Childhood Lost

http://www.nj.com/specialprojects/childabuse/

The Express-Times documented child molestation by adults in a six-month investigation. The result was an exhaustive and often dark journey through the abyss of perversion and depravity in which molesters operate.





Crime of horror and shame
Underreported and incomprehensible, child sex abuse tears at society.

More
» Pedophile: 'I'm tired of being forced into the shadows by society'
» Screening out predators is tough
» Civil cases another way to protect
» Worst of the worst abusers
» About this series

PART TWO
» Child molesters look like you and me
Developing a profile is nearly impossible.

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» Lifting the veil of shame and silence
» Stereotypes hide female abusers


PART THREE
» Victims: Healing from trauma of abuse
Sexual abuse victims do get better, and mental health professionals want people to understand that.

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» Victim says God made her object of attack to save another's life
» Abuse reduces vibrant faith to a relic
» Passage of time allows victims to speak



PART FOUR
» Internet provides access to children
Technology helps predators lure children for sexual purposes and get access to child *advertiser censored*.

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» Web a playground for child *advertiser censored*
» A cop's online search for a pedophile
» Agencies police the Internet



PART FIVE
» A child's death, a call to action
The rape and murder of 7-year-old Megan Kanka has come to symbolize the crusade for sweeping child sexual offender notification legislation.

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» Next steps for Megan's Law
» Two states, two approaches
» Law spawned by tragedy and revulsion



PART SIX
» Life in the collar is forever changed
Some people are calling the sexual abuse scandal the Catholic Church's Sept. 11.

More
» Priest urged to change habits
» Survivors' faith can't be broken by abuse
» Metuchen bishop makes a difference
» Call for help



PART SEVEN
» Safety net of police, social workers
Police and prosecutors say the work is taxing, but they are rewarded by helping children escape abuse and putting molesters in prison.

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» Challenges of suspects' lawyers
» Caseworkers take the heartache home
» A day in the life of a caseworker


PART EIGHT
» Leading abusers away from temptation
Treating pedophilia is similar to the treatment of alcoholism; abusers never completely recover from a sexual attraction to children.

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» Teaching kids to protect themselves
» Counselors create refuge for abused
» Pedophiles find shelter is sparse