One law enforcement agency is taking crime shaming to a whole new level, it's all part of an effort to curb child abuse in Benton County.
"They are monsters who prey on children and we need to stop it," says Benton County Sheriff Kelly Cradduck.
727. that's how many child abuse cases came through Benton County last year alone.
So the Benton County Sheriff's Office is taking its message to the streets. Literally.
"Child abuse is a horrible horrendous act , you shouldn't sugar coat it. It is what it is and let's do something about it," says
"Scumbag," that's the new word coined for child abusers in Benton County.
"It really is an in your face campaign its to get peoples attention. The victims of this, they are real, they feel the pain, they feel the anguish and many times it changes their lives forever," says Cradduck.
The "Don't Be A Scumbag" campaign is running across three different billboards in the county, putting the message in front of thousands of drivers daily.
"If individuals know about this kind of activity going on, many times they know and don't say a word, so these individuals that prey on children, they are what they are."
And Sheriff Kelly Cradduck hopes calling names will put a little more force behind combating the crime.
"We want to make sure that people know to show them no mercy because they certainly don't show their victims any."
The billboard space isn't costing Benton County a dime, thanks to Clear Channel Outdoor, who supplied the space for free.
"They are monsters who prey on children and we need to stop it," says Benton County Sheriff Kelly Cradduck.
727. that's how many child abuse cases came through Benton County last year alone.
So the Benton County Sheriff's Office is taking its message to the streets. Literally.
"Child abuse is a horrible horrendous act , you shouldn't sugar coat it. It is what it is and let's do something about it," says
"Scumbag," that's the new word coined for child abusers in Benton County.
"It really is an in your face campaign its to get peoples attention. The victims of this, they are real, they feel the pain, they feel the anguish and many times it changes their lives forever," says Cradduck.
The "Don't Be A Scumbag" campaign is running across three different billboards in the county, putting the message in front of thousands of drivers daily.
"If individuals know about this kind of activity going on, many times they know and don't say a word, so these individuals that prey on children, they are what they are."
And Sheriff Kelly Cradduck hopes calling names will put a little more force behind combating the crime.
"We want to make sure that people know to show them no mercy because they certainly don't show their victims any."
The billboard space isn't costing Benton County a dime, thanks to Clear Channel Outdoor, who supplied the space for free.
For more resources on how to protect your child from internet predators visit NCMEC.org National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's website.
Or call the Arkansas State Child Abuse Hotline to report abuse: 1-800-482-5964
