Almost a11 the injury done tO A child in the average sexual molestation case is done by the authorities. Generally speaking, the offender's crime against the child produces little or no significant damage; any more than piano lessens or a spankinq might produce. The victims are most seriously and lastingly traumatized by what the authorities (the police, the courts, the "agencies" and the "therapists") do. In almost. all cases, the "cure" is worse than the "dlisease." Physical abuse is always more damaging than sexual abuse. While we condemn all forms of abuse of children (and, conversely, abuse by children), we deplore the way that our society and our legal system handles these cases. Much too much emphasis is put on punishing the offender and not enough in healing the child. The following may serve as an example. Last summer my husband fondled my daughter. Being afraid that I might leave him, my daughter never told me. In August she went to State Police cadet camp. There she ended up telling a counselor what was happening to her. She told them at that time that she didn't want her father in jail. She only wanted him to get help. They told her that if he cooperated, he wouldn't go to jail and he would end up getting help and having to stay with his family for a while. She bought it. They arrested him the next day. When she found out, she was crushed. Then the judge ordered no contact with her or our family. That destroyed her and my younger daughter, too. After 90 days of no contact, visitation was granted with supervision. Then Came the trial which never happened. The judge told the DA and my husband's lawyer that they should make a plea bargain and not put my deughter through testifying. She didn't want to do it. Last week he was sentenced. My daughter begged the judge not to put him in jail. Her lawyer had letters from her school and doctor explaining that it would devastate her if he was put in jail. Numerous other letters supported him to stay out of jail and receive the help needs to get better. He's in his fifties and has some health concerns. Three years ago he injured his back resulting in his disability. The judge sentenced him to 22 months to 48 months in state prison. Post sentence motions were denied. The lawyer says that we can't appeal because the sentence is within the guidelines. However, he also said that for a first time offender, the judge must consider extended probation. The judge didn't consider that. My daughter is crushed that her dad's in jail. She doesn't want him there. She cries all night looking for any way she can to get out. My daughter is seeing a sex therapist who specializes in abused children. He too is concerned for her. She's really upset that the judge didn't even listen to anything she had to say at the sentencing. She's very upset that the judge took her father away from her. She's afraid that she'll never see him again. I need to find help in getting his sentence reduced. Is there anything thing she can do as a victim to turn any of this around?

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