It does not federalize any state crimes, nor does it create any new federal crimes. This legislation specifically covers seven of the most serious federal sex crimes including aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a minor or ward, sexual abuse resulting in death, and selling or buying of children for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. This legislation focuses on a relatively small number of terribly sick individuals who cause tremendous devastation devastation all out of proportion to their numbers. This devastation can be measured in two ways. First, in the sheer number of victims.
Child molesters are four times more likely than other violent criminals to recommit their crime.
A typical molester will abuse between 30 and 60 children before they are arrested as many as 380 children during their lifetime. A study conducted by Emory University found that 453 sex offenders admitted to molesting more than 67,000 children in their lifetime a number also supported by Department of Justice research. According to the KlaasKids Foundation, the average convicted child molester spends only 2 years and 9 months in prison. The second, and most important way to measure the devastation of these crimes is by the damage caused to children, to families, and to communities. Every victim is an innocence stolen, and in too many cases, a life destroyed.