People are terrified by the thought of sexual offenders. Primarily due to the ghastly deeds these criminals might commit, and partially because there is no easy way to identify a potential offender. It may seem like the type of predator who would willingly abuse another human being, especially a child, should have an obvious “look”, but the truth is even scarier. You can’t tell what another person is capable of doing just by looking.

Oprah interviewed four men who sexually abused children. She held a frank discussion with them in which she tried to understand why and how they perpetrated such destructive crimes. Her interview was direct, brutally honest and horrifying. In the end, Oprah created a list of four things everyone should know about child molesters:

Child molesters usually know their victims
It is a nightmare scenario for parents: a stranger grabs their child and drives to an unknown destination. We’ve all seen stories like this on the nightly news, and wonder what can be done to keep children safe. While this is a serious concern that must be addressed, an even greater possibility exists that a potential abuser already knows your kids.

Adults who watch over or educate children. A friend you’ve known for years. Even a relative. An untold number of families have been devastated by a sexual offender who was thought of as a trusted friend or loved one. The men Oprah interviewed were close to their victims long before the abuse began.

Child molesters watch for vulnerable children
Sexual predators seek out easy targets to victimize. They watch for children who are angry at their parents, unhappy with their home lives and in need of a strong adult presence. Once they find a susceptible child, the predators move in and attempt to establish a bond of trust and mutual respect. This bond allows them to take advantage of a child who doesn’t know how to react to the sexual abuse.

Child molesters manipulate their victims
The sexual offenders who spoke to Oprah confessed that they used techniques to convince their victims that the molestation was a pleasant experience, or that the children were to blame for any inappropriate behavior. They claimed to spend a long time “grooming” their victims by slowly establishing a rapport while eliminating all personal and physical boundaries. All their time and efforts were designed to give them complete control over a helpless individual.

There is hope
Oprah’s interview takes viewers through a whirlwind of emotions – from disgust and anger to disbelief and shock. Her final goal, however, was to let people know there are ways to protect your children.

First and foremost, watch your children closely. Give them the time, love and attention they need so they do not look for these qualities elsewhere. Next, keep a close eye on anyone who spends time with your children.

According to a Psychotherapist who participated in the interviews, parents should watch for tell-tale signs of potential child molesters. Some of the common indicators are seen in an adult who: spends more time with kids than other adults; regularly shares personal information with children; frequently buys gifts for young kids; or habitually tickles or wrestles with young people. In general, be wary of any adult who pays an unusual amount of attention to your children.

Another important lesson for parents is to take warnings from your children seriously. One sexual offender said that his victim told her parents about the abuse she was enduring, but he was able to convince them he was innocent. He stated that parents should believe stories of abuse, and that children “don’t lie about that stuff.”

A final method parents can use to protect their children is to stay informed about sexual offenders who live near their home, school or work. Adults can order a Sex Offender Report, which lists offenders living in any city or zip code in the United States. The report displays essential information such as an offender’s name, address, physical description and details about their crime.

Parents who are concerned about someone who spends time with their children can also order a Criminal Records Report to see if the person has any offenses on file. A potential child molester may have a criminal history that you need to know about, because when it comes to your children there is no such thing as being too cautious.

Oprah’s two-hour conversation with the child molesters is available online. Watch it to learn more about the thought process and practices of convicted sexual offenders; take every precaution possible to keep your family safe and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.

Read more about “What should be done with sexual offenders”

Read more about “New laws for California sex offenders”

Collecting public records on your own is difficult. We can help.

We live in the information age, a time when people are able to get almost any type of data they want from thousands of sources. This wealth of information has generated a new challenge: finding data that is complete, accurate and reliable.

Many companies sell public records, but they are often accused of providing inaccurate, incomplete or outdated information. These companies don’t always own the data they sell, and sometimes utilize a “bait and switch” tactic to get people to purchase multiple reports. They do this by displaying a teaser that indicates a lot of information is available, but when a customer purchases a report they discover that they must buy several more to get all the details. This leaves people with two choices: order reports from a public records company and hope for the best, or try to find the information they need on their own.

