Shame on them!
By July 1, states will have to bring their sex offender registries in line with new federal standards; Arizona will not make the deadline.
The Adam Walsh Act requires states to organize sex offenders into three categories and keep accurate data on their whereabouts, e-mail addresses and employers, among others, in order to create a national sex offender registry. States are also required to post photographs of sex offenders online.
Arizona's current registry contains basic information on the whereabouts and appearances of medium- and high-level offenders.
Showing posts with label awareness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label awareness. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Helping Children Stay Safe
GASP
With 10 grandchildren of her own, 67-year-old Fran Doll is convinced that no one is more passionate about helping kids than a grandparent. That's why she calls upon local grandparents near her home in Akron, Ohio, to work as volunteers at her nonprofit organization, Grandparents Against Sex Predators, which she founded in 2006.
"It's really unfathomable to me that children are at risk for such terrible crimes, and I wanted to do something to help, even if I just made a small impact," says Ms. Doll, who got the idea to start GASP after hearing about the case of Jessica Lundsford, a 9-year-old Florida girl who was raped and murdered by a convicted sex offender in 2005. "When I looked at my own precious grandchildren, I just kept thinking of that poor girl and I was shocked, sad and enraged."
Ms. Doll started GASP after retiring from a busy career working in administrative positions and then running a successful temporary-staffing company, all while raising six kids -- two of her own and four stepchildren. GASP works with local law-enforcement agencies to train grandparents and other volunteers how to recognize signs of potential sexual abuse and help search for missing children. GASP volunteers also watch for and report any suspicious activity in the community, fingerprint children, and conduct community education programs to teach children, educators and parents about sexual-abuse awareness and prevention.
She spends 30 to 40 hours a week directing activities and fund raising at GASP, which today has a board of directors, several special committees and more than 150 specially trained citizen volunteers. The group has fingerprinted more than 2,000 children and will soon open its doors in Alabama and other states. As far as how long she'll run GASP, Ms. Doll doesn't have a specific date in mind, but she does want to turn the day-to-day leadership of the organization over to a younger person in a few years' time.
With 10 grandchildren of her own, 67-year-old Fran Doll is convinced that no one is more passionate about helping kids than a grandparent. That's why she calls upon local grandparents near her home in Akron, Ohio, to work as volunteers at her nonprofit organization, Grandparents Against Sex Predators, which she founded in 2006.
"It's really unfathomable to me that children are at risk for such terrible crimes, and I wanted to do something to help, even if I just made a small impact," says Ms. Doll, who got the idea to start GASP after hearing about the case of Jessica Lundsford, a 9-year-old Florida girl who was raped and murdered by a convicted sex offender in 2005. "When I looked at my own precious grandchildren, I just kept thinking of that poor girl and I was shocked, sad and enraged."
Ms. Doll started GASP after retiring from a busy career working in administrative positions and then running a successful temporary-staffing company, all while raising six kids -- two of her own and four stepchildren. GASP works with local law-enforcement agencies to train grandparents and other volunteers how to recognize signs of potential sexual abuse and help search for missing children. GASP volunteers also watch for and report any suspicious activity in the community, fingerprint children, and conduct community education programs to teach children, educators and parents about sexual-abuse awareness and prevention.
She spends 30 to 40 hours a week directing activities and fund raising at GASP, which today has a board of directors, several special committees and more than 150 specially trained citizen volunteers. The group has fingerprinted more than 2,000 children and will soon open its doors in Alabama and other states. As far as how long she'll run GASP, Ms. Doll doesn't have a specific date in mind, but she does want to turn the day-to-day leadership of the organization over to a younger person in a few years' time.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Gilbert Police have arrested a Chandler man for allegedly taking a picture of a 14-year-old girl beneath her skirt at a Wal-Mart store.
The girl's mom followed Bradley Trotter, 45, into the parking lot, located at 2501 S. Market Street, and notified police and a security guard. Trotter tried to run, but police were able to apprehend him without incident.
