Projects
Some are short term, like the Town Halls we're organizing for
this fall. Some will be perpetual, like education and legislation.
You'll find them all here, or on other pages in the website.
If you'd like to volunteer for one of these projects, or have an
opinion or suggestion, please contact us. You can also visit the
Shop & Support page for more ideas on how to help.
Safe Child Project
Children need ongoing education regarding safety, from the time they're two and learning about personal boundaries, until they're 17 and learning about dark parking lots and blind dates from the internet.
We think kids should learn some of this at home, with methods such as the Take 25 program from NCMEC. We teach them about matches and sharp edges, we should teach them about personal security, as well.
They also need to learn safety methods at school, either in dedicated classes, or structured into existing curricula. We're working to make that happen. Check out the Safe Child page.
Legislation
Predatory Exposure
Proposing that Predatory Exposure, aka Indecent Exposure with Sexual Intent toward a child under age 15, result in sexual registration.
As it stands now, even with two separate convictions of this crime, the criminal would be able to volunteer or work with children and vulnerable citizens.
Increased Penalty Zones - Fully supported by Washington State PTA!
Proposing that crimes committed against children, within designated walking distance of public schools, and 100 feet around bus stops, have increased penalties.
Children are required to attend school each day, and often walk to and from school alone. Studies by the Justice Department show that a majority of crimes committed against children by non-family members occur as the child is walking to or from school.
We acknowledge that harsher consequences do not necessarily reduce crime, but we believe they are appropriate when the crime shows increased predatory intent, such as hunting kids in school zones.
Extended Reporting Time
The statute of limitations (SOL) on childhood sexual assault (CSA) is currently 3 years after the child turns 18. Surprisingly, victims' advocates and prosecutors do not support the complete removal of the SOL on CSA, but there is consensus that it needs to be extended. Here is our suggested compromise:
When we came up with this, we considered that victims would want/need
- to know that they’re not ‘allowing’ the predator to commit more crimes due to their lack of reporting,
- to know that they’ve sought justice for themselves, and
- to speak out against their abuser.
We’re not victim’s advocates, so that list may not have the proper terminology or be a complete list. However, it did allow us to come up with the proposed compromise:
- SOL be extended to 25 y/o for all felony CSA.
This is for the following reasons:- The majority of abuse takes place within the home, and in the majority of cases the abuser is in direct control of the child and is also the person paying for the child’s car, college, etc.
- The extension allows the child time to find therapy [free therapy in college without risk of mandatory reporting], complete college, and establish financial and social independence from the abusive environment.
- Victims would be able to submit affidavits detailing the facts
of the abuse as they remember it. Those affidavits would
- Be held by law enforcement
- Be “searchable” by law enforcement [databased]
- Be admissible in court
- Have no SOL
- The accused would be notified of the affidavit and would be able to provide a response.
We leave it to the wisdom of the legislature as to whether these affidavits would be accessible to the public. Perhaps the facts but not the identifying information.
Child Stalking
Proposing that a charge of Stalking a Child be a felony.
As it stands now, Stalking a Police Officer is a felony, Stalking a Social Worker is a felony, and Stalking a Child is a gross misdemeanor. It is a very difficult allegation to prove, and we at CAP have been unable to find a non-criminal intent for Stalking a Child.
Rights of the Child
Proposing that the Rights of Children be articulated, that the result be published, and that the published document be taught to children, especially those who have been removed from their home, and who are most vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
Proposing separately that children, especially those who have been removed from their home, be taught how to ensure that their rights are met, to maintain a secure and safe environment, and to report crimes committed against them.
33% of girls, and 20% of boys are sexually abused as minors. If those statistics were applied to a polio outbreak, you can bet the government would take drastic action.
As it stands, we have tremendous burdens placed on children, communities, and society because the problem is so overwhelming and so entrenched.
Educate, Empower, End the Cycle.
Washington State Bar Association
The Washington State Bar Association has chosen to set the bar too low, and has a registered sex offender [at least one] in their membership.
How this has worked so far: a lawyer was convicted of multiple counts of Indecent Exposure with Sexual Intent to a child, and with Stalking a child. Currently, these crimes are misdemeanors (see above project). The WSBA held a grievance hearing on the matter, almost a year after his sentencing hearing, and has recommended that he be suspended for three years.
However, he has to register as a sex offender for 10. He'll be suspended for 3 years, and then he'll get to re-apply to the Bar again. If re-admitted, he'll practice law for 6 years while also a registered sex offender.
Wow. Officer of the Courts and registered sex offender.
We would like to add that the Washington State Bar Association is working with us to fix this issue, and has started the process toward a more common-sense method of dealing with members who are charged with sex crimes.
We appreciate how much work that will entail, and thank them for their efforts. We do think that it is best that the Bar handle this, rather than turn the issue over to legislators.