Trinity Mount Ministries

Showing posts with label mobile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mobile. Show all posts

Friday, December 27, 2013

Safety experts warn to childproof Christmas electronics:

By Jenny Dreasler

If you got your child a new tablet or cell phone for Christmas, local electronic experts warn if you're not careful, it could compromise your child's safety.

That's why Bob Mitchell with Cell-Tech in Quincy says you need to childproof your electronics. He says many children accidentally download apps that put them in contact with strangers. That's why Mitchell says it's important to only let your child play games that don't require internet access.

Mitchell says there are some free applications you can use to help monitor what your child is doing.

"You can get different apps to track your kid, you know what they do, where they are, there's a good app called 'Life 360' that you can get that way you can track where everybody is it sort of keeps the family tied together, those are nice apps to have," Mitchell says.

Another tip: Mitchell says don't auto save any passwords on electronics. He says this can lead to unwanted purchases on your account. He says unfortunately there are many adult applications out there that look like legitimate children's games.

http://m.wgem.com/w/news-top/story/106209004/

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Understanding Child Abduction and Response:

By DEB NICKLAY For The
Press-News

Derek VanLuchene delivered chilling facts about child abductions to North Iowa law enforcement and emergency personnel on Wednesday.

While the number of sex offenders who abduct and kill children is low, those offenders "are the worst of the worst" who need to be feared and understood - and communities need to be ready with swift response to search for those kids when they are reported missing.

According to an exhaustive study done in the state of Washington and with the U.S. Department of Justice, 44 percent of children will be dead in the first hour after abduction; 74 percent are killed within three hours.

Only 1 percent survives one day. Forty percent die before anyone reported them missing.

VanLuchene, a former Division of Criminal Investigation agent and a police officer, is today head of Ryan United based in Helena, Mont., a non-profit agency committed to helping communities safeguard their children against predators. VanLuchene provides seminars and trainings for agencies across the country.

He has first-hand knowledge of the devastation that comes to a family of a missing child: His brother Ryan was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered in 1987, at the age of 8 years.

"I am driven" by helping others, to honor his brother, he said.

"You do what you can do to make a difference - that keeps me going," he said.

VanLuchene dispelled inaccurate information about sexual offenders. Public perception is often shaped by sensationalistic stories found in the media, he said. Getting a true understanding about offenders is an ongoing search. For instance, information about the number of juveniles who commit sex crimes against children is growing as more becomes known; sexual offenses overall remains at the top of list of crimes that are underreported.

How a community responds can make the difference between life and death for the child.

Frontline personnel - dispatchers - are among the most important people who have to act quickly, ask the right questions, formulate a description, and contact the proper people who must quickly organize a search.

Those precious first hours are often eaten up because parents will search for their children first before reporting a disappearance, he said. Getting the right information and game plan of response is vital to a successful recovery of a child, he said. Some communities have organized response teams trained and ready to search for children.

Those people know some key facts already: Most children are abducted within one quarter mile of where they were last seen - important to know, especially if businesses are proactive
and have surveillance video in stores; and most killers do not take children far. Most children are taken within 200 feet from their homes. Over 60 percent of killers live and work in the area in which they abduct children.

Those attending on Wednesday came from across the state. The pool included emergency management coordinators and law enforcement, as well as county supervisors, a retired judge, search and rescue personnel and interested parents.

Chance R. Kness, head of emergency management in Clinton County, has
participated in some trainings, but was interested in the "linkages between issues related to abductions and those with ground searches," he said.

"We want to be fully prepared," he said, with ready resources at hand, to conduct all types of searches.

Lois Hall, a member of the Clinton County Sheriff's Reserve, helps oversee the K-9 search and rescue operations. Understanding child abductions helps her group in preparation as well.

Both enjoyed VanLuchene's vast knowledge of the issue.

Hall said the biggest impact on her was knowing "that this can happen anywhere."

Mitchell County Sheriff Greg Beaver echoed the thought.

"I don't want our area to be an Evansdale; we do not want to be a Dayton," referring to child kidnapping and murders that occurred there.

Ray Huftalin, emergency management director for Mitchell and Worth counties, thought the training was thorough and instructive - but not attended by enough people.

"I wanted to see that auditorium full ...because we know that it's not about if it will happen, it's about when it will happen. This (child abduction) can happen anywhere," he said. He added he would have liked to see more educators in attendance. He said Area Education Agency 267 was represented, which was encouraging.

Huftalin said he will be working with law enforcement to discuss and formulate future response plans.

***

Other facts:

* Most sexual offenders, the majority male, commit their first assault by age 21.

* The majority commit assaults for which they were never charged.

