By Andrea Pettes
 
February 8, 2010
 
MEDFORD, Ore. - Advocacy groups and law enforcement say the number of child sexual abuses cases is up in Southern Oregon and Northern California.
 
The Children's Advocacy Center of Jackson County reports it had 854 cases of child abuse in 2009, with nearly half being sex abuse allegations. Child experts say a majority of the sex abuse cases involve children and a family member or someone close to the child.
 
The Medford Police Department says the number of cases increases every year.
 
"There are now three-full time detectives that work crimes against children. That's our caseload, mostly it's sex abuse cases," Medford Police Detective Jim Williams said.
 
The Children's Advocacy Center says its program, Darkness to Light, can make a huge impact. According to its numbers, for every adult that is trained, it prevents 10 children from being sexually abused.