Dear Friends,

The amount of information available on the Internet is staggering. A click of the mouse can instantly bring you a world of information.

But instant access to what the world offers also has its share of dangers, particularly for our children. More and more, pedophiles use the Web to lure kids and adolescents into sexually oriented conversations.

Like every parent, I feel strongly that we must strictly punish perpetrators of this dangerous, predatory behavior-and that the most dangerous predators must be kept off the streets, under close supervision. That’s why I sponsored a new law, which makes soliciting minors with sexually explicit text on the Internet a Class D felony, punishable by up to 7 years in prison (Ch. 8 of 2007). Additionally, I fought for the passage of the civil commitment law earlier this year (Ch. 7 of 2007), which will help keep our families safe.

While we’ve increased penalties and oversight for sex crimes, we as parents play an important part in protecting our kids. Enclosed are some tips to help you ensure the safety of your child while on-line, as we continue to make the Web a safer place for our children.

• Teach your children they should be no more welcoming to a stranger on the Internet than they would be to a stranger on the street

• Know what your children are doing and who they communicate with online

• Emphasize that a person may pretend to be friendly and your child’s age, but may not be either

• Keep the computer in a family living area, so children can’t use the computer privately

• Spend time with your children online

• Ask your on-line service to block certain services, to prevent access to "adult" bulletin  boards

• Warn your children:

  • Never give your identifying information such as name, address, school name or telephone number and never send their picture without checking with you first

  • Never respond to message or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening or make them feel uncomfortable

  • Never arrange a meeting without telling you-and if you give your okay, only meet in a public place with you present

  • To get to know on-line friends, just as they would get to know any of their  friends

• Be aware if your child starts spending unusual amounts of time on-line

• Watch more closely if the computer suddenly and repeatedly goes dark when you enter the room, as if your child is hiding something

• Notice if your child uses a large number of disks to retrieve materials, or if you find hidden disks

• Ask more questions if your child seems reluctant to discuss the messages he or she has been receiving

• Make using language to solicit minors on the Web a Class D felony, punishable by up to 7 years in prison (Ch. 8 of 2007)

• Help keep dangerous sexual predators off the streets even after they finish their prison sentences (Ch. 7 of 2007) by:

  • Civil confinement when deemed appropriate by experts

  • Strict and intensive supervision

  • Treatment to reduce recidivism

  • Long-term, post-release supervision for those convicted of sex offense felonies

  • Expanding the violent crime category to include second-degree rape and fourth-degree aggravated assault

  • Eliminating the option of parole for felony sex offenses

  • Creating the crime of "Sexually Motivated Felony," where other crimes like robbery are committed for the sexual gratification of the perpetrator

Operation Safe Child was created by New York State law enforcement to raise awareness about child safety and to provide Operation SAFE Child ID cards to families across the state.

The voluntary program records information for a database and on wallet-size ID cards for parents and guardians, which contain a child’s name, biographical information, and fingerprint images of both index fingers. Used in conjunction with New York State’s Amber Alert and Missing Child Alert, the card can help bring a missing child home unharmed.

Operation SAFE CHILD Web site:
www.operationsafechild.org

Operation Safe Child ID Cards:
Suffolk County Police Department
30 Yaphank Avenue
Yaphank, NY 11980

Phone: (631) 852-6109
Hours: Call for availability