* Fifty percent of sexual offenders suffered sexual or physical abuse as a child.

* Vast majority of those abused as a child grow up to be non-abusive adults.

* The majority is not diagnosed as mentally ill.

* The median age of a sexual abuser is 33 years.

* Assaults are planned; sometimes months in advance.

***Source: Ryan United

Source Link

Thursday, August 1, 2013

NCMEC & John Walsh: Sex Trafficking Victims Recovered

On July 29, 2013, Operation Cross
Country, part of the Innocence Lost
National Initiative created by the FBI in 2003 in partnership with the Department of Justice and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children announced the recovery of 105 children and arrest of 150 pimps and other individuals involved in underage sex trafficking after a 72 hour raid. NCMEC is proud to partner with the FBI, which has taken the lead in tackling the escalating threat of sex trafficking against America’s children.

During this nationwide sweep, our
analysts worked with the FBI to compare information about children being trafficked with children reported missing. We also helped FBI victim specialists on the scene with private donation “Hope Bags” to the victims, which provide basic necessities such as toiletries, flip flops, snacks, and a change of clothes.

As a part of the Innocence Lost National Initiative, NCMEC serves as a clearinghouse for information obtained from the public and Electronic Service Providers about victims of child sex trafficking. NCMEC also provides analytical and technical assistance to law enforcement investigating these cases and dedicates case management support for missing children victimized through sex trafficking.

To date, the Innocence Lost Initiative, of which Operation Cross Country is a part, has successfully recovered more than 2,500 children. To learn more about NCMEC’s work with the Innocence Lost National Initiative and other programs to stop child sex trafficking, visit missingkids.com .

Operation Cross Country is saving lives –and bringing to justice those who violently manipulate these children and sell them for sex. We congratulate them on this recovery and commend the leadership of the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice for attacking domestic child sex trafficking.

As a generous supporter of the National Center, you too played a role in the rescue of these children. Together, we are making a difference for America’s kids.

For our children,

John Walsh
Co-Founder

Friday, July 26, 2013

Walking for the missing and the murdered:

Written by Brenden Harris on Friday, 26 July 2013

Seven individuals are leaving Kenora today, as they continue to Tears 4 Justice Walk across the country. The goal of their campaign is to raise awareness for the amount of missing and murdered women and children in Canada. This is the fifth walk of it's kind taking place, with three of the individuals taking part in all five.

They arrived in Kenora Thursday, and held a meeting at the Ne Chee Friendship Centre where they each shared there stories. Alayna McIvor was one of those who shared their reasons for getting involved in the walk.

"I'm here in honour, and walking in honour of my cousin Roberta McIvor who was brutally murdered in my home community two years ago. Next week, July 30 will be the second anniversary of her death," she said.

"I'm not only walking in honour of my cousin, I'm walking in honour of two-spirit transgender people because that's who I identify as. My friends have been murdered in Winnipeg," McIvor added.

"I myself was taken and sold, at 12 years old, across this country," she said.

McIvor added that the men who are caught abducting women often face an easier time in prison, than the women who are at risk or have been abducted. Gladys Radek has taken part in all five walks. She says although their walk is not only about First Nations women, there are too many misconceptions when it comes to the missing and murdered women in the country.

"When we hear about a First Nations woman that goes missing we hear they're nothing but a drug addict, or a prostitute, or a drunk, or just another dead Indian. It's not right, we're human beings, all of us," she said.

She says it's their goal to give voices to those who can not be heard.

"We want to make a difference. We want to bring those families voices forward. We want justice. There's some of those cases that are 40 and 50 years old, and we're saying enough is enough," she said.

McIvor, Radek, Mabel Todd, Aleck Clifton, Becky Big Canoe, William Dick and Allision Manitowabi will continue walking for the next two months, towards their destination of Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

The walkers had received much support from those in Kenora, as the issue hits close to home. Unsolved murders of women have been reported for years across the district, including three in Kenora since 2000.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Justice Department Statement on the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman Case

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 15, 2013

Justice Department Statement on the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman Case:

"As the Department first acknowledged last year, we have an open investigation into the death of Trayvon Martin. The Department of Justice's Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division, the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continue to evaluate the evidence generated during the federal investigation, as well as the evidence and testimony from the state trial. Experienced federal prosecutors will determine whether the evidence reveals a prosecutable violation of any of the limited federal criminal civil rights statutes within our jurisdiction, and whether federal prosecution is appropriate in accordance with the Department's policy governing successive federal prosecution following a state trial.”

