Most experts agree child sexual abuse has always existed but was kept quiet within families or family courts. The huge increase in arrests through the 1980s and 1990s, they say, was merely a reflection of more complaints and changing laws, not more crimes.

That’s changed now, however, and we believe it’s no longer a case of just more reports and more publicity _ now there really are more sex crimes against children. And the facts are sickening.

One in three sexual assault victims is under the age of 12.

One in four girls is sexually abused before the age of 14 and one in six boys before the age of 16.

Megan’s Law and other measures make it possible to publicly identify sex offenders, so convicts can’t hide and more-easily strike again. But their roster is growing.

That’s why some members of the Otsego County Board of Representatives want to join the growing list of municipalities with laws restricting where convicted sex offenders can live.

Reps have set a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on a proposed "child safety zone" law that would prohibit sex offenders from residing, working or otherwise being within 1,000 feet of areas and facilities frequented by children, such as schools, child-care facilities, parks, playgrounds, public swimming pools and youth centers.

The Otsego County legislation is similar to laws that have been passed in Putnam and Westchester counties and the city of Binghamton and raises civil-rights issues that are still being resolved in the courts after challenges by the American Civil Liberties Union.

We understand the board’s concern. This week, there were 29 Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders registered in Otsego County. That compares to a handful just five years ago. In the four-county area, there are about 170 registered sex offenders.

But there is some worry that such measures as the "child safety zone" go too far and infringe on the rights of offenders. That may be true to an extent, but we are more concerned with the logistics, enforcement and need for such a law.

With Megan’s Law in place and the demonstrated abilities of communities and schools to react to the presence of offenders, we just don’t know if we need to exile all offenders to the countryside.

Earlier this year, word circulated in Otego that a sex offender was seen at a downtown store, across the street from the school that was about to dismiss students. The way parents and school officials reacted was enough to guarantee pupil safety _ and probably send the offender packing.

Under such a law as proposed by the Otsego board, will offenders be able to shop for groceries and get to a job? And if they mistakenly get within 900 feet of a park they didn’t know existed, will police be out there with tape measures?

We’re sure such a proposal will be popular with county residents. We just don’t know if it ought be on top of the board agenda right now.

Why not wait until the legal issues have been settled in court?