Law enforcement officers are invited to attend an eight hour training program called Protecting Our Children.
The course, designed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children dives into the dynamics of crimes committed against children to include sex trafficking, abduction and sexual abuse. The program launched in 2007 and since then, it has been presented to more than 10,000 attendees in 42 different states.
According to NCMEC’s website:
Program Outline
History of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
Overview of Crimes Committed Against Children
Sexual Abuse / Sexual Exploitation/ Child Sex Tourism / Child Prostitution-Sexual Trafficking
The Victims (Vulnerability / Disclosure)
The Offenders Profiles (Male / Female / Juvenile)
Non-Family, Family, Infant and Attempted Abductions
Policy / Procedures for Missing & Abduction Cases
Prevention Strategies
Protecting Children Online (The Danger and Predator’s Tactics)
Online Prevention Strategies (NetSmartz)
Resources for Law Enforcement, Parents, and Guardians
For more information about the host requirements, contact Craig Hill at 913-927-0109 orchill@ncmec.org
NetSmartz is a unique resource provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The safety approach this program offers is one-of-a-kind. The goal of the NetSmartz program is to team up with law enforcement, educators and parents to educate the safest practices on the web.
NetSmartz411 is a page specifically designed for parents. You can send detailed questions to experts, and get all the answers needed about the newest lingo used by kids or technology. You can even call 1-888-NETS411 and ask an expert a question over the phone. Parents and teachers, this resource is FREE and it is something you can actively be involved with. If you take the time to learn the latest trends of the virtual like gaming, social networking, sexting, video sharing, photo sharing and blogging it may prevent a potentially negative situation in your child’s life.
If you have questions, or need more resources, please visit the RESOURCE section of this site or if you have a specific question you would like to ask, please visit the ASKMICHELLE section.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, people who have legitimate access to children are some of the same individuals who are producing child pornography. It is a federal crime to have child porn in your possession. The Cyber Tiplinewas created to report these types of crimes against children. You can call the tip center with information on people who manufacture, distribute or have child pornography in their possession or if you receive images in your e-mail.
If you know of children who are being recruited for these disgusting acts, please report that to the tip line as well.
It is also a federal crime to send obscene material to any child under the age of 16. Take a look at the helpful information under the Cyber Tipline to understand more about protecting the youth.
When a child goes missing, often times it does not meet the official Amber Alert criteria. This is why Pennsylvania is bridging the gap between official Amber Alerts and other missing person cases. A new system launched called MEPAS, Missing Endangered Person Advisory System, will distribute information to Law Enforcement, broadcasters and the public when anyone goes missing.
MEPAS is completely separate from the Pennsylvania Amber Alert system, and will not be used if a child is abducted and in imminent danger, but will be activated if an elderly person or child wanders away.
According to a release on the Pennsylvania State Police website, MEPA will be issued when:
The circumstances of the incident do not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert.
The individual is missing under unexplained, involuntary or suspicious circumstances.
The person is thought to be in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, environment or weather conditions, or is known to be in the company of a potentially dangerous person.
The requesting police agency is conducting an active investigation and has entered the missing person into the National Crime Information Center database.
Just like an Amber Alert is issued for a missing child, a Silver Alert is sent out for a missing elderly person. It works as an emergency system, decided by law enforcement, to broadcast a statewide alert for missing seniors. In most cases, the alerts are sent out for persons 60 or older, and most victims are mentally impaired and suffer from dementia. About 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s.
This is a great program to protect the senior citizens of our nation who can no longer take care of themselves. Maryland State police used the system for the first time in November 2009 to help locate an elderly man, and it worked. The victim was found safely by a BGE worker on a street corner. The alerts are generally displayed on highway billboards and over local television and radio stations. Please consider registering your family member or friend on line, it provides a safe and secure place to store vital medical information that can be easily accessed in case of an emergency.
NetSmartz is a unique resource provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The safety approach this program offers is one-of-a-kind. The goal of the NetSmartz program is to team up with law enforcement, educators, and parents to educate the safest practices on the web.
NetSmartz411 is a page specifically designed for parents. You can send detailed questions to experts, and get all the answers needed about the newest lingo used by kids or technology. You can even call 1-888-NETS411 and ask an expert a question over the phone. Parents and teachers, this resource is FREE and it is something you can actively be involved with. If you take the time to learn the latest trends of the virtual like gaming, social networking, sexting, video sharing, photo sharing and blogging it may prevent a potentially negative situation in your child’s life.
If you have questions, or need more resources, please visit the RESOURCE section of this site or if you have a specific question you would like to ask, please visit the ASKMICHELLE section.
NetSmartz is a unique resource provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The safety approach this program offers is one-of-a-kind. The goal of the NetSmartz program is to team up with law enforcement, educators, and parents to educate the safest practices on the web.
NetSmartz411 is a page specifically designed for parents. You can send detailed questions to experts, and get all the answers needed about the newest lingo used by kids or technology. You can even call 1-888-NETS411 and ask an expert a question over the phone. Parents and teachers, this resource is FREE and it is something you can actively be involved with. If you take the time to learn the latest trends of the virtual like gaming, social networking, sexting, video sharing, photo sharing and blogging it may prevent a potentially negative situation in your child’s life.
If you have questions, or need more resources, please visit the RESOURCE section of this site or if you have a specific question you would like to ask, please visit the ASKMICHELLE section.
NetSmartz is a unique resource provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The safety approach this program offers is one-of-a-kind. The goal of the NetSmartz program is to team up with law enforcement, educators, and parents to educate the safest practices on the web.
NetSmartz411 is a page specifically designed for parents. You can send detailed questions to experts, and get all the answers needed about the newest lingo used by kids or technology. Parents and teachers, this resource is FREE and it is something you can actively be involved with. If you take the time to learn the latest trends of the virtual world it may prevent a potentially negative situation in your child’s life.
If you have questions, or need more resources, please visit the RESOURCE section of this site or if you have a specific question you would like to ask, please visit the ASKMICHELLE section.
A little about me… My name is Michelle Sigona, and my passion is helping people and working hard. I’ve been in television news for a decade now, and most of my time was spent with the awesome Fox show, “America’s Most Wanted.” This is where so many wonderful things are accomplished for so many people across the globe. Recently, I decided it was time for me to open a new chapter in my own life, and pursue the next portion of my dreams. If I have learned anything so far, it is that is you cannot achieve your biggest goals by standing on the shore, you have got to take a swim in the ocean!
I’ve been blessed to branch out on my own, and create Michelle Sigona Communications.
One of several entities of this corporation is this website you are on. This is a place where I will dive into breaking crime news, and feature stories that matter most to me — ultimately because I think the topic will help you in your own lives.
Michelle Sigona is a crime fighting, victims advocate extraordinaire, but for Michelle -- the good fight doesn't stop there. In her spare time, she is a volunteer firefighter -- and now, she is tackling the issues and cases that mean the most to her....
Law enforcement officers are invited to attend an eight hour training program called Protecting Our Children. 
NetSmartz
Just like an Amber Alert is issued for a missing child, a 
NetSmartz