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2013/July/13-opa-788.html

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Dad: Slain Calif. boy wanted to live with him:

MENIFEE, Calif. (AP) — Terry Dewayne Smith Jr. had been living with his mother for two years in Southern California when, a few months ago, the 11-year-old boy with sandy blond hair called his father in West Virginia and asked to come home.

So when the boy’s mother called from California on Sunday, Terry Dewayne Smith Sr. assumed it was about a plane ticket — until his ex-wife started asking some worrisome questions.

‘‘She asked me if I was in California and I said, ‘No, I'm still in West Virginia. Why?’ She said, ‘‘Cause your son’s missing,'’’ a shaken Terry Dewayne Smith Sr. recalled Thursday outside his Charleston, W.Va., apartment.

‘‘And just the way she talked and the way she expressed it and all that, I knew something bad happened.’’

His worst fears were confirmed Wednesday when authorities in this Southern California town 80 miles southeast of Los Angeles announced they had found a body matching Terry Jr.’s description in a shallow grave under a tree behind his mother’s house.

The boy’s 16-year-old half brother was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murder and could be charged as early as Friday, a person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation.

The suspect’s name has not been released.

Initial reports from the mother, relayed by law enforcement, described Terry Jr. as an autistic boy who took special medication and answered only to his nickname, ‘‘JuJu.’’ His father, however, insisted that his son was not autistic.

The boy lived with him until 2011, when he went to live with his mother, and was a normal kid who loved video games and baseball, he said.

‘‘He was a very bright, well-adjusted child, at least he was when he left here,’’ said Terry Smith Sr., a 62-year-old retired truck driver. ‘‘He pushed buttons and would aggravate you. But, other than that, it was just the typical way ... of a typical boy trying to get his way.’’

A phone listing for the boy’s mother, Shawna Smith, was disconnected. Messages left at a second number associated with her address were not returned.

Hundreds of volunteers searched for Terry Jr. for more than three days in abandoned trailers and campsites tucked into the scrubby hillsides of rural Riverside County, where horse ranches dot the landscape and large stretches of land remain undeveloped. Sheriff’s deputies fanned out on horseback and with bloodhounds in the triple-digit heat and helicopters buzzed overhead, searching for clues.

Now, Terry Smith Sr. just wishes he could see his son one more time. He hopes to have his remains cremated and sent back to West Virginia for burial, he said.

‘‘All I want to do is get Terry Jr. back here because that was the last thing he told me on the phone,’’ he said. ‘‘He wanted to come home.’’

Monday, June 10, 2013

Virtual Global Taskforce - REPORT ABUSE

REPORT ABUSE

The Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) is actively involved in investigating suspicious behaviour online with or towards a child.

The Report Abuse button is an effective mechanism for reporting suspected sexual predator behaviour.

Sexual predator behaviour includes:

Making and downloading images of children being sexually abused.

Approaching a child online for sex (e.g. sexual activity via text or webcam).

Grooming – this is the deliberate actions taken by an adult to form a trusting relationship with a child online, with the intent of later facilitating sexual contact. This can take place in chat rooms, instant messaging, social networking sites and email contact offending – once contact has been made with a child online, child sex offenders then move towards meeting up in person for sexual purposes.

If you or a child is in immediate danger, contact your local police.

If there is no immediate danger to you or a child, you can report directly to the VGT:

http://www.virtualglobaltaskforce.com

Friday, May 31, 2013

147 children missing in El Paso County:

Texas currently has 4,400 active missing-children cases, and 147 of them are in El Paso County, Robert R. Almonte, U.S. marshal for the Western District of Texas, said Thursday.

Almonte provided other statistics during a news conference on missing children at the federal courthouse in Downtown El Paso.

"Each year, about 800,000 children are abducted nationally, and some 97 percent of them are recovered," he said. "About 56,000 of the abductions are non-family abductions. And in Texas about 46,000 children are abducted each year."

At the news conference, Almonte and other law enforcement officials and advocates highlighted "Take 25," a new national campaign designed to prevent child abductions.

David Boatright, executive Texas regional director of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, stressed the importance of child safety measures and awareness of how predators are using online media to target youths.

He said "Take 25" encourages families to take 25 minutes to talk to their children about safety and abduction prevention. It was launched to commemorate National Missing Children's Day on May 25.

"Teaching kids about safety online and in the real world plays a critical role in helping them to make safer choices," Boatright said. "In view of the recent recovery of three young women in Cleveland, who were kidnapped as children over a decade ago, providing simple yet effective child safety education becomes all the more important."

