1 – Innocence Lost Initiative - To prevent child prostitution, and take down the “pimp” predators.

2- CARD Team – To rapidly deploy a CARD Team anywhere in the country to provide expertise and assist law enforcement during the most critical time period following abduction.

INNOCENCE LOST INITIATIVE

The Innocence Lost initiative specifically works to take down predators who are pimping out children for money. The goal is not only to take down the bad guy during undercover sting operations, but more importantly to safely take the children out of the environment. According to the FBI, there is a nationwide domestic child prostitution problem in which young girls are losing their innocence and held captive in a horrific lifestyle. The misconception by some is that this form of child prostitution only occurs overseas, but in reality, if there is adult prostitution in a community, there is probably child prostitution going on as well. This project began in June 2003 in conjunction with the Department of Justice Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Another goal is to tackle the growing problem of child prostitution and sex trafficking, specifically in the United States. Since its inception in 2003, with 37 task forces in place, there have been nearly 900 successful recoveries and more than 525 convictions.

CHECK OUT VIDEO OF ONE OF THE FBI’S UNDERCOVER STINGS:

(Operation Cross Country IV)

CARD TEAM

There are 10 CARD Teams total serving five regions throughout the United States. According to the FBI’s website, the teams are designed to “provide on the ground investigative, technical, and resource assistance to state and local law enforcement.” The idea is not for the FBI to take over, but to lend a hand in the successful recovery of an abducted child or children who mysteriously disappear. Since March 2006, CARD has made 53 deployments to neighborhoods across our country; out of those 53 deployments, there have been 23 successful recoveries. According to the FBI’s website, “other assets they bring to the table include a new mapping tool to identify and locate registered sex offenders in the area, national and international lead coverage, and the Child Abduction Response Plan to guide investigative efforts.”

I commend this unit of the FBI and the great work they do for the children of our nation.

Photo courtsey www.restlessbeings.org

The murder of Shaniya Davis in North Carolina last fall raises the issue of child prostitution in the United States.  For those who may not know, Shaniya’s own mother, Antoinette Davis, is charged with Human Trafficking, allegedly prostituting her own child.  Antoinette was released on a $51,000 bond a few weeks ago and is set to appear in court sometime next month.  This case is enough to make anyone sick. 

The U.S. Department of Justice says, “it is estimated that about 293,000 American youth are currently at risk of becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation.”  The report goes on to say that “children are mainly recruited into prostitution through forced abduction, pressure from parents, or through deceptive agreements between parents and traffickers.”

I cannot understand why anyone, especially a parent, would want to do this to their child… Aren’t parents supposed to protect their children for life?  Investigators told me early into this investigation that Antoinette may have sold Shaniya to pay off a drug debt. 

Through all of this, I would like your input.  The goal is to highlight the best programs in the United States that help to protect children from this trade and to make communities aware of the resources.

The FBI Crimes Against Children division is stacked with specialized agents in child safety to accomplish two main goals:

1-      Innocence Lost initiative – To prevent child prostitution, and take down the “pimp” predators.

2-      CARD Team – To rapidly deploy a CARD Team anywhere in the country to provide expertise and assist law enforcement during the most critical time period following abduction.

INNOCENCE LOST INITIATIVE

The Innocence Lost initiative specifically works to take down predators who are pimping out children for money.  The goal is not only to take down the bad guy during undercover sting operations, but more importantly to safely take the children out of the environment.   According to the FBI, there is a nationwide domestic child prostitution problem in which young girls are losing their innocence and held captive in a horrific lifestyle.  The misconception by some is that this form of child prostitution only occurs overseas, but in reality, if there is adult prostitution in a community, there is probably child prostitution going on as well. This project began in June 2003 in conjunction with the Department of Justice Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Another goal is to tackle the growing problem of child prostitution and sex trafficking, specifically in the United States.  Since its inception in 2003, with 37 task forces in place, there have been nearly 900 successful recoveries and more than 525 convictions.   

CHECK OUT VIDEO OF ONE OF THE FBI’S UNDERCOVER STINGS:  

(Operation Cross Country IV)

CARD TEAM

CARD

There are 10 CARD Teams total serving five regions throughout the United States.  According to the FBI’s website, the teams are designed to “provide on the ground investigative, technical, and resource assistance to state and local law enforcement.”  The idea is not for the FBI to take over, but to lend a hand in the successful recovery of an abducted child or children who mysteriously disappear.  Since March 2006, CARD has made 53 deployments to neighborhoods across our country; out of those 53 deployments, there have been 23 successful recoveries.  According to the FBI’s website, “other assets they bring to the table include a new mapping tool to identify and locate registered sex offenders in the area, national and international lead coverage, and the Child Abduction Response Plan to guide investigative efforts.”

I commend this unit of the FBI and the great work they do for the children of our nation.

The U.S. Department of Justice says, “it is estimated that about 293,000 American youth are currently at risk of becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation.”  The report goes on to say that “children are mainly recruited into prostitution through forced abduction, pressure from parents, or through deceptive agreements between parents and traffickers.”

I cannot understand why anyone, especially a parent, would want to do this to their child… Aren’t parents supposed to protect their children for life? 

Through all of this, I would like your input.  I am looking for non-profit organizations in the United States that help to protect our children from this trade.  I want to highlight their great work, and add them to my resource page.  Please feel free to share your thoughts and information below at the comment link. 

Thank you in advance for taking time for this important issue.