Lampitt Statement on Bills to Combat Child Sexual Abuse

in New Jersey

Four Measures Passed Full Assembly on Thursday

(TRENTON) – In response to the full Assembly’s approval of four bills to strengthen efforts to fight against child sexual abuse in New Jersey, Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt released the following statement:

“Just one case of sexual abuse of a child is one too many. But in 2016, over 57,000 children in the U.S. were found to be victims of sexual abuse by Child Protective Services,” said Lampitt (D-Camden, Burlington). “There are likely countless other children who are too afraid to come forward with their own stories. It’s impossible for us to know how many victims exist, but there are steps we can take to ensure we in New Jersey give each and every one of them a voice.

“Our work to end child sexual abuse presses forward with four bills I’ve sponsored, which were approved by my colleagues in the Assembly today. A-850 would require a person who has reasonable cause to believe a child has been abused to notify the Division of Child Protection and Permanency; A-4403 would establish a 17-member task force within the Department of Education to examine ways to reduce child sexual abuse in New Jersey; A-4406 would require arbitrators tasked with hearing tenure charge matters to undergo training on sexual assault and child abuse issues; and A-4408 would require a board of education which discovers a teacher has failed to report an allegation of child abuse to inform the State Board of Examiners.”

“It is my hope that these bills, once signed into law, will help bring children who are victims of sexual abuse out of the shadows, hold abusers accountable, and get a step closer to ending abuse altogether.”