Sex Crimes

"Sex offenders are often the most prolific and violent of offenders, with almost 85% of sex crimes victims being children. To combat this growing problem, the District Attorney of Caddo Parish maintains a specially trained unit to investigate and prosecute sex offenders. Working closely with law enforcement, the DA's Sex Crimes Unit carefully and methodically evaluates cases for prosecution. This process can often take months, but it is not the speed of the arrest but the certainty of conviction which counts.

It is not uncommon for victims of sex crimes, particularly children, to wait weeks, months, or even years to report an offense. More often than not, the offender is a person trusted by the child such as a step-father, uncle, or family friend. Anyone having reason to believe that a child has been molested should contact law enforcement and child protection services immediately. In the vast majority of cases there is more than one child victim. All child victims or witnesses are interviewed by specially trained personnel at The Gingerbread House, a non-profit center specifically created by the legislature to deal with children. If you suspect a child has been the victim of sexual abuse, the District Attorney urges you to read about Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome.

For citizens living in the city limits of Shreveport, the Shreveport Police Department is the first stop to report a criminal offense, including a sex crime. If a person lives outside the city limits, the Caddo Sheriff's Office is the appropriate agency to contact. The Caddo Office of Community Services, a state agency, works in conjunction with the DA and local law enforcement to investigation allegations of physical or sexual abuse by in-home perpetrators.

The DA's Sex Crime Unit is also tasked with the responsibility of working with local and state law enforcement to assure compliance with Louisiana's Sex Offender Registry Laws. The Louisiana State Police maintain a website of currently-registered sex offenders.  Klaas Kids maintains a website that answers general questions about who must register. To report suspected sex offenders who are not registered, contact the Sex Crimes Division of the Shreveport Police Department (318-673-6955) or the Investigations Division of the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office, (318-929-9987).