OC REGISTER

WESTMINSTER, Erin Runnion: I am encouraged by the public outrage as I watch the case of Jerry Sandusky unfold regarding allegations that he sexually abused young boys and that university administrators did not adequately report the accusations.  It makes me smile to see that millions of people agree that if there is a suspicion of child molestation it should be reported. Perhaps the silver lining in this case will be that countless others will find the courage to report similar incidences, they might otherwise have ignored.

The most disturbing thing about this situation is that it isn’t rare.  It’s sensational because of the notoriety of the people involved, but when you realize that one in four girls and one in seven to 10 boys are sexually abused before they are 18, the sobering truth is that there are thousands of people not reporting crimes against children.