Authorities said the three young women who were rescued in Ohio allegedly were abducted by a man in their neighborhood who held them captive for 10 years.
Almonte said he still vividly remembers the 2001 disappearance and slaying of 5-year-old Alexandra Flores. The girl was abducted by a stranger in a Wal-Mart in the Lower Valley. Though security cameras helped to identify the abductor, and despite a huge mobilization of law enforcement, Alexandra's body was found the next day in an alley in West El Paso, her head covered with a plastic bag.

The killer was arrested, prosecuted and convicted.

The regional National Center for Missing & Exploited Children partnered Thursday with the El Paso Independent School District to provide child safety training to 10,200 students from 15 middle schools. Advocates said they would like the training to reach the rest of the schools.

Almonte, Boatright and nearly 20 law enforcement officers and advocates stood at the news conference to demonstrate their support for the campaign. The presentation took place against a backdrop of oversize pictures of El Paso's missing children.

Experts at the news conference, including El Paso's FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Morgan, said families can use resources such as child identification kits and the FBI's child ID phone app.

"The worst criminal offenders are those who prey on our children," Morgan said.

Texas Department of Public Safety officials said new training has helped DPS officers who conduct traffic stops to detect potential child abductions, adding it has resulted in more than 20 arrests and the recovery of 78 missing children, including in El Paso.

Experts said parents should have a current photo of their child available, along with basic information about the child so authorities can launch a timely and effective search.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Texas DPS and National Missing and Unidentified Persons System run websites devoted to finding missing people.

Find child safety resources at ncmec.org and fbi.gov/stats- services/parents

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_23358447/147-children-missing-el-paso-county

147 children missing in El Paso County - El Paso Times

Monday, May 13, 2013

FBI - Police Week: Honoring the Fallen:

May 13, 2013, 9 a.m. EDT
47 Law Enforcement Officers Killed in Line of Duty in 2012

Police officers proceed from a memorial service honoring fallen law enforcement officers.

Preliminary statistics released today by the FBI show that 47 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed last year, 25 fewer than in 2011. Twelve of those killed last year died from injuries they sustained while investigating suspicious persons or circumstances. Eight were killed during traffic pursuits or stops, and five were killed in ambushes.

“Each of these losses reminds us that our safety and freedom come at great cost,” Director Mueller said in a May 13 video message to law enforcement colleagues. “We must continue to do everything in our power to reduce the threats to our officers, deputies, and agents and to keep our colleagues safe from harm.”

An additional 45 officers were accidentally killed in the line of
last year, eight fewer than in 2011.

According to preliminary statistics released today by the FBI, 47 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty in 2012. The total number of officers killed is 25 fewer than the 72 officers who died in 2011. By region, 22 officers were killed as a result of criminal acts that occurred in the South, eight officers in the West, six officers in the Northeast, five officers died due to incidents in the Midwest, and six officers were killed in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

By circumstance, 12 officers died from injuries inflicted while investigating suspicious persons or circumstances, eight who died were conducting traffic pursuits or stops, five were engaged in tactical situations, and five officers were killed as a result of ambushes (four due to entrapment/premeditated situations and one during an unprovoked attack). Four officers’ deaths occurred as a result of answering disturbance calls (two of which were domestic disturbance calls) and three officers were transporting, handling, or maintaining custody of prisoners. Two of the fallen officers sustained fatal injuries during drug-related matters, two were attempting to make other arrests, and two were performing investigative activities. Two officers were responding to robberies in progress, one was responding to a burglary in progress, and one officer was killed as a result of handling a person with a mental illness.

Offenders used firearms in 43 of the 47 felonious deaths. These included 30 incidents with handguns, seven incidents with rifles, and three incidents with shotguns. The type of firearm was not reported in three of the incidents. Two victim officers were killed with vehicles used as weapons; one was killed with a knife; and one officer died from injuries inflicted with personal weapons, such as hands, fists, or feet.

Twenty of the slain officers were wearing body armor at the times of the incidents. Six of the officers fired their own weapons and two officers attempted to fire their service weapons. Three victim officers had their weapons stolen; however, none of the officers were killed with their own weapons.

The 47 victim officers died from injuries sustained in 44 separate incidents. Forty-two of those incidents have been cleared by arrest or exceptional means.

An additional 45 officers were accidentally killed in the line of duty in 2012. This total represents eight fewer officers who died in accidents when compared with the 53 officers who were accidentally killed during the same time period in 2011. By region, 27 officers died due to accidents in the South, eight in the Northeast, seven in the West, and three in the Midwest.

Of the officers who died as a result of accidents, 22 died due to automobile accidents, 10 were struck by vehicles, and six officers were in motorcycle accidents. Three of the officers were killed due to aircraft accidents, two in accidental shootings, one from a fall, and one officer died as a result of an ATV accident.

