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LA Times Posts Boy Scout Files Naming Suspected Sexual Abusers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Thousands of previously unpublished Boy Scouts of America files that detail suspected sexual abuse by employees and volunteers have been posted to an online database by a newspaper.

The Los Angeles Times published the database containing redacted victims' names on Tuesday, and included material that was released earlier.

The newspaper's heavily pocked database map depicts alleged incidents of abuse that affected, or were connected to, scouts in every state.

The Boy Scouts kept the files for internal use for nearly a century.

Over time reports increased, which may be the result of greater awareness of child sexual abuse.

The Boy Scouts say they've improved youth protection policies and have conducted criminal background checks on volunteers since 2008.

In 2010, the organization mandated any suspected abuse be reported to police.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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