Tips to Avoid Becoming a Victim

1: Know Your Surroundings

Experts claim that the first thing a man or woman must do in order to help reduce the chances of becoming a victim of a sex crime is to be familiar with their surroundings. This means avoiding areas of town where you may become lost or disoriented, always understanding the safety level of the neighborhood you are visiting and determining the most dangerous areas of your town so that you may avoid them. This includes determining where convicted sex offenders live and work compared to where you are living, working or where your kids play and go to school, as well as checking into the background of a new acquaintance who is relatively unknown.

2: Educate Your Children About Relationships with Adults

Many sex offenders who prey on children operate by first gaining the child's trust and later threatening their family's safety if they tell anyone about the sexual activity between them. Talk with your children about their relationships with other adults and advise them about good touch and bad touch. Parents should also become well aware of the background, habits and nature of any relationship that their children have with an adult. According to the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW), nearly 93% of sexual abuse among children is committed by someone the child knows.

You should also discuss safety precautions such as avoiding strangers and always notifying a trusted adult of their whereabouts.

3: Remain Aware of Your Child's Internet Usage

Many teenagers continue to establish and maintain relationships on the Internet via forums, blogs and social networking sites. These make them a prime target for sex offenders perusing the Internet for new victims. For this reason, parents should always supervise their child's Internet usage and activity, and encourage them to notify them in the event of any type of sexual advances or content sent to them from another Internet user. The NSOPW states that approximately 1 in 7 children have received unwanted sexual advances through online contact with another person.