Please help me in urging the push for stronger sentencing considerations for child sexual offenses and greater recognition of the long-term impacts faced by victims by adding your signature.

Childhood sexual abuse is a devastating and widespread issue in society. Approximately, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys in the United State experience sexual abuse before they turn 18 (Child Protection Global Network Inc., 2026). The chance that you personally may know a victim is greater than you may realize. While offenders may serve a sentence for this crime, victims are often left carrying a life-long sentence of trauma. I unfortunately know firsthand that the impacts of childhood sexual abuse do not disappear when the criminal case closes.  

At the age of 11, I faced sexual abuse by the hands of my step-grandfather. While I disclosed the abuse years later, he took a plea deal and received a 13-year prison sentence with parole and despite the severity of the case and having 4 additional victims, all of which were my cousins. He had known us since before we were born, and his actions not only had consequences for the individual victims, but also ultimately broke apart from my close-knit family. My family has not been the same since. 

 Almost a decade later, I suffered from the effects from the trauma I had experienced, while he, the person responsible for the harm caused, received a finite sentence. My own experience has made me heavily question and consider whether the current sentencing practices appropriately and fairly reflect the long-term consequences of sexual abuse against children. Does the given sentence truly reflect the harm that we victims continue struggling with? Is our justice system truly protecting children, or is it simply being treated as just another case that needs to be resolved? 

My research into childhood sexual abuse displays the complexity of these cases. Sentencing decisions are influenced by several crucial factors, such as severity of the offense, the age of the victim, an offender’s prior sexual convictions, and even the timing of the disclosure (Faller et al., 2006; Fessinger et al., 2024). 
 However, longer-term effects are often not taken into consideration when determining a sentence. Trauma is difficult, as it is not something that heals in a linear manner. People may experience and cope with it differently.

Victims often face shame and self-blame while their abusers face consequences that may not reflect their profound impact victims experience. They also face the risk of developing a variety of other profound, long-lasting consequences, such as PTSD, depression, drug and alcohol dependence, and anxiety disorders. These impacts are not just limited to mental health, but can also affect how they view themselves, the world around them, and how they may behave (Olafsen, 2011). 

The debate about whether harsher sentences are needed and if they truly prevent future victimization is complicated. While future victimization is something of high importance, we must not overlook the harm that already has occurred and what is being done for victims to support victims that are left to live with its consequences. While research has found that sexual reoffending rates are relatively low, certain factors, such as prior offenses and younger age, are associated with an increased risk.

Some individuals may often emphasize the importance of treatment and support for offenders, and while these are crucial parts of addressing sexual abuse, they should not overshadow the severity of the offense and long-term effects that victims face after. Sentencing should not only consider the possibility of future reoffending but also take into consideration the harm that has already occurred and the long-term future of the victim. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Survivors of child sexual abuse face enough unwanted criticism and often do not get the justice they deserve for the experiences they have through. 

I urge you to sign this petition and share it with others who believe victims of childhood sexual abuse deserve to have their experience and long-term harm recognized. Contact Representative Brandi Bradley to ask her to continue to advocate for legislation that strengthens sentencing considerations for child sexual offenses and recognize the impacts that are experienced by victims. 

Office of Brandi Bradley 
200 E Colfax RM 307 
Denver, CO 80203 
Phone: 303-866-2935 
Email: brandi.bradley.house@coleg.gov 

References 
Child Protection Global Network Inc. (2026). Child abuse statistics 2026 update: Latest available U.S. data. https://cpgn.org/facts-and-statistics/ CPGN 

Faller, K. C., Birdsall, W. C., Vandervort, F., & Henry, J. (2006). Can the punishment fit the crime when suspects confess child sexual abuse? Child abuse & neglect, 30(7), 815–827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2005.12.009

Fessinger, M. B., McAuliff, B. D., Aronson, E., & McWilliams, K. (2024). Attorneys' experiences, perceptions, and plea recommendations in child sexual abuse cases. Law and Human Behavior, 48(1), 13-32. https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000551 

Olafson, E. (2011). Child sexual abuse: Demography, impact, and interventions. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 20(4), 263–285. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361521.2011.545811