You've got......

Did you know that if child porn is detected, by the Internet Service Provider (ISP), they are required to report the case to the missing children's center for further investigation, under federal law.

The article link discusses approaches to battle child porn images. Part of the plan is to create a unique mathematical signature for each one based on a common formula. Emails would then be scanned for any matches.

What the plan seems not to address currently are the social networking sites, photo sites and non email related distribution of these images. Will the ISP’s scan their entire sites for any matches to the mathematical signature regardless of where the image reside or just emails and possibly IM’s?

Internet Providers to Battle Child Porn
By Anick Jesdanun 06/27/06

Doctor, Lawyer,.....

“….According to the Seattle Times, Monday, after an Amber Alert and police manhunts, Riley was back in the hospital and Tina Carlsen was in custody, charged with second-degree kidnapping..”

If she had taken him to a holistic Doctor initially, would she have faced charges if she later “kidnapped” him and took him to a hospital for surgery?

Time flies...

Next time you are just “killing” time you might want to think about what else is happening.

FBI Statistics.

Finger pointing?

Most people would agree that missing children are considered a national issue. That appears to be why there is a National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). So, why are there 116 Amber Alert systems? Why does the criteria differ by state?

"...and never the twain shall meet..."

"...Children who are abducted, when they're taken, are told one of the 'Three Ds,' " said Liss Hart-Haviv, Executive Director, Take Root who was abducted by her mother when she was 10. "They're told the missing family member is dead or disinterested, which can take different forms - they didn't love you, they abandoned you. The third D is 'dangerous.' that can take a variety of different forms - they were abusive, prostitutes. .."

In an article by Josh Belzman MSNBC,
Family abduction takes bitter toll on victims
Advocates say children pay a high price when parents take flight

Why would the NCMEC suggest “…it's not unusual for children to be found after such a long period of time, especially if they were taken in a family abduction. Often the children are cared for and the family unit is kept together, he said…” ?

In the above article by Josh Belzman they state “…While some parents flee with children to escape abuse, most do not have their child’s best interests in mind, said Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children….”

Which is it?

On the rocks

This is another case of a family abduction where the child is found years later. What puzzles me is why you can find several stories on resolved family abductions and few stories where the same diligence is given to non family abductions.

“…Tips lead to girl taken in Tempe by dad in 1996
Jun. 23, 2006 12:00 AM
Cold case of the week: The Arizona Republic published an entry in 2005 about Rebecca Ann Braun, who had been missing since 1996. It spotlighted her as a missing child since she was 2 years old. It began, "Sex: Female. Race: White. Age now: 9. Height/weight: 2 feet 11 inches, 29 pounds at time of disappearance. Hair/eye color: Light brown/ blue..."

Read the story

All that and a bag of chips

In this recent article from Computerworld concerning technology, I am not sure if he is searching for GPS implants or RFID chips?

“…The technology to implant GPS tracking devices in humans certainly exists, as a simple Google search will affirm. But it doesn't appear to be actively marketed or readily available in product form for implanting in children so they can be quickly located if they're lost or abducted….”

“For anyone who finds that position unacceptable, I'll tell you what. Find me a parent with a missing child who wouldn't give anything to have had a GPS tracking device implanted in that child…”

If parents believed their child will go missing then I would agree with his statement. All of us would change decisions, habits, vices etc if we had the benefit of hindsight. The reality is most parents, don’t believe their child will become a victim of foul play or go missing.

Would you implant a GPS chip in your child or are you concerned with privacy issues?
The author points out that a simple Google search affirms the technology but I am not sure what his search criteria are. Most implant sites are for RFID chips containing information and not for GPS implants, which are not FDA approved for implanting into humans.

If you look at Amber Alert criteria, or law enforcement decisions to report a child missing, it does make you wonder when and who would activate the GPS tracking? If statistically the first few hours are critical to the recovery or in preventing harm to the child, then a determination to activate and track would need to be made quickly. The GPS system could assist in finding the child, but it doesn’t ensure the safety of the child as the child could be missing without the parent or guardian being aware.

Rocky Mountain high...(stats)

Last year, more than 14,000 children were reported missing in Colorado. It seemed like a very large number so I visited the Colorado Bureau of Investigations web site to see if they provided more detail. The site was very informative as it provided statistics every year since 1998.

If you view the Circumstances of Recovery table, it is somewhat confusing as it appears they recovered more children then were actually lost in 2005.

Farmhand charged in death of missing girl

It appears the only thing "routine" was the outcome. There was a tragic end to the search for the missing Pennsylvania girl, 12 year old Gabrielle Miranda Bechen.

Same old routine?

I was reading this article and with the FBI involved, seemed anything but routine. It made me curious when the various agencies are involved and when they are not. If you read this post this does not appear to be a routine practice.

DUNKARD TWP. - As the search for a missing 12-year-old Greene County girl continued Thursday, state police confirmed that the FBI has been called in to assist with the case, but said that their involvement is a fairly routine practice in such a search.

According to the article she went missing on Tuesday June 13th shortly after 8:00 a.m. There isn’t a time indicating when she was posted on the NCMEC site, but,“…The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was alerted to Bechen's disappearance after police filed a formal missing child report.

Thursday, NCMEC was on site, police said.

