. Fixed it..
BhavanaJagat
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 6:29 p.m.
Prevention of Abuse : Child abuse is a global problem and I was just reading about a huge problem in Europe that may have involved thousands of children and had started during 1945. Reporting actual acts of abuse would be a problem as children may not report it immediately. We need to look for warning signs and report incidents if an adult is suspected of approaching children and asking for sexual favors. Children have to learn to respect themselves as individuals in spite of the fact that they need care and attention. They have to learn that relationships between all age groups must be based upon respect and upholding the dignity of the human person.
Superior Twp voter
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 3:52 p.m.
Some serious "feel-good" legislation proposed here. Legislators have to propose and attempt to pass new legislation so they can thump their chest(s) for their constituency... I know I know.... we need more laws... we don't have enough yet. PART TIME legislature PLEASE!
Rusnak
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.
As someone who went through High School with friends and other students that were sexually molested. (We didn't find out till later) I'm sorry Rebekah you are so disconnected with this. "Under the proposal, schools could adopt age-appropriate curriculum, train school personnel on child sexual abuse, and adopt policies concerning informing parents on the warning signs of abuse." Could adopt? WTH? Train school personnel? They already are trained. And, kids already know what's appropriate and what isn't. And as for the parent? Remember, it's the parent that the predator befriends and gains the trust of, when the abused child tries to tell the parent the parent normally doesn't believe the child. Here's one for you Rebekah. How about making it mandatory that if an adult is aware and does nothing or, covers it up? (For example the recent Penn State scandal or, the Roman Catholic Church scandal) 7 years in prison with no possibility of parole! As someone else stated "We so need a part time legislature"
Erin Merryn
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 2:40 p.m.
Here is the stat on 1 and 4 and 1 and 6 being molested before the age of 18. <a href="http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbName=DocumentViewer&DocumentID=32315" rel='nofollow'>http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbName=DocumentViewer&DocumentID=32315</a> To learn more about Erin's Law visit my website at <a href="http://www.erinmerryn.net" rel='nofollow'>www.erinmerryn.net</a>
Swimmer
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 5:55 a.m.
"Proos cited statistics that one in four girls and one in seven boys are sexually abused by age 18, and in more than 90 percent of these cases, their abuser is someone they know." Can you link to/report on this stat, please -those are very scary numbers.
Joe_Citizen
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 5:18 a.m.
I am all for it, but there could be some more to it, but even if it's a worthless law, it is a step in the right direction and brings more awareness. On the other-hand, one does not need to be physically abused in any way to be a victim of sexual abuse. This should not be an issue one would want to ask a young child. The abuse starts when the child's sexual idea is prematurely triggered. A physical sexual assault's damage level is much less then the premature awakening of a child's sexual awareness. It is all depressing and cruel, but this premature idea is what the child may crave, and become the perpetrator of other kids from their childhood threw their adult years. So, this subject should never be directly or even hinted at a child. They have enough to worry about, they don't need some half wits asking them if they're being sexually assaulted.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 2:55 a.m.
Laws don't really stop pedophiles, but aware kids and parents and other adults might. For all those years kids were told not to speak to strangers. Don't get in a car with a stranger. Don't accept candy from a stranger. Nobody told them don't get in a car or take candy from or take a shower with or allow a touch where it shouldn't be from a really nice relative or friend of the family. I think it's about time this happened. A pedophile should not get away with it for 30 or 40 years. Kids should be taught about the real dangers and what to do about it, and parents and others in the family or friends of the family should learn it too, so they can spot the signs and know what to do. It's not as easy to spot, or as easy to respond to, as many people think it is.
OLDTIMER3
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
I just hope they are taught the right way. I can just see a lot of cases where a child is mad at someone in their family getting even by saying they abused them. We taught our kids to tell us if anyone touched them inappropiatley to tell us or someone in authority.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 10:28 p.m.
I like this! I have many friends who were sexually abused as children by members of their family or by close family friends. One of the things they often describe as being a terrible part of the experience was the notion that this was something that just simply never happened to any one else. Giving kids the message that this does happen to others along with the message that it is wrong while at the same time giving them the tools to report it just seems like a good idea.
justcurious
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 1:26 a.m.
I would have thought that all of those things would have been done already.
antikvetch
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 10:03 p.m.
More and more, it becomes apparent Michigan needs a part-time legislature.
cinnabar7071
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.
What about the jobs? Laws do nothing to stop pedophiles, NOTHING!