Final statistics and complete details will be available in the Uniform Crime Reporting Program’s publication, Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2012, which will be published on the FBI’s Internet site in the fall.

FBI - Law Enforcement Fallen

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

USDOJ: Nationwide Sweep by U.S. Marshals Puts 345 Dangerous Sex Offenders Behind Bars:

USDOJ: Nationwide Sweep by U.S. Marshals Puts 345 Dangerous Sex Offenders Behind Bars:

Today the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) concluded Operation Guardian, a three-year, national initiative specifically targeting the country’s most dangerous noncompliant sex offenders. Deputy Marshals and law enforcement partners arrested 345 individuals who had failed to register with state authorities as required by law.

Marshals worked with state and local officials to identify specific non-registering fugitives based on their danger to the public and prior convictions for sex offenses.   As of today, USMS investigators have located 427 offenders of 444 sought (or 96 percent of those targeted), including 82 individuals found outside the United States. These individuals represent more than 500 prior convictions for sexual offenses.

“I’d like to thank each of the Deputy U.S. Marshals and state and local law enforcement officials who contributed to the success of this important operation.  These dedicated professionals have helped to make our communities safer by taking dangerous fugitives off the streets,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “Today’s announcement sends a clear message: that the Justice Department and its allies are firmly committed to safeguarding our nation’s young people from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  And we are determined to bring noncompliant sex offenders to justice.”

“The U.S. Marshals Service will not tolerate noncompliant and violent sex offenders who evade the law.   The message we send to these individuals is there is nowhere you can hide,” said USMS Director Stacia Hylton. “Operation Guardian enabled us to bring to bear the full weight of international, federal, state and local law enforcement resources and intelligence to locate the most egregious sex offenders—those who have victimized innocent children.”

The USMS assigns 129 criminal investigators to conduct sex offender, non-registrant investigations on a full-time basis. Operation Guardian was a collaborative effort led by the USMS in cooperation with Interpol, the Diplomatic Security Service, Customs and Border Protection, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

“The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is proud to partner with the U.S. Marshals in helping to protect our nation’s children,” said John Ryan, chief executive officer, NCMEC.  “We applaud the overwhelming success of Operation Guardian which located hundreds of the country’s most dangerous noncompliant sex offenders.”

Among those arrested during Operation Guardian were:
·          Lee Roy Ramirez, one of “Wisconsin’s Most Wanted,” arrested on April 22, 2013, in Portland, Ore. Ramirez was wanted by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections since 2003 for probation violation on an original charge of second degree sexual assault of a child. The intensive fugitive investigation covered several states and ultimately led investigators to Oregon. Ramirez is in custody in Oregon awaiting extradition back to Wisconsin.

·          James K. Jenkins, arrested on Oct. 9, 2012, in Garland, Texas. Jenkins was wanted in DeKalb County, Ga., for failure to register as a sex offender and for probation violation based on a weapons offense.   His original offense occurred Dec. 15, 1999, when he raped a 15-year-old girl. He was convicted of statutory rape and sentenced to three years in prison, 7 years of probation and required to register as a sex offender in the state of Georgia. Jenkins moved and did not notify the probation office or the sheriff’s office of his location. In October 2012, a Crimestoppers program received an online tip that placed Jenkins in Garland. Investigators conducted surveillance and arrested Jenkins with a loaded .38-caliber handgun in close proximity.

·          David Sherant, arrested Oct. 3, 2012, by Deputy U.S. Marshals from the District of Nevada and members of the Las Vegas SOAP Task Force. Sherant was wanted by the Utah Department of Corrections for violating his term of supervision by failing to register as a sex offender. He was convicted in August 2000 of sexual exploitation of a minor. After release from the Utah State Prison, Sherant absconded parole, and failed to register as a sex offender as required by law. Investigators learned that the 31-year-old Sherant was passing himself off as 18-year-old “Mikey Miller” currently residing in Las Vegas.   On Oct. 15, 2012, Sherant was extradited to Utah. His probation was revoked and he was remanded to the custody of the Utah Department of Corrections.

·          Darrell Craig Sinclair, arrested on Feb. 28, 2012, in Mexico. Sinclair was wanted by the Riverside County, Calif., Sheriff’s Department for almost 10 years on a $500,000 arrest warrant for failure to register as a sex offender. He was previously convicted of one count of lewd acts against a child in Los Angeles County in 1976, and seven counts of lewd acts against a child in Orange County, Calif., in 1983. USMS investigators determined that Sinclair was in Ajajic, Mexico, and he was taken into custody by Mexican Immigration Officials. Mexican immigration officials escorted Sinclair to Los Angeles International Airport, where he was arrested by Deputy U.S. Marshals.

