Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a Department of Justice initiative that aims to prevent and interdict the sexual exploitation and abuse of children, and prosecute those who exploit children for sexual purposes, has been recognized with a 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Excellence in Homeland Security Platinum Award from American Security Today at ISC East.
The National Strategy for child exploitation prevention and interdiction focuses on the following types of child sexual exploitation:
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Child pornography, often called images of child sexual abuse
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Online enticement of children for sexual purposes
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Commercial sexual exploitation of children, and
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Child sex tourism
(Project Safe Childhood – It doesnt matter who you are, it doesnt matter what youve achieved. Download sexual images of children or entice a minor online and you have committed a serious federal crime. You will go to prison and it will ruin your life. Courtesy of Project Safe Childhood and YouTube.)
In Idaho, PSC coordinates efforts by various federal, state and local agencies and organizations to protect children by investigating and prosecuting online sexual offenses involving minors, sexual abuse of children in Indian Country, human trafficking, and sex offender registration violations.
Local PSC partners include the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), state and local law enforcement officials, county prosecutors and others.
Nationwide PSC partners include the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit (CEOS).
(See how NCMEC is responding to the ever-changing threats to children online. Courtesy of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and YouTube. Posted in Oct 2018.)
As a result of The Department of Justice’s PSC efforts, federal, state, and local law enforcement have received increased resources and training to combat child exploitation crimes.
As part of PSC, DOJ created and funds 94 ICAC Task Forces nationwide, including the Idaho ICAC.
ICAC task forces consist of specially trained state and local law enforcement personnel who focus exclusively on internet child sexual exploitation.
The FBI, HSI, and USPIS have investigative and computer forensic resources that investigate child sexual exploitation offenses, and frequently assist state and local law enforcement in child exploitation investigations.
(Please share. Are you sure your kids know who they’re talking to online? If someone demands sexual images from you, stop immediately and report it. In this PSA, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) explore the dangers of sharing images online. Courtesy of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and YouTube.)
The USMS enforces the Adam Walsh Act by locating and apprehending sex offenders who have failed to register on a sex offender registry, by assisting federal, state, and local authorities with the apprehension of fugitive sex offenders, and by investigating violations of the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The PSC coordination of federal, state, and local law enforcement in Idaho has created a group of highly dedicated, well-trained investigators who work cooperatively across jurisdictional lines to investigate and prosecute child sexual exploitation crimes.
This has resulted in the identification and apprehension of greater numbers of offenders, many of whom are “hands-on” abusers whose conduct is a hidden but very real threat to the community.
‘It’s important to remember child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is much more than just images and video files.’
‘While they are seen and transmitted on computers and through technology, they are depictions of actual crime scenes, specifically crimes against children.’
‘The human element, children at risk, must always be considered when talking about this offense that is based in a high-tech world.’
‘The disturbing reality is that the internet platforms we use every day to connect with each other and share information are now being used to disseminate and collect CSAM.’
‘Using platforms such as social media, online gaming, and email, CSAM can be found in virtually any realm.’
– Courtesy of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
(The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s mission has been to help bring missing children home. To help fight child predators, promote prevention, combat child sexual exploitation, and assist law enforcement as they fight child sex trafficking. Every year, NCMEC gets more than 400,000 missing child reports. For more than 30 years, they’ve helped bring them home. NCMEC never stops searching. Because they know that you’re out there and they’re here because we care. Courtesy of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and YouTube.)
Online and Texting Safety Tips for Kids and Parents
- Do not post personal information online (name, age, birth date, address, telephone number, or school name).
- This information can be used by others to find out where you and your family live.
- Do not post your picture or pictures of your family online – they can be copied or changed or used to find you.
- Do not send any inappropriate photo or message by email or text.
- Do not post your plans and activities in a chat room or on your personal website.
- Do not post entries that make it clear that no one is at your home.
- Do not communicate with someone who has made you uncomfortable or afraid.
- Tell your parents or a trusted adult if someone does.
- Do not join online groups or games without talking to your parents.
- Do not meet with someone you met online without first telling your parents or guardian.
- Do not post hurtful or inappropriate messages.
- If someone else posts hurtful or inappropriate messages — do not respond, but do tell a teacher, parent or other adult.
- Do not click on any link that you do not know, and you are not sure is legitimate.
- Do not buy any “apps” or “in app” purchases without talking to your parents or guardian.
- Do not enable any location services without talking to your parents or guardian.
- Do remember that people can lie online and say they are something they are not.
- Someone who says they are a 12-year-old girl could really be an older man looking to harm you.
- Do save messages that upset you and show them to your parents.
- Do share your password with your parents.
- Do visit http://www.netsmartz.org/ to learn more about Internet safety.
- Do teach your child not to post identifying information on the Internet.
- Do set a limit for how much time your child can spend online.