Authorities are concerned there could be more victims. Police said Trotter was at a Target and Wal-Mart store in Tolleson on Tuesday, and at a Mesa Wal-Mart Wednesday:
• Wal-Mart - Tolleson; July 22, 2008 - 10:45 a.m.
• Target - Tolleson; July 22, 2008 - 11:38 a.m.
• Wal-Mart - 4505 E. McKellips Road - Mesa; July 23, 2008 - 11:00 a.m.
Trotter was taken into custody without incident and booked into the 4th Avenue Jail.
Police are very concerned there may be additional victims in this case.
Anyone who may have witnessed Trotter taking someone's picture, or, who was a victim, is asked to contact the Gilbert Police Department at (480) 503-6500.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Idaho NEEDS Jessica's Law
Idaho routinely releases sex offenders like Bradley Stowell.
Bradley Stowell, a former Boy Scout counselor who admitted molesting several boys, served three years of a 14-year sentence before walking out of prison last month. The parole commission granted Stowell's release in December and he was paroled June 2, a decision that outraged his victims and called attention to how Idaho handles sex offenders.
His case is not unusual. The parole commission regularly releases people just like him.
Stowell, 36, was convicted on two counts of sexual abuse of a child under 16. He originally served 150 days and went to prison in 2005 only after violating the terms of his probation by being around children and watching Internet pornography.
What? 3 out of 14 years? No treatment? Gosh, I'm really surprised he violated his probation! WTH is wrong with these states who haven't enacted Jessica's Law???
Bradley Stowell, a former Boy Scout counselor who admitted molesting several boys, served three years of a 14-year sentence before walking out of prison last month. The parole commission granted Stowell's release in December and he was paroled June 2, a decision that outraged his victims and called attention to how Idaho handles sex offenders.
His case is not unusual. The parole commission regularly releases people just like him.
Stowell, 36, was convicted on two counts of sexual abuse of a child under 16. He originally served 150 days and went to prison in 2005 only after violating the terms of his probation by being around children and watching Internet pornography.
What? 3 out of 14 years? No treatment? Gosh, I'm really surprised he violated his probation! WTH is wrong with these states who haven't enacted Jessica's Law???
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY IS MAY 25
What Parents Can Do to Keep Children Safe
ALEXANDRIA, VA - May 19, 2008. Every year in America an estimated 800,000 children are reported missing, more than 2,000 children each day. Of that number, 200,000 are abducted by family members, and 58,000 are abducted by non-family members. The primary motive for non-family abductions is sexual. Each year 115 children are the victims of the most serious abductions, taken by non-family members and either murdered, held for ransom, or taken with the intent to keep.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) wants to remind the public that National Missing Children’s Day is May 25, which coincides with the three-day Memorial Day holiday weekend this year. The organization wants parents to know there are things they can do to keep their children safe and it urges parents to take 25 minutes and review the attached safety tips which are a part of NCMEC’s Take 25 national child safety campaign.
“We know teaching children about safety works,” said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. “It is important that parents take the time to talk to their children about safety.”
An analysis of attempted abduction cases by NCMEC found that in 88% of the cases, the child escaped would-be abductors through their own actions, by yelling, kicking, pulling away, running away or attracting attention.
May 25th is the anniversary of the day in 1979 when 6-year-old Etan Patz disappeared from a New York street corner on his way to school and has been observed as National Missing Children’s Day since 1983 when it was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan. Etan’s story captivated the nation. His photo, taken by his father, a professional photographer was circulated nationwide and appeared in media across the country and around the world. The powerful image of Etan has come to symbolize the anguish and trauma of thousands of searching families. The search for Etan continues. He is still missing.
Next year will be the 25th anniversary of the creation of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. It is the leading nonprofit organization dealing with the issues of missing and exploited children. Since the organization was created, the recovery rate of missing children has increased from 62% in 1990 to 96% today. In 2007, NCMEC assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more missing children than in any other year in the organization’s 24 year history.