·          Michael Rybkin, arrested on Nov. 9, 2010, in New York. Rybkin was wanted by the Hudson County, N.J., Sheriff’s Department for a parole violation and by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a warrant of deportation, and is a sex offender in the State of New Jersey. Rybkin is a German citizen. USMS investigators developed information that Rybkin was residing in New York City and using the internet.   Rybkin, who was previously banned from New York City Public Libraries, was observed masturbating in front of two female children in October 2010 at a library, but eluded capture.   On Oct. 27, 2010, Rybkin was charged by the USMS with violating the Adam Walsh Act and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.   On Nov. 9, 2010, USMS investigators arrested Rybkin at the Grand Central Branch of the New York City Public Library. On March 10, 2011, Rybkin pleaded guilty to the Adam Walsh Act violation, and was sentenced Jan. 19, 2012, by U.S. District Court Judge William Pauley to 63 months incarceration and lifetime supervised release on electronic monitoring.

The Behavioral Analysis Unit at the USMS National Sex Offender Targeting Center worked with the investigators to identify information related to the fugitives across a number of personal or social dimensions, including past sexual offending behavior.   The prior convictions of the located offenders represent hundreds of victims and   thousands of known sexual assaults. Most of the sexual assault events were engaged against children, and many involved extreme violence.

The NCMEC estimates more than 700,000 sex offenders reside in the United States and that more than 100,000 are classified as noncompliant or unregistered.  Since its inception in 2006, the Sex Offender Investigations Branch has planned and executed more than 900 sex offender compliance and enforcement operations.   During these operations, the USMS partnered with more than 4,800 state and local law enforcement agencies to conduct more than 150,000 compliance checks. 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Missing persons shake-up ‘could lead to more child sex abuse’


By Tariq Tahir

Changes to the way police deal with missing people could lead to vulnerable children being more at risk of sex abuse, a charity has claimed.

Some 327,000 people are reported missing each year, two-thirds of whom are children and chief constables say dealing with every one the same way is a drain on their resources.

From next month there will be a new two tier approach and police will launch a full investigation only for people whose disappearance is out of character or who are thought to be at risk.

But David Tucker, head of policy at the NSPCC, said the children’s charity fears the new definitions could put children at risk.

‘We are very concerned that the new definition of ‘missing persons’ will put vulnerable children at risk of being groomed and sexually exploited,’ he said.

‘The length of time a child goes missing is irrelevant because they can fall into the clutches of abusers very quickly.

‘Children go missing for a variety of reasons; they may be bullied, abused or are generally unhappy. But whatever the reason, this problem must be taken seriously.

‘We expect all professionals including the police to invest the right amount of time and take the necessary action to protect all children as soon as they go missing.’

The Association of Chief Police Officers hopes the new policy will cut bureaucracy and stop officers from being seen as ‘taxi drivers’ sent to collect runaway children who regularly abscond.

In the sex abuse Rochdale case, nine men were jailed in May last year for grooming and abusing vulnerable teenage girls many of whom had gone missing from care.

Chief Constable Pat Geenty said: ‘The police are often the first agency to take a missing person report and our aim is to ensure we get the best possible response to those most at risk of harm.

‘This means identifying these cases early so that policing resources go where they are most needed. We need to move beyond a one-size-fits-all response.’

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Justice Department Women’s History Month Observance Program:

Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole Speaks at the Justice Department Women’s History Month Observance Program:

Chairman Sensenbrenner, Ranking Member Scott, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of the Department of Justice regarding the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA).  

This topic is particularly important to the Department because of the wide-ranging impact the statute has on public safety and both criminal and civil law enforcement operations.   We are pleased to engage with the Subcommittee in discussions about how ECPA is used and how it might be updated and improved.

ECPA includes the Pen Register Statute and the Stored Communications Act (SCA), as well as amendments to the Wiretap Act.   These statutes are part of a set of laws that control the collection and disclosure of both content and non-content information related to electronic communications, as well as content that has been stored remotely.   Although originally enacted in 1986, ECPA has been updated several times since, with significant revisions occurring in both 1994 and 2001.

I intend to focus the majority of my testimony on the SCA, which contains three primary components that regulate the disclosure of certain communications and related data.   First, section 2701 of Title 18 prohibits unlawful access to certain stored communications: anyone who obtains, alters, or prevents authorized access to those communications is subject to criminal penalties. Second, section 2702 of Title 18 regulates voluntary disclosure by service providers of customer communications and records, both to government and non-governmental entities. Third, section 2703 of Title 18 regulates the government’s ability to compel disclosure of both stored content and non-content information from a service provider; it creates a set of rules that all governmental entities must follow in order to compel disclosure of stored communications and other records.

