Sexual Predators: Internet Danger to Children
Project Safe Childhood Protects Juveniles from Explotation
Sep 25, 2008
Internet danger to children is a concern of the United States Department of Justice. It has created Project Safe Childhood, a cooperative effort that brings together the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other agencies to investigate and indict those who prey on children. Working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, it has created programs that advise parents as to how to protect their children.
Internet Danger to Children Preventive Measures
Preventive measures protecting children include a program that was launched in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. These include predators who solicit children for physical sexual contact and those that produce, distribute, and possess child pornography.
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) partners with U.S. Attorneys, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service, and local and state law enforcements officials. Advocacy groups include the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. There are now 59 ICAC task forces across the country.
According to the U.S. Attorney's office, during fiscal year 2007, 2,118 indictments were filed against predators, an increase of 27.8 per cent over 2006. By September 2008, 1,661 victims of child pornography crimes have been identified and rescued.
Internet Danger to Children Warnings
Warnings issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI include signs that a child may be at risk on line:
- Child spends large amounts of time on line, especially at night.
- Pornography is found on the child’s computer.
- Phone calls are received by the child from men you don’t know or is making calls to numbers you don’t recognize.
- Mail, gifts, or packages arrive for the child from someone you do not know.
- Child turns off the computer monitor off or quickly changes the screen on the monitor when you come into the room.
- Child becomes withdrawn from the family.
Internet Danger to Children Actions
Action should be taken as soon as internet sexual exploitation is suspected. Government agencies suggest:
- Talk openly with the child about your suspicions and discuss the dangers involved.
- Review what is on your child’s computer; pornography or any kind of sexual communication is a warning sign.
- Use Caller ID service to determine who is calling your child.
- Retrieve numbers that have been dialed from the telephone.
- Monitor your child’s access to all types of live electronic communication (chat rooms, instant messages, Internet Relay Chat, etc.) and monitor the child’s e-mail.
Should you find any evidence that a child predator is stalking your child via the Internet or an on-line service, immediately contact a local or state law enforcement agency, the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Internet danger to children continues to be a challenge for parents trying to protect their children from sexual predators. However, with the cooperative efforts of local, state and federal agencies and advocacy group, focusing on crimes targeting children has become a major endeavor.
Sources:
National Criminal Justice Reference Service: Personal Safety for Children--A Guide for Parents.
National Criminal Justice Reference Service: What Your can do to Protect Your Child.
U.S. Department of Justice & Federal Bureau of Investigation: A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety.
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