This relatively small town in southern Louisiana is doing what many larger cities around the country have done; it is creating an Internet Crimes Unit headed up by a specially trained detective who will specialize in catching the criminals who exploit children through the Internet.
In a story in the Lafayette Advertiser on November 30, 2003, reporter Marsha Sills states that in Lafayette, more than half the juvenile cases investigated involve sexual exploitation, including carnal knowledge, indecent behavior, molestation, rapes, assault and pornography. The juvenile section handles 160 to 170 cases a month.
Assuming these numbers are not unusual and reflect the national average, that means there are as many as 64,000 to 68,000 cases a month in towns of similar sizes across the nation.
Most of the small towns in America are ill-equipped to prosecute these Internet cases because they often lack evidence. Chat room transcripts are rarely kept by kids who are being victimized. And the predators often use fake addresses and names in setting up their chat room accounts.
It might not be a bad idea for parents to begin checking the message archives files of their children and if they find inappropriate or possibly criminal behavior in evidence, copy the transcript and contact law enforcement.
With US Department of Justice figures showing that 20% of children ages 10 to 17 receive unwanted sexual solititations, The state and federal government and local law enforcement officials need to do more to identify these deegenerate predators and stop them from harassing or hurting another child.
P-J is doing a great job within its niche, however until we raise awareness of potential victims and their families, the rate of children being accosted on the Internet will continue to grow.
Posted by wordworks2001
at 11:54 AM EST
