The rates are somewhat lower among people born before World War II, but no dramatic increase appears to have occurred for recent generations. Race and socioeconomic circumstances do not appear to be major risk factors. However, the risk is higher for children who experienced parental inadequacy, unavailability, conflict, harsh punishment, and emotional deprivation. Ninety percent of child sexual abuse is committed by men; 70-90 percent is committed by persons known to the child. Family members represent one-third to one-half of the perpetrators against females and 10-20 percent of the perpetrators against males. Approximately 20-25 percent of the cases involve penetration or oral-genital contact. The peak age of vulnerability is 7- 13. Compared with other violent prosecutors, slightly fewer child molesters are prosecuted, but slightly more of those prosecuted are convicted. Studies conducted in the 1980's also reveal that once convicted, 32-46 percent of sexual abusers serve no jail time and relatively few receive sentences longer than 1 year. Tables and 78 reference notes (Author abstract modified)