Since its inception, the SCA has served multiple purposes. It provides the rules governing how providers of communications services disclose stored information—including contents of communications, such as the body of an email, and non-content information—to a wide variety of government entities. in doing so, it imposes requirements on the government and providers to ensure that the privacy of individuals is protected. 

The statute thus seeks to ensure public safety and other law enforcement imperatives, while at the same time ensuring individual privacy.   It is important that efforts to amend the SCA remain focused on maintaining both of these goals. 

Read More

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Police chiefs attend training for missing children cases:

By TPR Staff 

Two South County police chiefs recently attended a national training seminar to improve the way missing children cases are handled when time is critical.

Pismo Beach Police Chief Jeff Norton and Arroyo Grande Police Chief Steven Annibali were two of 31 other chiefs, sheriff’s and 9-1-1 emergency managers chosen to attend the Chief Executive Officer Training Seminar.

“This has been one of the most valuable training experiences for me in my 28 years as a law enforcement officer,” Norton said.

The seminar, held at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Alexandria, Va., is designed to provide attendees with a better understanding of the issues surrounding missing and sexually exploited children.

Instructors discuss the steps necessary to implement best practices for call takers, responding officers, investigators and command staff.

“The ability to bring the knowledge and resources of the (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) to both our communities can be the difference that leads to a successful conclusion in a child abduction case,” Annibali said.

To date, more than 5,000 law enforcement executives have completed the training.




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Thursday, December 13, 2012

NCMEC - Motorola Solutions Foundation Public Safety Grant

National Center for Missing &
Exploited Children Receives
Motorola Solutions Foundation
Public Safety Grant:

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), today announced it has received $130,000 as part of the Motorola Solutions Foundation's Public Safety and Security Institute. The Motorola Solutions Foundation is
the charitable arm of Motorola Solutions Inc. Through the grant, NCMEC's Jimmy Ryce Law
Enforcement Training Center (JRLETC) will be able to offer training and support to law
enforcement that will enhance the
investigative response to cases of missing or sexually exploited children.

The Motorola Solutions Foundation's Public Safety Grants aim to support safety education
and training programs for first responders, their families and the general public in the United States and Canada.

"The courses we offer give law enforcement access to strategies and tools that can help
make their jobs easier and their communities safer," said John Ryan, NCMEC CEO. "We are
grateful to the Motorola Solutions Foundation for helping us continue to provide this important service."

The training is offered through NCMEC's Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center,
which was named in memory of 9-year-old Jimmy Ryce, who was abducted and murdered near his Florida home in 1995. Courses are
offered regionally, across the country, and at NCMEC headquarters in Alexandria, Va.
NCMEC trainings annually bring together more than 400 law enforcement agencies from
across the United States.

"Motorola Solutions is dedicated to helping people be their best in the moments that matter," said Matt Blakely, director of the
Motorola Solutions Foundation."Motorola Solutions Foundation aligns itself with this mission by supporting programs like the
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children that train people how to respond to potential safety problems or recover from the
loss of a first responder. We are proud to see these valuable programs make a positive
impact in the communities where we live and work."

Through the Public Safety and Security Institute, the Motorola Solutions Foundation serves as an investor, convener and supporter
of issues that affect the public safety of communities worldwide, providing leadership in the sector to drive innovation and grow and
engage the network of those interested in these issues.

The Motorola Solutions Foundation provides grants around the world with an emphasis on
programming in communities where Motorola Solutions has a significant presence. For 84
years, Motorola has worked side-by-side with law enforcement to develop the solutions that
support its mission. Since 2007, the foundation has provided over $25M in grants to public safety organizations in the U.S and
Canada.

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
established in 1984. Designated by Congress to serve as the nation's clearinghouse on issues related to missing and exploited
children, the organization operates the toll-free 24-hour national missing children's hotline
which has handled more than 3,670,000 calls. It has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 180,000 children. The
organization's CyberTipline has handled more than 1,705,100 reports of child sexual exploitation and its Child Victim Identification
Program has reviewed and analyzed more than 78,447,800 child pornography images
and videos. The organization works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To learn more about
NCMEC, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or visit its web site at www.missingkids.com.

About Motorola Solutions Foundation The Motorola Solutions Foundation is the
charitable and philanthropic arm of MotorolaSolutions. With employees located around the
globe, Motorola Solutions seeks to benefit the communities where it operates. The company achieves this by making strategic grants,
forging strong community partnerships and fostering innovation. The Motorola Solutions Foundation focuses its funding on public safety, disaster relief, employee programs and
education, especially science, technology, engineering and math programming. For more
information on Motorola Solutions Corporate and Foundation giving, visit www.motorolasolutions.com/giving.

