Letters 8-25-2012

Sex offenders

Report and stem

The criminal conviction last month of Derek Cavillis (WHT July 17) and the conviction and sentencing of David Kaawa IV (WHT June 29) serve as reminders that West Hawaii is not immune to the tragic problem of child sexual abuse. The Hawaii County Police Department and Prosecutor’s Office need to be congratulated for their hard work on these cases and many others.

Research has shown sexual offenders typically continue their deviant behaviors until they are taken off the street and required to participate in treatment. The successful prosecutions of Cavillis and Kaawa not only helped protect their victims from further abuse, but helped to prevent other children from becoming victims.

Hawaii has a law (HRS section 350-1.1) that requires certain individuals to report suspected child sexual and physical abuse (for example, doctors, nurses, schoolteachers and staff, child care providers, sports and recreation leaders, etc.).

All states in America have similar laws. However, as demonstrated by the Jerry Sandusky case, sometimes the law is not followed. No one at Penn State University made a prompt report of child sexual abuse to the police. Sandusky continued to abuse young boys for over a decade before he was finally arrested and brought to justice.

The fact certain individuals are legally required to make a report does not mean that other community members cannot or should not report suspected child sexual and physical abuse. We are the eyes and ears of the community and it’s the responsibility of all of us to help protect our children.

Call the Hawaii County Police Department (911) or Hawaii Child Protective Services (494-3991) if you suspect child sexual or physical abuse. You don’t need to be certain that it happened — you just need a reasonable belief it has occurred or it may occur in the reasonably foreseeable future.

Nolan Chock

Kailua-Kona