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Region sees sharp rise in referrals for commercial sexual exploitation of children, Children's Cove reports
Summary
A regional annual report presented to Barnstable County commissioners shows a 46 percent increase in referrals for commercial sexual exploitation and related online offenses in 2024, with 533 referrals affecting 471 children and a sharp rise in online‑only cases, presenters said.
A presentation to Barnstable County commissioners on Feb. 25 summarized the 2024 regional report on commercial sexual exploitation of children. Jacob Stapleton, community engagement and education program manager at Children’s Cove, said the investigators and child‑advocacy partners recorded a 46 percent increase in referrals in 2024 compared with the prior year: 533 referrals impacting 471 children.
Stapleton described shifts in the types of cases: the youngest identified children were 4 years old; 57 cases involved children 12 or younger; the largest cohort (401 referrals) involved youth aged 13–17; an additional 75 referrals were for individuals who turned 18 during their senior year…
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