Prosecutor of child sex abuse urges stricter reporting laws

Reported by: Annie McCormick
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Contributor: Nate Wardle

Dauphin County's Chief Prosecutor of child abuse cases is speaking out about what he thinks Pennsylvania needs to change.

His testimony came before the newly created Task Force on Child Protection. The Governor created the task force following lawmaker's reactions to soft laws they say were exposed following the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

Sean McCormack is specifically talking about our state's reporting laws, and how the penalty needs to match the crime.

The capitol saw a flurry of reactionary bills in the weeks following the allegations against Jerry Sandusky. Lawmakers from both house and senate either created bills or resurrected some that directly applied an umbrella of issues under child abuse laws.

But several focused on reporting. Allegations that Joe Paterno, Mike McQueary and PSU's administration failed to report Sandusky's allegations adequately fueled many new introductions.

“If you fail to report yet you're required to it's only a misdemeanor of the third degree,” explained McCormack to the task force. “From a prosecutor’s perspective, I think that's too low really just a slap on the wrist.”

In Pennsylvania, professionals who come into contact with children must report the crime. McCormack says what he is asking for is vital.

“If someone were to commit a rape against a child, which is a felony of the first degree, the failure to report that rape should also be a felony of the first degree,” McCormack urged.

McCormack also suggests more training on how to spot abuse, and in order to fund programs, create license plates like the ones the state offers for other programs, like DARE, and sports teams.

The task force will present their findings in September.

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