About the National Center for Missing & Exploited ChildrenThe National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since it was established by Congress in 1984, the organization has operated the toll-free 24-hour national missing children’s hotline which has handled more than 2.2 million calls. It has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 126,000 children. The organization’s CyberTipline has handled more than 588,000 reports of child sexual exploitation and its Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed more than 13,902,500 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 or visit its web site at www.missingkids.com
ALEXANDRIA, VA - May 19, 2008. Every year in America an estimated 800,000 children are reported missing, more than 2,000 children each day. Of that number, 200,000 are abducted by family members, and 58,000 are abducted by non-family members. The primary motive for non-family abductions is sexual. Each year 115 children are the victims of the most serious abductions, taken by non-family members and either murdered, held for ransom, or taken with the intent to keep.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) wants to remind the public that National Missing Children’s Day is May 25, which coincides with the three-day Memorial Day holiday weekend this year. The organization wants parents to know there are things they can do to keep their children safe and it urges parents to take 25 minutes and review the attached safety tips which are a part of NCMEC’s Take 25 national child safety campaign.
“We know teaching children about safety works,” said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. “It is important that parents take the time to talk to their children about safety.”
An analysis of attempted abduction cases by NCMEC found that in 88% of the cases, the child escaped would-be abductors through their own actions, by yelling, kicking, pulling away, running away or attracting attention.
May 25th is the anniversary of the day in 1979 when 6-year-old Etan Patz disappeared from a New York street corner on his way to school and has been observed as National Missing Children’s Day since 1983 when it was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan. Etan’s story captivated the nation. His photo, taken by his father, a professional photographer was circulated nationwide and appeared in media across the country and around the world. The powerful image of Etan has come to symbolize the anguish and trauma of thousands of searching families. The search for Etan continues. He is still missing.
Next year will be the 25th anniversary of the creation of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. It is the leading nonprofit organization dealing with the issues of missing and exploited children. Since the organization was created, the recovery rate of missing children has increased from 62% in 1990 to 96% today. In 2007, NCMEC assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more missing children than in any other year in the organization’s 24 year history.
About the National Center for Missing & Exploited ChildrenThe National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since it was established by Congress in 1984, the organization has operated the toll-free 24-hour national missing children’s hotline which has handled more than 2.2 million calls. It has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 126,000 children. The organization’s CyberTipline has handled more than 588,000 reports of child sexual exploitation and its Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed more than 13,902,500 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 or visit its web site at www.missingkids.com
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Pedophile bill clears hurdle in Legislature
Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, introduced the Surrogate Stalker Act in response to self-proclaimed pedophile Jack McClellan visiting the Santa Clarita Valley in 2007.
McClellan ran a Web site promoting pedophilia and showed pictures of children he had spotted in public places as he traveled through areas of Southern California, including Santa Clarita. McClellan, however, had not been convicted of a crime.
Assembly Bill 534 would make it a misdemeanor to engage in surrogate stalking, which Smyth said is the act of publishing photos, physical descriptions, and/or locations of children with the intent that another person uses the information to commit a crime.
"I am very pleased that my colleagues in the Senate Public Safety Committee understand the importance of this legislation," Smyth said in a statement. "As a father of two, nothing is more important to me than the safety of our children. This legislation will help ensure that our children can grow up in a society in which they can go to parks and amusement centers without the worry of being victimized by sexual predators."
Smyth first introduced the bill as urgency legislation in 2007, but the bill died in the Senate Rules Committee. Smyth's spokesman Ryan Flanigan said the bill is now headed for the Senate Appropriations Committee for review.
McClellan ran a Web site promoting pedophilia and showed pictures of children he had spotted in public places as he traveled through areas of Southern California, including Santa Clarita. McClellan, however, had not been convicted of a crime.
Assembly Bill 534 would make it a misdemeanor to engage in surrogate stalking, which Smyth said is the act of publishing photos, physical descriptions, and/or locations of children with the intent that another person uses the information to commit a crime.
"I am very pleased that my colleagues in the Senate Public Safety Committee understand the importance of this legislation," Smyth said in a statement. "As a father of two, nothing is more important to me than the safety of our children. This legislation will help ensure that our children can grow up in a society in which they can go to parks and amusement centers without the worry of being victimized by sexual predators."
