PA - Victims push for more abuse prevention steps

• Victims push for more abuse prevention steps
• As Sandusky is sentenced, they say “Don’t let up”
• Group pushes for PA statute of limitations reform
• It argues that “complacency is premature & protects no one”
• SNAP: “Much of the Penn State cover up remains covered up”
• Self help organization wants “vigorous prosecution of complicit officials”

WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, child sex abuse victims will urge
--a judge to give ex Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky to the maximum sentence,
--prosecutors to vigorously pursue the cases against other Penn State staff who ignored and hid Sandusky’s crimes,
--Penn State’s current president to more aggressively seek out others who may have seen or suspected child sex crimes by a recently arrested priest,
--state legislators to reform Pennsylvania’s “predator-friendly” child sex laws, and
--every single person with knowledge of or suspicions about Sandusky’s crimes - whether victim, witness or whistleblower – to come forward, seek help, call police, expose wrongdoing, protect others and start healing.

WHEN
Monday, Oct. 8 at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE
Outside the Centre County courthouse (east side), 208 S Allegheny St (at Burrows), Bellefonte, PA

WHO
Two victims of childhood clergy sexual abuse and belong to a support group called SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), including a Missouri man who is the group’s long time director

WHY
A support group for victims of sexual abuse is calling on victims of Jerry Sandusky to keep stepping forward, Penn State officials to keep seeking out other victims, prosecutors to keep vigorously pursuing three ex-Penn State officials who face criminal endangerment charges, and for other steps that will help “protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded and expose the truth” about the cover-up of Sandusky’s crimes.

The group, SNAP, is warning against “premature complacency,” saying it’s “way too early” to know whether the steps taken by new Penn State officials will really make kids safer.

SNAP director David Clohessy will be at the news conference, attend Sandusky’s sentencing tomorrow, and be available before and afterwards for comment.