SOURCE National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

RELATED LINKS
www.missingkids.com

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Bring Home Missing and Abducted Kids for the Holidays:

Raise The Bounty: Help Bring Home Missing and Abducted Kids for the Holidays

Help a Family's Dream Come True This Holiday Season by Supporting Raise the Bounty's Crowdfunding Campaign

SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire - Dec 6, 2012) - Can you imagine what it would feel like to have your child
abducted? Nothing tears a family apart more than a missing child.

This holiday season, help families bring their missing kids home by supporting Raise The Bounty's crowdfunding campaign at
www.Indiegogo.com/RaiseTheBounty. Raise The
Bounty was created with the sole purpose of raising the size of rewards offered -- and making it extremely compelling -- for private citizens to report what they
know to help catch the predators responsible for child abductions.

Through Raise The Bounty, people can register anonymously and offer information to help bring a child
home and/or help the police bring an abductor into custody.

Did you know?

2,185 children under the age of 18 are reported missing each day.
More than 800,000 children are reported missing annually.

About 25 percent of missing children are due to family
abductions. 60,000 children are abducted by someone other than a
family member every year. Many are returned, but sadly, some never make it back home.

For every minute a child is recognized as being gone,
they could be one more mile away from home in an abductor's car, van or truck!

Only the most significant stories about missing kids get noticed by the news media, and typically only small rewards are offered; usually between $1000.00 and $15,000.00. It's very rare that you ever see a reward in the $50,000 or greater range unless the parents are
wealthy.

This holiday season help Raise The Bounty level the playing field for those families who simply
can't get the funds together to help ensure their child's speedy return.

Just one donation can help a distraught family ensure
the return of their missing child. All donations made at
www.Indiegogo.com/RaiseTheBounty will start the
process of building out an advanced website, all the
back end databases, the call center, mobile applications, plus all the collateral material that Raise The Bounty will distribute.

Please make a donation today by visiting www.Indiegogo.com/RaiseTheBounty. Every penny counts.

Contact Information

Media Contact:
Three Girls Media & Marketing Inc.
(408) 871-0377

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Almost 100 children go missing from Crawley care homes in 24 months:

NEARLY 100 vulnerable children in
Crawley went missing from care in just over two years.

Figures released this week under the Freedom of Information Act reveal 98 children disappeared while staying at care homes in the town between January 2010 and May 31 this year.

Due to some youngsters vanishing
more than once, there were 168 cases of a child going missing from care in this time, with three incidents on one single day in March 2010.

The Sussex Police statistics show 61 children ran away from homes run by social services, while the other 37 were in private care homes. Those aged 14 and 15 were most likely to go missing.

(Read More.)

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Rise In Missing Children Causes Concern:

By Dave Knapper

MORE than 1,000 children were reported missing from their homes to police in Staffordshire and
Cheshire last year.

And figures from Staffordshire Police have revealed the number of missing youngsters has increased
five fold over the past four years.

Now charities are calling for parents to address any problems with their children before they run away from home.

In 2008, officers in Staffordshire were called to 110 incidents, with that figure rising to 168 in 2009, and 253 in 2010.

The latest data shows the figure then then leapt to 537 cases in 2011.

The Staffordshire force says the children which make up the figures were all found and returned
home.

The numbers across the Cheshire East area –which includes Crewe and Congleton – has decreased from 551 between 2009 and 2010 to 507 between April 2010 and March this year.

The Sandbach-based charity Railway Children –which supports youngsters who have found
themselves living on the streets – has revealed the figures and is hoping they will encourage the public to address issues which affect children.

Andy McCullough, head of strategy and policy at Railway Children, said: "It is alarming to see that
the numbers of children reported missing in Staffordshire has risen so significantly year on year.

"Of those who are reported missing, the majority are young people who have run away from home or care.

"Children run away for many reasons, usually to escape things they find stressful such as problems at school or home."

Mr McCullough claims the figures would be even higher if every incident was reported to the police.
He believes two-thirds of youngsters who run away
from home do so without the matter being reported.

He added: "I would urge all parents to talk to each other and their children about running away from
home, to raise awareness of this alarming issue and its realities."

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said the force receives roughly 4,000 reports of missing people every year.

He said: "The force treats the safety of children extremely seriously and works more closely than ever with partners to protect vulnerable people.

"The increase in missing people reports is largely due to improvements in recording procedures, together with the multi-agency approach to
safeguarding."

The police also signed an agreement with charity Missing People earlier this year to provide a support package to families and individuals.