One of the biggest problems people encounter when searching for information themselves is that there is an intimidating amount of data available, and it is scattered over innumerable locations. People who attempt to find accurate details about individuals or businesses frequently discover that the search can be exasperating. Social profiles often provide information that is incomplete or inaccurate, and obtaining public records from government agencies can be difficult and time consuming.

To complicate matters, some of the data people have access to is not complete or correct. A recent Wall Street journal article reported that arrest records aren’t always ‘by the book’.  It stated that a famous 1967 report about crime statistics in the U.S. was seriously flawed, and that criminal data may be even more unreliable today. Law enforcement agencies throughout the country don’t follow a uniform system for calculating and reporting data, and this directly affects the criminal information that public records companies provide.

Another issue that makes collecting and displaying criminal information difficult is determining what should be listed in a report and what should not. These days it’s easy to get a background check to learn more about anyone’s past, and these reports often show criminal records even when the charges were dismissed or the circumstances were trivial (such as a traffic violation).

The problem is that many reports do not differentiate between what is and is not a criminal offense. This is causing people to want to take control over what information is available about them. One  Wall Street Journal story explains that many people are attempting to expunge even the most minor infractions so the details won’t be publicly available.

Criminal reports aren’t the only difficult aspect for public records; even the most basic information presents problems. Every person generates thousands of records in their lifetime, and they are not always consistent. For example, an individual may have several variations on their name, phone numbers may or may not include an area code, people entering data make mistakes, numbers are easily transposed … there are many potential issues.

Every problem needs a solution, and that’s why PeopleFinders is dedicated to providing the most accurate and detailed information available. To achieve this goal we own and maintain the web’s largest database of public records. We have access to more than 40 years of historical data, which allows us to create comprehensive documents about individual and businesses. This sets us apart from companies that only provide a limited amount of data or try to get you to purchase multiple reports – we offer everything you need to know in one convenient and easy-to-understand report.

First we collect every relevant piece of information, sort it, fix spelling errors, create a uniform format to display the data and insert it into appropriate categories. Next we meticulously search through this data to ensure we only utilize relevant information. The criminal data mentioned earlier provides a good example. When creating documents such as a “Stud Or Dud” report (which thoroughly examines any person’s past to create a clear profile of their background) our system eliminates minor violations and only keeps serious offenses, such as a felony charge.

Presenting the data provides another major challenge. We refine our reports to make them clear, concise and easy to read. Even reports that are likely to contain a large amount of information, such as a Marriage Search report, are displayed in a manner that makes all the information easy to find and understand.

The art of collecting, sorting and presenting public records may not be perfect yet, but by putting in the time, effort and resources it is possible to offer valuable and accurate information. PeopleFinders is up to this task, and we continually strive to find to provide you with the best source of public records available anywhere. Thank you for turning to us for your public records needs, and for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.

Now that June is almost over, kids everywhere are enjoying a carefree summer away from classes, homework and teachers. It’s up to the adults to make sure they have a safe and secure experience. PeopleFinders.com is happy to help by presenting a few child safety tips.

Children’s Safety In Public
While your kids are on break they usually tag along when you run errands. Start these excursions by making sure their seat belts are on, locking the doors and rolling up the windows. Criminals look for easy targets, so an open window or unlocked door may seem like an invitation to a carjacker. Never leave a child alone in a vehicle for any reason. It only takes a second for someone to break the glass and get inside.

When you’re out in public always keep your kids in sight. Accompany younger children into public restroom and wait right outside for older kids. Leaving young people unsupervised even for a moment can have disastrous results if a predator notices. Give each child a piece of paper with your name and number on it in case you do get separated. A responsible adult can use it to contact you immediately.

