CNN(CNN) - Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt on Friday released a 185-page report detailing his review of 2,000 priests' personnel files, dating from 1945 to the present day.
At a press conference on Friday, Schmitt said he is referring 12 cases for local prosecution.
In Missouri, jurisdiction to formally investigate alleged criminal activity of this nature lies with local law enforcement, not the attorney general.
In all, the report includes "credible allegations of 163 instances of sexual abuse or misconduct by Catholic diocesan priests and deacons against minors," according to the report.
"Sexual Abuse of minors by members of Missouri's four Roman Catholic dioceses has been a far-reaching, long-standing scandal.