People should be gravely concerned about reports that the FBI is falling short in referring allegations of child sexual abuse to local and state law enforcement.

More than concerned — people should be furious.

In a review prompted by the FBI’s mishandling of allegations against former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nasser, the bureau’s inspector general found that there is no evidence that the FBI followed mandatory reporting requirements in about 50% of cases. According to an Associated Press report in Friday’s edition of the Sun-Gazette, the FBI appears to have referred allegations within the 24-hour timeframe its own policies require about 43% of the time.

“This report makes clear that the FBI is simply not doing its job,” an attorney for victims of molestation told the AP.

The attorney is correct. And American citizens deserve better.

We hope that the report is closely examined by lawmakers and by White House staff. We further hope that those within senior leadership within the bureau most responsible for this negligence are terminated and that the FBI is held to clear, transparent benchmarks for improving its performance.

People who assault children deserve to go to prison — at the very least. Authorities that fail to facilitate the necessary investigations and prosecutions are enabling evil and disgusting behavior, and America’s children deserve better than that.