Please take one minute before you begin searching the state or local sex offender registries on this page to arm yourself with information every parent or caregiver needs. If you really want to protect your child, it's important to be smart about the real dangers out there.

There have been many studies done on who sex offenders are and how they gain access to children. Researchers have talked to adult survivors of abuse, interviewed abusers and studied crime statistics.

Again and again, researchers get the same answers: the vast majority of child sexual abuse victims know their abusers. The typical child abuser is not a shadowy stranger… and he's probably not on any sex offender registry at all. Most predators are adults in a child's daily circle of trust.

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What does the typical “child molester” look like? Like someone you already know and probably trust. He might be a family member… a boyfriend… a soccer coach… a babysitter… a neighbor… a camp counselor… a teacher… or even a minister. Believing that is hard for many parents to accept. But only parents who understand this have what it really takes to keep their children safe.

Searching your local sex offender registry is one important way to know where danger might be. After you've done that, learn more about the signs that are closer to home. Inform yourself. Be smart. Then join PROTECT and help us fight for every child.