SACRAMENTO - Former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky will face his accusers Tuesday in a preliminary hearing in court. As his case moves forward, it might be a good time for parents to remember or learn the warning signs of teenage sexual abuse.
When asked for the indicators of sexual abuse, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said a a number of symptoms could be possible signs of abuse:
- Dramatic mood swings, where your teen is suddenly not as engaged as he or she once was.
- Sudden lack of appetite or trouble sleeping without a clear cause.
- A child becoming more secretive, and not wanting to talk about things with you or even with their friends.
- A sudden increase his or her sexual vocabulary and use of sexual innuendos in a day to day conversation.
We left messages with Sacramento City Schools and the San Juan Unified School District to find out what kind of measures are in place to protect student-athletes from sexual abuse, but our messages were not returned.
But typically a fingerprint and background check is required with any adult applying for a position that involves interaction with youth.
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