News Archives - Zero Abuse Project https://zeroabuseproject.org/category/news/ Fighting Sexual Abuse of Children Tue, 05 Aug 2025 17:59:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://zeroabuseproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/favicon.png News Archives - Zero Abuse Project https://zeroabuseproject.org/category/news/ 32 32 Looking at how forensic interviews help children speak after trauma https://zeroabuseproject.org/looking-at-how-forensic-interviews-help-children-speak-after-trauma/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=looking-at-how-forensic-interviews-help-children-speak-after-trauma https://zeroabuseproject.org/looking-at-how-forensic-interviews-help-children-speak-after-trauma/#respond Tue, 05 Aug 2025 17:47:12 +0000 https://zeroabuseproject.org/?p=38736 Two young girls witnessed something no child ever should—the murder of their parents. And according to Arkansas State Police, it was the testimony of those children that helped lead to an arrest, primarily using the forensic interview training created through Zero Abuse Project's program, ChildFirst.

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Two young girls witnessed something no child ever should—the murder of their parents. And according to Arkansas State Police, it was the testimony of those children that helped lead to an arrest, using Zero Abuse Project’s forensic interviewing model, ChildFirst.

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]]> https://zeroabuseproject.org/looking-at-how-forensic-interviews-help-children-speak-after-trauma/feed/ 0 38736 Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse Reach $246.35 Million Settlement https://zeroabuseproject.org/survivors-of-clergy-sexual-abuse-reach-246-35-million-settlement/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=survivors-of-clergy-sexual-abuse-reach-246-35-million-settlement Thu, 24 Jul 2025 16:19:33 +0000 https://zeroabuseproject.org/?p=38724 The Committee of Unsecured Creditors, representing all survivors of sexual abuse who submitted claims in the Diocese of Rochester bankruptcy case, reached a settlement with the last holdout insurer, Continental Insurance Company (CNA), for $120 Million.

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The Committee of Unsecured Creditors, representing all survivors of sexual abuse who submitted claims in the Diocese of Rochester bankruptcy case, reached a settlement with the last holdout insurer, Continental Insurance Company (CNA), for $120 Million.

Jeff Anderson, founder of Zero Abuse Project, says, “This is a testament to the courage and persistence of the survivors who stood strong and united against the insurance industry’s efforts to oppress and delay. Reckoning.”

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]]> 38724 CAST Quarterly Newsletter: July 2025 https://zeroabuseproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CAST-Quarterly-Newsletter-July-2025.pdf?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cast-quarterly-newsletter-july-2025-2 Wed, 16 Jul 2025 20:47:08 +0000 https://zeroabuseproject.org/?p=38683 In the Summer 2025 CAST Quarterly Newsletter, learn about our three new Toolkits and new simulation packet, read our 2023-2024 Impact Report, and see where CAST has been this year!

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]]> In the Summer 2025 CAST Quarterly Newsletter, learn about our three new Toolkits and new simulation packet, read our 2023-2024 Impact Report, and see where CAST has been this year!

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]]> 38683 Case shows crucial role mandated reporters play in CSA investigations https://zeroabuseproject.org/case-shows-crucial-role-mandated-reporters-play-in-csa-investigations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=case-shows-crucial-role-mandated-reporters-play-in-csa-investigations Fri, 27 Jun 2025 15:30:18 +0000 https://zeroabuseproject.org/?p=38526 KSHB 41 spoke to experts about the importance of mandated reporters. “We sometimes see in school districts this idea of loyalty, like I’m loyal to this school or loyal to this youth-serving organization,” says Alison Feigh, Director of Zero Abuse Project's Jacob Wetterling Resource Center. “We are trying to flip that script...so you’re going to be the first one making that call.”

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KSHB 41 spoke to experts about the importance of mandated reporters after learning about Leavenworth Public Schools employees charged with failing to report instances of abuse.

“We sometimes see in school districts this idea of loyalty, like I’m loyal to this school or loyal to this youth-serving organization,” says Alison Feigh, Director of Zero Abuse Project’s Jacob Wetterling Resource Center. “We are trying to flip that script so the more loyal you are to a school, loyal to youth-serving organization, you’re going to be the first one making that call.”

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]]> 38526 ‘Aren’t you supposed to go after lost sheep?’  https://zeroabuseproject.org/arent-you-supposed-to-go-after-lost-sheep/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=arent-you-supposed-to-go-after-lost-sheep Wed, 25 Jun 2025 20:04:39 +0000 https://zeroabuseproject.org/?p=38515 Victor Vieth, director of the Center for Faith and Child Protection at Zero Abuse Project, said that children who experience abuse, particularly within the church, often deal with lingering crises of faith. “The vast majority of maltreated children are spiritually wounded in some way. Survivors, like many people, turn to their spirituality to make sense out of the suffering. And yet, that’s often the part of the psyche most damaged as a result of the abuse."

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Victor Vieth, director of the Center for Faith and Child Protection at Zero Abuse Project, said that children who experience abuse, particularly within the church, often deal with lingering crises of faith. “The vast majority of maltreated children are spiritually wounded in some way. Survivors, like many people, turn to their spirituality to make sense out of the suffering. And yet, that’s often the part of the psyche most damaged as a result of the abuse.”

