Communities Against Predators

We have several ID creating events coming up in the next few months. These ID events create identification kits to use in case the worst happens and a child goes missing.

Trained volunteers, typically law enforcement officers, take a digital image of the child, fingerprints, and physical descriptions, and place it on a CD. The parents file it so that it can be used to aid a search for the child.

We've focused the ID events for this year in areas of Washington that have higher incidents of crimes against children, such as luring, attempted abduction, and exploitation.

Some of these ID events are sponsored by state agencies that have their own secure notebook computers, but others are handled by volunteers who do not have notebook computers that can be used to assist in making the ID discs.
 
So many people are upgrading their notebook computers to run Vista, I'm hoping that two of our supporters may have XP notebook computers that they can donate to Wash-CAP for use at these events.
 
The FBI will be stripping all the software off of the computers prior to use, so no sensitive data will inadvertantly come our way.
 
We appreciate your generosity, and your continued support of our efforts.
 
Thank you,
 
The folks at Wash-CAP

Posted by Bethan at 06:52 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Parenting magazine recently released a study of the ten safest states in the country, based on a variety of state-level information.

Washington State is 22nd on the list of safest places for your kid to live. 22nd. Anyone feel good about that? Mississippi would feel good about that - they're at the bottom of the list.

 I am very happy that we're not on the list of states with the highest sex offenders per capita, which is comprised of Alaska at 1/143, Oregon at 1/180, Michigan at 1/240, and Vermont at 1/249.

Source

Posted by Bethan at 02:47 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Microsoft has created a software product called the Child Exploitation Tracking System, CETS, which is currently being used in 9 countries to disseminate information and evidence, and track online predators.

Per this article at the CRN website, CETS use in England has been credited with

"helping to save 138 children from abuse, make 240 arrests and dismantle three international paedophile rings."

Microsoft Senior Vice President Brad Smith says:

“While the internet has contributed many benefits to our lives, one unfortunate downside is that it allows child predators to find one another and form virtual communities around the world through which they exploit and perpetrate heinous crimes against children,” said Smith. "

Sadly, those are very true words.

More information can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/industry/publicsector/government/programs/CETs.mspx

From the Microsoft site:

"The Child Exploitation Tracking System (CETS) is a unique software tool developed by Canadian police, international law enforcement officials, and Microsoft to help battle child exploitation online. Pronounced "kets," this tool helps law enforcement officials collaborate and share information with other police services based on legal agreements in place. When law enforcement officials turned to Microsoft to help solve a significant challenge they faced, CETS was created to increase the effectiveness of investigators and teams by providing them with software to store, search, share, and analyze large volumes of evidence and match cases across police agencies."

added later: NYC becomes the first to use CETS in the US.

Posted by Bethan at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

We all know that terrible crimes occur every day behind doors and curtains. We know that logically, and we can discuss it rationally.

And then we find out that it's a neighbor, a relative, an associate who has committed or participated in these crimes and our perspective shifts.

This 53 year old resident of Spokane, WA is going to jail for participating in an online child pornography ring that supported the most heinous of crimes against children [some as young as 5].

I imagine his community was surprised and horrified.

Posted by Bethan at 09:51 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Blogs will be added to this post as we get time.

there are a lot, so here's the best one: www.fraudarena.wordpress.com. fantastic collection of information and commentary, check out her blog links, as well.

MASP of California now has a blog, brand new. You can visit and join in discussions at www.maspofcalifornia.blogspot.com.

Posted by Bethan at 09:42 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)