Additional research shows that the physical and emotional consequences for these children can be devastating. Girls targeted for sex by adult men tend to become life-long victims who view their self-worth solely in terms of sex. When compared to girls who are sexually active with boys near their own age, they are more likely to:

• have multiple sex partners
• engage in dangerous sexual behaviors
• be lured into prostitution or pornography

• become pregnant
• abuse drugs or alcohol
• drop out of school

Studies also show that the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases in America is found among females ages 15 to 19, and that the overwhelming majority of these girls contracted these diseases from adult males.

In all 50 states there are statutory rape and/or child sexual abuse laws which prohibit adults from having sexual contact with minor children. These laws are based on what is generally known as the “age of consent” and that age varies from state to state. Every state also has laws which require adults to report reasonable suspicions of child sexual abuse to a designated law enforcement or child protective services agency.

In some states, every adult is a mandated reporter and in others only certain groups (teachers, counselors, healthcare workers, etc.) fall into this category. But all states, any individual can make a report if they wish to do so. Once a report is made, the state is then responsible to investigate to determine whether or not a crime has been committed against the child.

A mandated reporter’s legal obligation is governed by five principles:

1. Because underage girls are not legally capable of giving consent for sexual activity, any sexual activity by an underage girl is, by definition, without her consent. By definition, that creates reasonable suspicion of child sexual abuse.

2. Seeking an abortion, pregnancy test, birth control (condoms, pills, etc.), or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is evidence of sexual activity. Therefore, evidence that any of these services are being sought by an underage girl (one who by state law is too young to legally consent to sexual activity) creates a reasonable suspicion of child sexual abuse and triggers the state-mandated reporting requirement.

3. Mandated reporters are under no legal obligation — and have no legal authority — to investigate the incident, make assumptions about it or draw conclusions about it. Their only role is a legal duty to report it to the state. Because of that, anything the girl or anyone accompanying her (including parents, guardians, boyfriends, or relatives) says about the situation has no legal relevance. For a mandated reporter, the only relevant questions are (a) is this girl younger than the state’s age of consent, and (b) is there any reasonable suspicion that she is sexually active?

If the answer to both of those questions is yes, a report is legally required. The responsibility for determining whether the circumstances of the child’s sexual activity are criminal or not lies solely with the state’s investigators and not with the mandated reporter.

4. In the case of healthcare workers, patient confidentiality and/or the physician-patient privilege are irrelevant. Healthcare workers are legally immune from civil or criminal penalties for violating patient confidentiality or the physician-patient privilege when they report reasonable suspicions of child sexual abuse.

Additionally, the authorities can investigate these suspicions by speaking to the victim and other witnesses without the healthcare worker being involved.

5. The fact that a minor girl may be lawfully allowed to secure an abortion, pregnancy test, birth control, or STD treatment without parental knowledge is also irrelevant. A report to the state about the possible sexual abuse of a child does not prevent, interfere with, or even delay that child’s ability to access these services since, in virtually every case, the report will not be made until after the service has been rendered.

Again, the only relevant issue is that when these services are sought by a minor they are evidence of sexual activity by someone who is not old enough to consent to sexual activity. That creates a reasonable suspicion of child sexual abuse and once that legal threshold is crossed a report to the state is mandated. As a result of a recently completed investigation (call 1-800-800-LIFE for a free copy or read it online at ChildPredators.com) there is now irrefutable evidence that school districts, family planning organizations, and sex education counselors are routinely and openly ignoring these state-mandated reporting laws.

For example, the evidence shows that the rate at which mandatory reporting laws are being violated by family planning organizations alone is well in excess of 90 percent.

Even more alarming, this investigation showed that child sexual assault victims are routinely trained how to conceal the crime from their parents and the authorities, while being given the means to allow the illegal sexual relationship to continue.

In effect, on one hand state legislatures are passing laws to protect children against sexual exploitation by adults, while on the other hand another group of adults is teaching the same children how to get around these laws.

This situation is absolutely no different than if a group of adults were caught teaching children how to circumvent laws which prevent them from purchasing tobacco, alcohol, or handguns.

First, parents are responsible for the medical care of their child even if they didn't know about it. Therefore, even though you may be unaware that your child is being given contraceptives, treatment for a sexually transmitted disease, a pregnancy test, or abortion services, you are legally responsible for the costs associated with treating whatever complications might occur as a result.

Additionally, as a parent you are responsible for the effects of your child's conduct on others. For example, if your child spreads a sexually transmitted disease you may be held liable despite the fact that another adult helped conceal your child’s sexual activity from you.

Second, every state recognizes that parents are entrusted with the custody and care of their child and that this relationship is entitled to the protection of the law. When a doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, teacher, counselor, or other adult interferes with a parent's right to direct what he or she believes to be in the best interest of their child, that parent has the ability to seek a financial recovery for any damages resulting from that interference.

Depending on the state in which the injuries occurred, such an individual or organization could be held legally responsible for:

• facilitating the continued abuse of a child
• interference in the parent-child relationship
• false imprisonment (civil kidnapping)
• fraud and/or deceptive trade practices
• negligent infliction of physical injury
• negligent infliction of emotional distress
• negligence and/or medical malpractice

If an individual or organization is found liable for one of these actions, depending on the jurisdiction, the victim (parent and/or child) could be awarded financial compensation for:

• treatment for psychological injury
• medical costs resulting from physical injury
• attorney fees for making the claim
• punitive damages

As a first step, Life Dynamics Incorporated is creating a national database of parents and girls who have been victimized. This database will be used to seek stronger statutory rape, child sexual abuse, and mandatory reporting laws, while also demanding better enforcement of the laws which already exist.

If your underage daughter was given any of the services listed below — and you were not told about it beforehand — we strongly encourage you to complete the enclosed survey and return it to us as soon as possible.

• birth control pills, condoms, etc.
• an abortion
• a judicial bypass for an abortion
• a pregnancy test

• treatment for sexually transmitted disease
• testing for sexually transmitted disease
• counseling about any of these services
• a referral for any of these services