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]]> 38515 Child pornography charges for former Shelbyville school board member https://zeroabuseproject.org/child-pornography-charges-for-former-shelbyville-school-board-member/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=child-pornography-charges-for-former-shelbyville-school-board-member Mon, 23 Jun 2025 18:15:27 +0000 https://zeroabuseproject.org/?p=38488 Former vice president David Finkel of the Shelbyville School Board has been charged with allegedly pretending to be a 27-year-old woman to chat with underage teens online, and for child pornography on his devices. Federal investigators say they were brought in when the mother of one of the teens reported the messaging. "Parents need to be proactive in looking at what's on their children's phone," Kristina Korobov of Zero Abuse Project explained.

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Former vice president David Finkel of the Shelbyville School Board has been charged with allegedly pretending to be a 27-year-old woman to chat with underage teens online, and for child pornography on his devices. Federal investigators say they were brought in when the mother of one of the teens reported the messaging. “Parents need to be proactive in looking at what’s on their children’s phone,” Kristina Korobov of Zero Abuse Project explained.

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]]> 38488 New Jersey supreme court allows grand jury to investigate clergy sexual abuse allegations https://zeroabuseproject.org/new-jersey-supreme-court-allows-grand-jury-to-investigate-clergy-sexual-abuse-allegations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-jersey-supreme-court-allows-grand-jury-to-investigate-clergy-sexual-abuse-allegations Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:05:09 +0000 https://zeroabuseproject.org/?p=38452 Zero Abuse Project applauds the recent decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court to allow a grand jury to investigate allegations of clergy sexual abuse. The Camden diocese had previously argued that New Jersey could not investigate the church because it is a private entity, but has since backed down and stated it would no longer object to an investigation.

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Zero Abuse Project applauds the recent decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court to allow a grand jury to investigate allegations of clergy sexual abuse. The Camden diocese had previously argued that New Jersey could not investigate the church because it is a private entity, but has since backed down and stated it would no longer object to an investigation. 

The NJ state attorney general’s office praised the decision, and said it is committed to supporting survivors of sexual abuse. While the court decision is limited, it’s a big step in the right direction.

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]]> 38452 Priestly predicament: Catholics sue over abuse reporting law https://zeroabuseproject.org/priestly-predicament-catholics-sue-over-abuse-reporting-law/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=priestly-predicament-catholics-sue-over-abuse-reporting-law Tue, 03 Jun 2025 18:18:16 +0000 https://zeroabuseproject.org/?p=38002 A group of Roman Catholic priests in the state of Washington announced it is suing the state over a new law requiring religious clergy to report all instances of child abuse—even those mentioned during the act of confession. "There is nothing in the Bible that says confession needs to be confidential," notes Victor Vieth, Director of Center for Faith & Child Protection.

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A group of Roman Catholic priests in the state of Washington announced it is suing the state over a new law requiring religious clergy to report all instances of child abuse—even those mentioned during the act of confession.

“There is nothing in the Bible that says confession needs to be confidential,” notes Victor Vieth, Director of Center for Faith & Child Protection.  “Obviously, God must have wanted us to learn something from these stories of trauma and to learn what can happen if we don’t respond appropriately.”

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]]> 38002 Take It Down Act signed into law https://zeroabuseproject.org/take-it-down-act-signed-into-law/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=take-it-down-act-signed-into-law Tue, 20 May 2025 18:37:08 +0000 https://zeroabuseproject.org/?p=37694 The bipartisan Take It Down Act is one of the first federal laws addressing harmful AI-generated imagery, and offers broad protection to victims of revenge porn, nonconsensual, explicit deepfakes, and other dangerous AI-generated images. The new law now extends the prohibitions against the creation and sharing of explicit AI-images of children to adult victims across the nation.

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The bipartisan Take It Down Act is one of the first federal laws addressing harmful AI-generated imagery, and offers broad protection to victims of revenge porn, nonconsensual, explicit deepfakes, and other dangerous AI-generated images. The new law now extends the prohibitions against the creation and sharing of explicit AI-images of children to adult victims across the nation.

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]]> 37694 Former ‘Teacher of the Year’ sentenced to 30 years https://zeroabuseproject.org/former-teacher-of-the-year-sentenced-to-30-years/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=former-teacher-of-the-year-sentenced-to-30-years Fri, 16 May 2025 19:59:16 +0000 https://zeroabuseproject.org/?p=37675 A California former sixth-grade teacher has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for sexually abusing two of her young former students. "I abused my authority, I exerted my power and control over them, and I deceived them," Ma reportedly said in court before the sentencing.

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A California former sixth-grade teacher has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for sexually abusing two of her young former students.

Jacqueline Ma, who was named one of the “Teachers of the Year” in 2022 and taught at the Lincoln Acres Elementary School in San Diego, pleaded guilty in February to two counts of forcible lewd act on a child, one count of lewd act on a child and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. “I abused my authority, I exerted my power and control over them, and I deceived them,” Ma reportedly said in court before the sentencing.

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