Safety For Kids At Home
Your children can’t go everywhere you do, so it’s important to teach them about home safety. Give your kids a list of emergency numbers including the fastest way to contact you, 911 and numbers for trusted friends or family. Your kids may not answer the phone, but if they do make sure they never tell anyone they are home alone. More importantly, tell your children not to answer the door for any reason while they are unsupervised. Sit down with your kids to talk about these safety rules, and show them every way to get out of your house so they have several escape routes in case of an emergency.

Some parents hire care givers to watch their children during the summer months. Before allowing anyone into your home, you can learn everything you need to know about them by ordering a Background Check or finding out if they have Criminal Records on file. When it comes to your home and children, there is no such thing as being too cautious.

Stranger Danger
You’ve heard the term, but what does it mean for your family? Every parent must teach their children about staying away from strangers. Explain that some strangers can be helpful – police officers, store clerks or even other children – but that it’s best to stay away from adults they don’t know. Warn your kids not to accept anything from a stranger. Predators use many tricks to find a victim, such as offering candy, asking for directions or even claiming to know you. Let your kids know that if they ever feel threatened the best thing to do is run away.

At PeopleFinders.com we understand the dangers that certain strangers pose, so we provide information about sex offenders who may be living close to your home or school. Order a Sex Offender Report by Zip Code, Name or City to see a list of registered sex offenders in your area. It’s a great way to stay informed and keep your family safe.

Children are our most precious resource, and it’s up to us to keep kids safe.  June is National Safety Month, and we hope these safety tips will help keep your family safe all year long. Have a safe and exciting summer!

]]> http://blog.peoplefinders.com/2009/06/29/safety-tips-for-kids-this-summer/feed/ 0 http://blog.peoplefinders.com/2009/06/04/observing-national-safety-month/ http://blog.peoplefinders.com/2009/06/04/observing-national-safety-month/#comments Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:57:47 +0000 PeopleFinders.com http://blog.peoplefinders.com/?p=23 June is fresh and new for 2009, and all the signs of summer are in the air. This month is nationally recognized as a time to educate people about safety, and PeopleFinders.com is proud to support programs that help keep you and your family safe all year long.

What Is National Safety Month?
The National Safety Council (NSC) started this event in 1996 to share their ideas about workplace safety, home security and safe driving techniques. Their mission is “preventing injuries and deaths at work, on the roads and in homes and communities”. Every June the NSC sponsors National Safety Month and focuses on a different safety related topic each week. We salute their efforts and encourage you to read their suggestions for living safely.

Safetyville USA
Safetyville USA is a replica of a city built in 1/3 scale to give young people a personalized view of the world around them. Tour guides accompany children through the park and offer safety tips about electricity, fire, bicycling, vehicles and other potential hazards. On Saturday, June 13th this Sacramento, CA based attraction hosts their annual Family Safety & Health Exposition from 10am – 4pm, and PeopleFinders.com will be there to hand out child identification kits and discuss ideas on how to keep your children safe. Join us at this free event to learn about child safety, predators and stranger danger in a fun and supportive environment.

More Safety Thoughts
You can find a variety of safety related tips and events throughout June. The month kicks off with National Sun Safety Week sponsored by the Sun Safety Alliance. June also boasts National Tire Safety Week and Lightning Safety Awareness Week to promote awareness of other dangers. People in the safety industry use this month as a time to discuss this important topic. Safety, Health and Environmental professionals are encouraged to attend the Safety Engineers Conference (June 28th – July 1st) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs proudly sponsors Fire, EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week (June 14th – 20th). Whether you hold a safety related job or not, this is a great time to think about tips and practices that will keep you secure during any season.

Our Ongoing Commitment
At PeopleFinders.com we know one of the best ways to stay safe is to be well educated. It’s a sad fact that many of the threats we face come from other people. Don’t let anyone victimize you – protect yourself with a Comprehensive Background Check to learn more about anyone you know professionally or personally, or find out if someone you may deal with has a Criminal Record on file.

Enjoy your summer and remember to practice good safety habits. Have a happy and safe June. Thank you for reading the PeopleFinders.com People Search blog.