U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney
District of Vermont

VERMONT PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD

Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Vermont State Police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Burlington Police Department, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and numerous other partners, including Comcast and the King Street Youth Center, joined United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson in announcing Vermont’s implementation of Project Safe Childhood. Responding to the growing threat faced by our children from online sexual predators, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood is designed to bring together federal, state and local law enforcement, child advocates, and social services to combat the proliferation of internet-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Over the past several years the increase in child exploitation crimes has been staggering.

Between 1996 and 2005, FBI investigations of child pornography and child enticement went from 113 investigations to 2,402 – a 2026% increase. Reports of child exploitation rose 1,452% between 1998 and 2005. A 2006 youth internet safety survey by the University of New Hampshire showed one in seven children receive an unwanted sexual solicitation on line. Of the individuals arrested in 2005 for possession of child pornography approximately 80% had images of prepubescent children; 80% had images of children being penetrated; 21% (one in five) had images of children enduring bondage, sadistic sex or other sexual violence and 39% had videos depicting child pornography. Earlier this month, investigators in the US and Britain busted a global pedophile ring; 700 suspects are under investigation, and 31 children were rescued. The ring sent live images of children being abused into Internet chat rooms. A November 2000 study by Dr. Andres E. Hernandez, PsyD., Director of the Sex Offender Treatment Program, Federal Bureau of Prisons, of 62 federal prisoners convicted of child pornography offenses or so-called traveler offenses (those who travel or intend to travel interstate for the purpose of having sex with a minor) revealed that these offenders actually molested significant numbers of children without detection by the criminal justice system. These offenders had an average of 30.5 child sex victims each. In fact, this group of offenders admitted to having molested a combined total of 1,433 victims without ever having been detected. That’s 1,433 more child victims.

The Project Safe Childhood (“PSC”) strategy is to attack this criminal conduct based upon five principles:

• Integrating and coordinating the efforts of PSC partners to investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, including child pornography and child luring;

• Rescuing child victims;

• Increasing federal investigations and prosecutions of child exploitation cases;

• Providing appropriate training to state and local law enforcement that investigate child exploitation cases;

• Increasing public awareness regarding the threat internet predators pose to our children and assist in educational campaigns designed to protect children.

In Vermont, the United States Attorney and the Vermont Attorney General have each appointed prosecutors who will be responsible for reviewing all child exploitation investigations and arrests and then jointly determining where the case should be prosecuted. The goal of law enforcement is simple: each predator caught by law enforcement should face swift justice and harsh punishment. If state law has a higher penalty, then state prosecution is warranted; if federal law provides for a more severe penalty, then the case will be pursued in federal court.

The Vermont Project Safe Childhood strategy also builds upon the outstanding work already being done by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), which is led by the Burlington Police Department and the Vermont State Police. Over the coming months, Vermont Project Safe Childhood will work with the ICAC Task Force and its other partners to provide training to law enforcement throughout the state.

Raising public awareness about internet dangers is also a critical component of Vermont Project Safe Childhood. To help educate parents and kids about the dangers from online predators, Vermont Project Safe Childhood has enlisted the help of Comcast. Over the next year, Comcast has agreed to air an unprecedented number of Public Service Announcements on cable stations throughout Vermont. Comcast is also working with the Vermont Access Network to produce educational videos for parents and law enforcement audiences. "Comcast's and the Vermont Access Network's willingness to be Project Safe Childhood partners has greatly enhanced our ability to get our message out to all four corners of the state. This is a terrific example of how a private/public partnership can work to make Vermont a better place," stated U.S. Attorney Anderson.

In addition, through the work of Senator Leahy and the Vermont ICAC, Vermont law enforcement and Champlain College are partnering to provide a central location in the State for the forensic examination of computers used to commit crimes, including the use of computers to commit crimes against children. “Computer forensic capability is critical to the successful prosecution of all computer facilitated crimes. By partnering with computer experts at Champlain College, Vermont law enforcement has added greatly to its computer forensic capability,” stated U.S. Attorney Anderson. “Senator Leahy’s assistance and support in securing grants that enabled this partnership cannot be overstated,” commented Anderson.

In joining the Vermont Project Safe Childhood, Attorney General Sorrell stated, "the internet is enhancing our lives in countless ways. But on the dark side are the means it provides for child molesters and other criminals to more easily victimize so many. We must work together. Education and prevention are key. By joining forces, families, educators, law enforcement at all levels and other public and private entities can work effectively to keep our children safe while we enjoy the benefits of the internet age."

United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson stated, “Online sexual exploitation and abuse, unlike many forms of violent conduct, are completely preventable through education and awareness. One of the goals of the Vermont PSC is to teach every child, as well as their parents, relatives, coaches and scout leaders how to be safe on the internet and free from online predators. At the same time, law enforcement in Vermont – Federal, State and Local – will use all the resources and laws at our disposal to investigate, arrest and prosecute criminals that prey on our children.”

For more information please contact James Leene or Aimee Stearns at the United States Attorneys’ Office (802-951-6725). You can also visit the following websites:

www.projectsafechildhood.gov

www.cybertipline.com

To report on line predators call 1-800-THE-LOST