Smyth first introduced the bill as urgency legislation in 2007, but the bill died in the Senate Rules Committee. Smyth's spokesman Ryan Flanigan said the bill is now headed for the Senate Appropriations Committee for review.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Know what to do for abused child
It is always horrifying when an adult, a figure of authority, violates a child's trust.
We should all be prepared if this should happen to our own children. What will you do if your child's trust is violated?
April is Child Abuse Awareness Month throughout the United States.The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides simple instructions for us to deal with any revelations that a child who is close to us has been a victim of sexual molestation and exploitation.
Approach this situation in a calm, straightforward manner, so as not to alarm or frighten the child. Do not panic or overreact to the information disclosed by the child. With your support, you will both make it through these difficult times.
Do not criticize the child. The worst thing you can do is to express anger at the child having violated previous instructions. Outbursts such as "I told you not to go into anyone's home" will only hinder your ability to help.
Be sure to respect the child's privacy. Accompany the child to a private place where he can relate his story. Be careful not to discuss the incidents in front of people who do not need to know what happened.
Make sure the child knows this revelation was the right thing to do and that you will protect the child from future harm.
Remember, often a child molester or exploiter will tell the child that bad things will happen if the child ever tells anyone what has happened.
The child is especially fearful of punishment, panic, or the loss of a parent's love. Make a special effort to show physical affection and express your love and confidence with words and gestures.
Avoid challenges starting with why, such as "Why didn't you tell me this before?" or "Why did you let this happen?"
Give positive messages, such as "I'm proud of you for telling me this," "I'm glad it wasn't worse" or "It is not your fault."
Explain to the child that he has done no wrong, since he might have feelings of guilt and responsibility and assume that he is to blame for what happened. Most children are enticed or tricked into acts of exploitation. Children think they should have been smarter or stronger.
Children seldom lie about acts of sexual exploitation. It is important that the child feels that you believe what he has told you.
Keep the lines of communication with the child open. In the future, it will be vitally important that the child believe that you are sympathetic, understanding, supportive, and optimistic.
By your doing so, he will be comfortable in making additional disclosures as well as discussing his feelings, which is an important step in the healing process.
We should all be prepared if this should happen to our own children. What will you do if your child's trust is violated?
April is Child Abuse Awareness Month throughout the United States.The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides simple instructions for us to deal with any revelations that a child who is close to us has been a victim of sexual molestation and exploitation.
Approach this situation in a calm, straightforward manner, so as not to alarm or frighten the child. Do not panic or overreact to the information disclosed by the child. With your support, you will both make it through these difficult times.
Do not criticize the child. The worst thing you can do is to express anger at the child having violated previous instructions. Outbursts such as "I told you not to go into anyone's home" will only hinder your ability to help.
Be sure to respect the child's privacy. Accompany the child to a private place where he can relate his story. Be careful not to discuss the incidents in front of people who do not need to know what happened.
Make sure the child knows this revelation was the right thing to do and that you will protect the child from future harm.
Remember, often a child molester or exploiter will tell the child that bad things will happen if the child ever tells anyone what has happened.
The child is especially fearful of punishment, panic, or the loss of a parent's love. Make a special effort to show physical affection and express your love and confidence with words and gestures.
Avoid challenges starting with why, such as "Why didn't you tell me this before?" or "Why did you let this happen?"
Give positive messages, such as "I'm proud of you for telling me this," "I'm glad it wasn't worse" or "It is not your fault."
Explain to the child that he has done no wrong, since he might have feelings of guilt and responsibility and assume that he is to blame for what happened. Most children are enticed or tricked into acts of exploitation. Children think they should have been smarter or stronger.
Children seldom lie about acts of sexual exploitation. It is important that the child feels that you believe what he has told you.
Keep the lines of communication with the child open. In the future, it will be vitally important that the child believe that you are sympathetic, understanding, supportive, and optimistic.
By your doing so, he will be comfortable in making additional disclosures as well as discussing his feelings, which is an important step in the healing process.
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