March 04, 2005

State to work with Web site to get reports of sexual abuse

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Concord Monitor

By ANNE SAUNDERS
Associated Press Writer

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- The attorney general's office announced Thursday that it has teamed up with a Massachusetts-based Web site that allows people to make anonymous reports of sexual abuse.

The Web site, VictimPower.org, grew out of the clergy sexual abuse scandal, but allows anyone to report abuse.

"We're encouraged and hopeful that this is a new tool to combat abuse in the state," said Senior Assistant Attorney General William Delker.

The announcement came on the two-year anniversary of the release of thousands of documents related to the state's investigation of how the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester handled reports of abuse by clergy.

"Time and time again what we heard is the shame and humiliation that these victims felt coming forward and talking about this kind of crime," Delker said. "It was this shame and humiliation that allowed this type of abuse to go on for so long.

Posted by kshaw at March 4, 2005 08:32 AM