Utah ranks eighth in child abuse and first in sex abuse rates of children. Numbers show Utah is eighth highest among all states in child abuse. The state had 6,900 cases in 2014. Of those, 27 percent were sex abuse, the highest rate of any state.

Only 13 percent of the cases were neglect, one of the lowest rates among all states.

During the last year with Covid, Child Sex Abuse Cases rose 68%

Over the last several years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah has prosecuted approximately 55 cases a year involving the production, possession, and distribution of child pornography and coercion and enticement of minors in Utah. These cases result from investigations conducted by members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. This task force was formed in June 2016 to ensure a rapid, effective response to federal crimes against children and the victimization of children by online predators. These investigations, including chat operations conducted by the task force, account for the majority of cases charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also takes cases referred by the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

In the coming weeks I will be passionately bringing awareness of child sex abuse/sex crimes toward children and the leniency Utah has toward "First Time Offenders" who are arrested and convicted of pedophilia. Protests will be peaceful and informative. They will range from wearing yellow and teal (childhood sex abuse awareness colors), to writing and getting signatures for legislation.

If you are interested to help in any way such as planning, poster making, ideas, signature gathering, picture taking/social media awareness or would like to participate, please reach out to me.