Penn State Scandal Spurs Sex Abuse Bills in W.va.

By Amanda Iacone
WPXI
January 31, 2012

http://www.wpxi.com/news/ap/crime/penn-state-scandal-spurs-sex-abuse-bills-in-wva/nHKx6/#c116740

All adult West Virginians would be required to report suspected sexual abuse to the police under a bill working its way through the Legislature.

The Senate unanimously passed the measure Monday, sending it for consideration by the House. The bill also would add coaches and camp staff to the list of professions required to report physical abuse and neglect.

A bill introduced in the House also would expand reporting requirements but stops short of placing the responsibility on all adults. The House bill would provide funding for prevention programs.

The Penn State University scandal spurred the bills. Retired Penn State football assistant Jerry Sandusky was charged with child sex abuse and two university officials were charged with failing to report the allegations.

The case also brought down longtime head coach Joe Paterno. Paterno, who died last week, was fired over his handling of the allegations against Sandusky.

At least 12 states are considering mandatory reporting legislation this year.

"It's really an attempt to get people's attention. The idea we were searching for is would this have affected Joe Paterno? That's what we really want to do. We thought it was a tragedy both for those young people affected of course for the coach who was arrested but also for Joe Paterno," said Sen. Dan Foster, D-Kanawha, who sponsored the bill.

The Senate bill would require adults to contact police within 48 hours of learning of the abuse. The bill also would require camp staff and coaches to notify the person in charge of their school or organization.

State law currently requires teachers, emergency medical personnel and doctors among other profession to report cases of abuse or neglect to both police and child protective services.

The penalties for not reporting such information are no more than 10 days in jail and a $100 fine. Under both proposed bills, violators could face up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A similar bill working its way through the House of Delegates would provide $1 million to provide training for adults required to report abuse to prevent abuse. The bill also would add camp staff and coaches to the list of professional required to report both suspected abuse and neglect. But the House version would not provide a blanket requirement for all adults to report incidents.

About 4,000 children in West Virginia were victims of abuse or neglect in 2010, including 219 who suffered sexual abuse, said Jim McKay, state coordinator for Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia.

The number of child sex abuse reports has decreased since the 1990s largely due to prevention efforts and training that focus on adults, McKay said.

"It shouldn't be up to a child to keep themselves safe," McKay said.

Increased state funding to continue providing effective programs is just as important as increasing the criminal penalties, McKay said.

Others who work with children victims in West Virginia support the measure. Adults often don't believe what they've seen or heard and don't want to question someone they trust or a family member, said Nancy Hoffman with the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services.

"I think it holds everyone accountable," Hoffman said. "It doesn't make sense that you only designate certain people. If they suspect a crime of a child that they should be mandated to report. I think we all have a moral obligation."