According to definitions of uslegal.com, molestation is the crime of sexual acts with children up to the age of 18, including touching of private parts, exposure of genitalia, taking of pornographic pictures, rage and various sexual acts with the molester or with other children. Incest by a relative with a minor family member and any unwanted sexual acts with adults short of rape may also constitute molestation.

Each state has their own set of codes and regulations for prosecuting child molesters. Child molestation can carry a maximum sentence of life, but rarely does. The legal system needs to stop protecting the criminals, and start protecting the innocent children who are affected for the rest of their lives by theses monsters!

John Geoghan seemed like another priest you would meet at a church but he had a much darker side. Across a 30 year spanned he had sexual abused 130 men, ultimately found guilty of the crime, he was sentenced to just 9 years. The worst was his bishop, Cardinal Bernard Low of Boston both knew of Geoghan's actions but kept the secret.

Aug 13 2009 in Tulsa, OK -- Tulsa Police arrested a convicted child molester. He was then charged with molesting another little girl. The 2-year-old was kidnapped from her grandma's yard. If convicted this will be the 3rd time Marcus Berry has been sent to prison for child molestation. The first time he was convicted he spent 5 years in 1986 when he molested a 13-year-old girl, the second time he was sentenced to 30 years in 1993 spent 13 years in prison to be released for molesting an 8-year-old.

Sentencing for child molestation as it stands in most states: For the first sentence 5 to 10 years, for the second offence 10 to 30 years or even life imprisonment. The average sentencing given to first time offenders is usually 4 years, and they spend 2 years in jail. When they are released they must register as a sex offender. There are over 400,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, with an estimated 100,000 not registered and nowhere to be found. If child molesters were given life imprisonment on their first conviction, we would know where to find all of them.