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Protecting Children Online

NCJ Number
190037
Date Published
2000
Length
1004 pages
Annotation
This manual provides materials for use by students in a 5-day seminar on the nature of computer crimes against children and how they can be investigated and successfully prosecuted.
Abstract
The first module of instruction provides students with information on the growing problem of computer crimes against children. The presentation provides an overview of the issues of the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and the impact of computer technology as a tool used by sex offenders to facilitate their sexual victimization of children. The second module provides investigators with a fundamental knowledge of computer technology and communications as a foundation for the remainder of the course. The third module focuses on the tasks of the responding officer and investigator of child exploitation violations that involve the Internet. The emphasis is on initiating and conducting this relatively new and somewhat technical investigation. Using judicial subpoenas and search warrants, the student will learn about the critical elements to request from Internet service providers. The fourth module provides students with a comprehensive overview of privacy issues, search-and-seizure issues, and legal exposure associated with the investigation and prosecution of the computer-assisted sexual exploitation of children. The fifth module supplies the student from the large or small police department with a practical, non-technical approach to conducting an online child exploitation investigation. The sixth module identifies and explains the many resources that can be used in the successful investigation of computer crimes against children, including presentations from representatives from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Exploitation Child Unit, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Service, and the U.S. Customs Service. Practical exercises and evaluation materials and certificates are included. Computer diskettes for computer-assisted interactive learning are provided.