1 in 7 Utah Children is a Victim of Sexual Abuse

Worse than the national average of 1 in 9. These aren’t abstract numbers — they’re real, flesh-and-blood kids living a nightmare no child should ever know.

And the girls? Even worse.

They’re abused more than boys, according to the University of Utah. The real numbers are probably even higher. Can you imagine?

There’s a black hole between what we think happens and what actually happens. How many of us think “that’s rare” or “that happens elsewhere”? This collective self-deception is exactly what gives predators cover and leaves victims screwed.

Utah ranks fifth nationally in sentences for sexual abuse.

Sounds good, right?

Until you realize that only a tiny percentage of abuse ever makes it to court. Most remains buried in silence — never reported, never investigated, never judged.

This silence kills souls. Destroys futures. And all of us, collectively, let it continue.

Utah focuses on punishing after the damage is done.

What kind of strategy is that?

When a child is abused, the trauma has already happened. Punishment is necessary, sure, but it doesn’t erase what’s been burned into the child’s mind.

It’s like training people to avoid drunk drivers and punishing the offender after someone’s already dead.

Too late, isn’t it?

The “dangerous stranger” fantasy is bullshit.

The truth, according to the CDC, is that in most cases the child is abused by someone they know and trust. Family, teachers, coaches, religious leaders — people with authority and access.

This is much more disturbing than the “unknown monster” narrative because it means the supposedly safe spaces — home, school, church, sports fields — are often where the abuse happens.

So what do we do?

First, we get real. We stop whispering. We stop looking away. We talk about child sexual abuse the way we talk about other public health crises — loudly, repeatedly, and without shame.

Second, we educate. Not just kids — parents, teachers, clergy, and neighbors too. They need to know how grooming works. How predators build trust. How they slowly chip away at boundaries until a child doesn’t know how to say no — or even that they should.

Third, we empower children. Not with “stranger danger” nonsense, but with language about body autonomy, consent, and safe touch from the time they can speak. We teach them their bodies belong to them — and no one has a right to violate that.

Fourth, we believe victims. Always. The cost of not believing a child is astronomical. One dismissed disclosure can push a victim into a lifetime of silence, depression, addiction, or even suicide.

Finally, we demand prevention policies. Not after-school PSAs — real, systemic change. Schools and youth programs need mandated training. Mandatory reporting laws must be enforced. Religious institutions need transparency and accountability. No more cover-ups. No more hiding behind robes, reputations, or money.

If we wait for kids to report, it’s already too late.

This issue won’t fix itself. And Utah — with its strong family values and emphasis on moral leadership — should be leading the way in child protection. Instead, it's falling behind.

1 in 7 is not just a number. It’s your neighbor. Your niece. Your student. Your child.

It’s time to stop treating child sexual abuse like a dark secret and start treating it like the public emergency it is.

Because if we don’t speak up, the silence becomes our answer — and that answer is killing our kids.