Protecting students from sexual abuse by teachers and coaches | Forensic Files

so you've seen case after case how does this end it should end it could end it has to
end with more strict laws better training better guidelines better education and
uh more Vigilant co-workers these schools who are trying to protect themselves and protect their co-workers
have to stand up teachers have to make the students and the kids their number one priority that's what it takes
there's a lot of school districts that do that there are some great school districts who have never had this issue
ever because they're on top of it and then there's some other ones that turn a blind eye to it this is a nightmare
scenario for any parent is there advice that you could give parents so that they could avoid this
happening to their own children now in 2014 you know what my advice is check your child's cell phone and their text
messages because now that's the number one way that these this groomy activity is now starting to take place where the
the teacher starts texting and it's you know it's it's innocent at first and it's a conversation at first and the
texting suddenly turns in inappropriate texting and then it's texting and then there you go that's something I've seen
a lot of lately but I think general advice that I would give to any parent is you got to be active in your kids's
life and if you see another adult forming what should obviously be an improper relationship with a kid they're
just spend way too much time with them and too much attention and gifts and that type of thing that's usually a red
flag that should be investigated and the other thing is you can educate your your
child you know there's a lot of kids nowadays who've been told hey this is good touching this is bad touching your
teachers allowed to do this they're not allowed to do this that kids who learn that at an early age are usually the
ones who once a teacher tries that they're the ones who actually report it is there anything that you would say
to parents out there as a parent yourself as someone who's seen Kristen go through this you know who are all
going to watch the story and be petrified that this is going to happen to their kid well yeah I think um access
is the thing that you have to watch out for Julie needed access to Kristen and she got it by way of cell phone but also
just Constant Contact at school having Kristen be a teacher's assistant and taking I would call it as an unnatural
interest or an abnormal interest in Kristen um I think looking back on it the amount of contact they had was was
not right and the school should have seen it to abuse a child an abuser needs that access so whether it comes from the
Internet or or cell phones or they are doing private lessons or being part of your life and then also taking trips you
know wanting to take your kid on a mountain trip or out of town on a camping trip out of an overnight trip
because they need that access they need access to control the child and so I think if you limit the access you really
are limiting the abusers opportunities I'd like to think that through Kristen's story and the
reporting on on District administrators covering it up and not reporting that more people are coming
forward more victims are coming forward more teachers more people dealing with kids are reporting abuse we've certainly
seen a lot of cases since christens come forward um we've also seen changes in state laws there's legislation out there
right now where they want to toughen up um reporting rules they want to make training for reporting mandatory they
want to make it easier at times and and streamline the process to fire Bad Teachers since Kristen came
forward a lot of stuff's been changing um in that front what do you hope comes of your
reporting well I I hope that teachers and administrators don't have this attitude anymore where where that
they're investigators their job is to protect children but they need to do they need to do their job but they need
to let other people do their do their job as well I think Kristen's story is powerful enough if you could pick
someone one to go down this path that this very difficult path I think she's the perfect person to do it um i' would
never wish this on anyone um and I'm sure she wouldn't wish it on herself but she's incredibly well spoken
she's honest she's frankly um braver than a lot of people um I know to come forward and I think using your name
coming forward and sharing your life and all those struggles you went through is
going to help other people come forward and if you know one or two other people come forward because of that um I think
she should be very proud of herself for coming forward

Tips and suggestions from three people who have a lot of experience in the arena of teacher-student sexual abuse and the Kristen Cunnane case. A lawyer, prosecutor and investigative reporter tell you what you need to look out for.

Brief Summary

This episode emphasizes child safety, parental vigilance, and legislative changes in response to school abuse cases.

Key points

The Importance of Vigilance. Teachers and parents must prioritize student safety and be vigilant against inappropriate relationships.
Access and Abuse. Limiting access to children can significantly reduce opportunities for abusers.
Kristen's Impact. Kristen's story is inspiring others to come forward about abuse.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

Teachers have to make the students their number one priority.

0:35WatchOct 19, 2014

Tension

60/ 100Some tension

More from 48 Hours

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.