Counter Pedophilia Investigate Unit

The Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital has received a big boost – from the football program.

Penn State announced Wednesday it has donated $1.1 million to its new Center for Protection of Children, which is based in the hospital.

A previous donation of $1.5 million was made in December to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.

Penn State’s overall Big Ten bowl distribution and contribution to child abuse prevention adds up to $2,616,184. (more…)

The authors’ book, Game Over, Jerry Sandusky, Penn State and the Culture of Silence (William Morrow, $26.99) was published today.

The disturbing issues surrounding child abuse and what happens to those who report it is a particularly poignant topic given that April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and a trial for former Penn State Coach Jerry Sandusky on fifty-two counts of abuse is fast approaching. (more…)

A judge on Thursday refused to throw out child sex-abuse charges against Jerry Sandusky but will allow defense lawyers for the retired Penn State assistant football coach to ask again to have the case dismissed as more evidence is turned over by prosecutors.

Judge John Cleland ruled on a catch-all pretrial defense motion that also sought to have some of the evidence against Sandusky suppressed, compel additional disclosure of prosecution materials, and win the court’s permission to introduce an alibi defense. (more…)

BATON ROUGE — People who report child sexual abuse to authorities should get whistleblower protection so they couldn’t be fired, suspended or demoted because of the allegations, the Louisiana Senate agreed in a 36-2 vote Monday.

Senate Bill 158 by Sen. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans, was filed in response to allegations of unreported abuse involving former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who is charged with dozens of criminal counts for alleged sexual abuse of eight boys over 15 years. (more…)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Penn State is offering free child-abuse counselling services to the alleged victims of former university assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

The university Wednesday described the arrangement with Praesidium Inc., an abuse risk management company, as a way to fulfil a commitment made by school officials after Sandusky was charged in November. (more…)

(CBS/AP) HARRISBURG, Pa. – On Monday, Jerry Sandusky’s lawyer asked the judge in his child sex-abuse case to delay the start of his criminal trial until mid-July, saying he needed more time to prepare.

Defense lawyer Joe Amendola said the additional two months would help him contact and interview witnesses, subpoena records and hire experts. Earlier this month, Judge John Cleland tentatively scheduled jury selection in the former Penn State assistant football coach’s trial to begin May 14. (more…)

BATON ROUGE, La. — A New Orleans state senator wants to toughen Louisiana law that requires people to report child abuse, in response to the allegations of sexual abuse of boys involving a former Penn State University assistant football coach.

Democratic Sen. J.P. Morrell has filed legislation to make it a felony if a person witnesses sexual abuse of a child and fails to report it to police. The prison sentence would be up to five years for conviction. (more…)

In Pennsylvania, most professionals who come in contact with children are required to report suspected child abuse. As a direct response to the sex abuse scandal at Penn State University, the state legislature has created the Task Force on Child Protection.

The ten members will review current state policies governing child protection, the reporting of child abuse, and propose suggestions to improve the system. Four members were appointed by Governor Tom Corbett, and three each by the House and Senate.

Dr. Rachel Berger, a Child Protection team member at Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital, was selected by Senate leaders. Berger says that, due to factors such as budget, the now highly-publicized issue had been put on the back-burner. (more…)

Albany wants more mandated reporters

In the wake of charges against a Penn State football assistant coach, Albany legislators are calling to expand the list of those who are required by law to report suspected child abuse in New York.

The current state law requires immediate reporting of suspected child abuse, followed by written documentation within 48 hours for a long list of professionals who deal with children. The penalty for failure to report is a Class A misdemeanor and civil liability for subsequent damages. (more…)

Animals performing in movies have better safeguards, says advocate.

First, it was the Catholic Church. Then Penn State. Now, a new child-abuse scandal in Hollywood is raising questions over the safety of minors in the entertainment business and sparking calls for new child-labour regulations.

Martin Weiss, a longtime man-ager of young talent, was recently arrested on suspicion of child molestation after an 18-year-old former client told police he had been abused by Weiss 30 to 40 times from 2005 to 2008. (more…)