- Do keep the computer in a public room in the house.
- Do not have an Internet-connected computer in your child’s bedroom.
- Do utilize parental controls provided by your Internet Service Provider and/or blocking software.
- (Contact your Internet ISP if you have questions).
- Do talk to your children about purchasing “in app” products.
- Do talk to your child about using any location services on their device.
- Do periodically review your child’s computer, emails and messages.
- You should have all of your children’s passwords.
- Do spend time with your child online.
- Have them show you their favorite online destinations.
- Get to know your child’s online friends as you would their real-life friends.
- Learn to navigate the web.
- Do know who they text and email.
- Most providers have online ways to identify frequent contacts so you can see if someone new appears as a contact.
- Do monitor your child’s access to the Internet and texting.
- Do talk to your child about the danger of Internet predators.
- Do watch for unexplained changes in your child’s behavior.
- Do NOT hesitate to seek help from law enforcement if you think a predator may be targeting your child.
– Courtesy of DOJ BJA PSC https://www.justice.gov/usao-id/online-and-texting-safety-tips-kids-and-parents
To Learn More and for information and resources for protecting children online please visit the Online and Texting Safety Tips for Kids and Parents and Netsmartz.org for age appropriate videos, activities, and information for students in elementary school, middle school, and high school.
Is a child being sexually exploited online? Report it to the CyberTipline.
If you wish to report an internet crime against a child, please click here to link to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to access the CyberTipline web site.
NCMEC’s CyberTipline is the nation’s centralized reporting system for the online exploitation of children.
The public and electronic service providers can make reports of suspected online enticement of children for sexual acts, extra-familial child sexual molestation, child pornography, child sex tourism, child sex trafficking, unsolicited obscene materials sent to a child, misleading domain names, and misleading words or digital images on the internet.
What Happens to Information in a CyberTip?
NCMEC staff review each tip and work to find a potential location for the incident reported so that it may be made available to the appropriate law-enforcement agency for possible investigation.
They also use the information from our CyberTipline reports to help shape our prevention and safety messages.
Is Your Image Out There?
Get Support
One of the worst things about sextortion is feeling like you’re facing everything alone.
But you have people who care for you and want to help.
Reach out to them!
A trusted adult can offer advice, help you report, and help you deal with other issues.
It could be your mom, dad, an aunt, a school counselor, or anyone you trust and are comfortable talking to. You can also “self report” by making a report on your own to the CyberTipline.
Don’t Give Up
Having a sexual exploitative image of yourself exposed online is a scary experience.
It can make you feel vulnerable and isolated, but remember, others have been in the same situation as you – and they’ve overcome it.
NCMEC also provides information, resources and tools to help you remove sexual pictures and videos from the Internet at http://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/isyourexplicitcontentoutthere.
– Courtesy of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
If you wish to report an internet crime, or any other computer related crimes, please contact your local law enforcement agency.
DOJ Project Safe Childhood Honored with 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award
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Project Safe Childhood
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Platinum ‘ASTORS’ Excellence in Homeland Security
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.
The 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program drew an overwhelming response from industry leaders with a record high number of corporate and government nominations received, as well as record breaking ‘ASTORS’ Presentation Luncheon Attendees, with top firms trying to register for the exclusive high – end luncheon and networking opportunity – right up to the event kickoff on Wednesday afternoon, at the ISC East registration!
Over 130 distinguished guests representing National, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:
- The Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service (FPS)
- Argonne National Laboratory
- The Department of Homeland Security
- The Department of Justice
- The Security Exchange Commission Office of Personnel Management
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Viasat, Hanwha Techwin, Lenel, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Verint, Canon U.S.A., BriefCam, Pivot3, Milestone Systems, Allied Universal, Ameristar Perimeter Security and More!
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
Why the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?
American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’
To Learn More about the ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, Sponsorship Opportunities and More, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com or call 732.233.8119 (mobile) or 646-450-6027 (office).
The 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program was Proudly Sponsored by ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, Desktop Alert, and Royal Holdings Technologies.
‘ASTORS’ Champions Edition – ‘Year in Review’
Be on the lookout for the upcoming 2018 American Security Today ‘ASTORS’ Champions Edition for in-depth coverage of the outstanding agencies and companies that received American Security Today’s 2018‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards.
The ‘ASTORS’ Champion Edition is published annually in December and includes a review of programs and feature details on many of the winning firms.
Nominations for the AST 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program will officially open as of January 1st, 2019 at americansecuritytoday.com.
Enter Early to Maximize Media Coverage of your Products and Services at Kickoff, and Get the Recognition Your Organization Deserves!
To Learn More, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com, or call 732.233.8119 (mobile) or 646-450-6027 (office).
Learn More…
2,300 Suspected Child Predators Nabbed in Operation Broken Heart
