INTERNET CRIMES
AGAINST CHILDREN TASK FORCE (ICAC):
The Washoe County Sheriff’s
Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has been in existence
since October of 2001. Originally a $45,000 Grant from the United
States Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
funded the Task Force. However in 2005 the Las Vegas Metropolitan
Police Department ICAC began supplying equipment and training to
the Task Force.
The Task Force conducts
online investigations to target child pornographers and sexual predators
of children. It is spearheaded by Washoe County Detectives who work
with members of the FBI, Customs (ICE), and various other law enforcement
agencies.
Children are being sexually
exploited, kidnapped, molested and solicited by individuals using
online services. One reason is the anonymous nature of the Internet.
Another reason is the large number of people using the Internet.
On-Line Child Predators contact children on the Internet through
E-mail messages, Instant Messages, electronic bulletin boards (BBS)
and public chat rooms. There
are a number of ways parents can protect their children from becoming
victims of these predators on the Internet.
The following are some
examples:
-
Choose
an online service that offers parental control features.
-
Purchase
blocking software and design your own safety system.
-
Monitor
your children online and monitor the time they spend online.
-
Ensure
children never reveal identifying information about themselves
on the Internet, in a public chat room, on an electronic bulletin
board or in their E-mail messages.
-
Ensure
children do not give out personal information about themselves
such as their age.
-
Get
to know the services your child uses.
-
Block
out objectionable material through your Internet Service Provider
(ISP).
-
Never
allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer
user without parental permission.
-
Ensure
children never respond to messages or bulletin board items that
are suggestive, obscene, belligerent or threatening. Encourage
your children to tell you whenever they encounter such messages.
-
If
you or your children receive a message that is harassing, sexual
in nature, or threatening, forward a copy to the message to your
ISP and ask for their assistance.
-
Teach
your children that people online may not be who they seem.
-
Teach
your children online service providers never ask for passwords
and they should never give their password out.
-
Teach
your children to never let anyone pressure them into doing something
they feel uncomfortable doing.
-
Some
children have access to the Internet at school. Check with the
school authorities to ensure your children are properly supervised
and monitored by a responsible adult.
-
Know
your children’s friends and their parents.
-
Set
reasonable rules for computer use by your children. Discuss the
rules with your children and post them near the computer as a
reminder.
