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…)

Prosecutors attack bid by ex-Penn State assistant coach to have his case dismissed.

Judge John M. Cleland pushed back Jerry Sandusky’s trial date three weeks to June 5, as prosecutors filed papers Thursday contesting the former Penn State assistant coach’s bid to have his case dismissed. (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…)

RICHMOND, Va. — Legislation that spells out the duties and deadlines of college coaches and other professions to report evidence of child abuse and increases punishment for those who don’t received a House committee’s unanimous blessing Thursday.

The three bills are Virginia’s response to child abuse allegations that rocked Penn State’s mighty football program and forced the November firing of its legendary head coach, Joe Paterno. (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…)

Children’s advocates want West Virginia lawmakers to toughen laws and invest $1 million in an effort to make sure scandals like the one that recently rocked Penn State University don’t happen here.

Representatives with Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia held a Tuesday morning breakfast meeting with about 80 legislators and government officials to encourage the state to take a more active role in preventing child abuse.

The arrest of former Penn State assistant football coach and children’s charity founder Jerry Sandusky on 40 counts of sexual abuse and assault against children last year shocked the nation. (more…)