As is procedure, the center disseminates information to newspaper and television stations when any child under the age of 18 is declared missing…”

“…Although "non-family abductions" are rare, information shows children abducted by strangers face a greater risk of injury or death.

Police did not speculate on Bechen's disappearance and would only say the case is under investigation. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children had Bechen listed as "missing" Wednesday.

"Until we have a definitive answer one way or another we will continue to search," Christy said Thursday…”

Deal or Unreal?

How will these scales of justice tip? I am trying to weigh this one and am totally confused how it may be ok for an 11 yr old girl to be with a 20 yr old man for four days. Is the issue really whether she should be considered "missing"? The Police Chief offers good advice but it seems the father knew who is daughter's "friends" are.

Missing Child reported

• Child 11 years old is reported missing by father to police.
• He names 20 yr old male as suspect.
• Police can’t find him.
• She returns four days later.
  

Police Chief Monte Sims concludes she left on her own free will:

• "She apparently returned home on her own,"
• "She was not being held against her will by anyone," Sims said. "Naturally, that was our biggest concern."
• “… to prevent cases of missing children, parents should know where their children are and who they are friends with…”
  
  "Parents should pay closer attention to their children, especially if they are befriended by an older person," Sims said. "In this case, it was an older person she left with."

Best of Both Worlds

The issue of family abductions and the NCMEC response to the previous posts remind me of this song by Van Halen?










“…I want the best of both worlds
And baby I know what it's worth
We can have have the best of both worlds a little
Heaven right here on earth
There's a picture in the gallery of a
Fallen angel looked alot like you
We forget where we come from sometimes
I had a dream it was really you…”

Is a family abduction a missing child only for budgeting and solicitation of funds? Are they part of the calculation and statistics published for the recovery percentage of 96%? Do they count if recovered but not while they are missing?

Play it again…..

“…And when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you."
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings As time goes by…

…It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die.
The world will always welcome lovers As time goes by….”

Maybe if he could have just kept the "family unit" intact for 5 more years.

By MARY ANN GREIER/Salem News staff writer
“…LISBON - A traffic stop in Washington, D.C., at 11 a.m. Thursday ended the search for two missing Lisbon children and their father, with the children safe and Joseph Leroy Moore in custody. "I'm glad the children are safe and sound," Columbiana County Sheriff David Smith said. A police officer apparently initiated a traffic stop on Interstate 295 and then learned about the warrant for Moore's arrest and the fact that the children were considered missing…”

Here's looking at you kids?

"...Larry Upchurch, director of operations for the missing children's division of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, said the tip on the location of the children came through the group's 24-hour hotline between Wednesday night and when they were recovered. The center notified police after receiving the tip.

Mr. Upchurch said it's not unusual for children to be found after such a long period of time, especially if they were taken in a family abduction. Often the children are cared for and the family unit is kept together, he said.


"That's why we always keep looking," he said..."

How is the family unit kept together if it is a family abduction?

Holy Toledo Batman...

I saw this article and was amazed that these children were found based on a tip called in after 7 years. Immediately I went to the NCMEC site to view information about them. Thinking there may be aged enhanced photos or some new technolgy used, imagine my suprise when I couldn't even find their posters.

"...Larry Upchurch, director of operations for the missing children's division of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, said the tip on the location of the children came through the group's 24-hour hotline between Wednesday night and when they were recovered.

Mr. Upchurch said one out of every six recoveries is a result of someone seeing the missing child on a poster. He is not sure if that was the case for the Martre children..."

I am thrilled these children were found but I would ask Mr Upchurch how would you recognize a child, based on a poster of a missing child taken 7 years earlier, not age enhanced, and evidently not posted on NCMEC?

Does NCMEC count these children statistically as recovered missing children in their stats? Do you think any of these children were one of the 100 million shoppers at a Walmart store each week these past seven years?

Ironically if you google any of the children's names it returns nothing either on the web or as an image?

Above the law?

There was an interesting story in the news about a 5’4’’ police officer arresting a 7’ tall drug suspect in Georgia. If he had been a sexual offender in Nebraska, would he be too tall to go to prison? Read story

The devil made me do it....

When visiting websites to educate yourself on the various products and services available to you to protect your children, do you often come away more confused then ever as to their objective? It is a classic example of a good news bad news scenario. The good news is there are many options. The bad news is there are many options. For every site offering legitimate, valuable tools, there are those that remind me of the old adage; “…If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it must be a duck...”


Here comes the free advice. Ask yourself, when reviewing the site if you come away with a feeling their goal is to aid in the recovery of lost or missing children or are they out to make a quick buck? It is a good time to use common sense. Does it appear the main focus is on selling something and less on the child? I’ll resist the temptation to direct you to sites that may cause you to pause and reflect by publishing their URL’s. However, sites stressing your financial upside through direct marketing opportunities or how you can increase your personal wealth by becoming a franchisee probably would make the list. Like many other things in life, you’ll know it when you see it.

CBS Child Abduction Resources

Great information from CBS Cares website.


RESOURCES

"...The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is responsible for protecting and defending Americans as well as upholding and enforcing the criminal laws of the United States. To find out more about how they recommend protecting your child against abduction, visit: www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/safety3.htm

The FBI recommends that parents should refer to the FBI publication "Parent's Guide to Internet Safety", which is available on our www.fbi.gov web site, to protect their children from Internet-related abductions.

The FBI officially recommends that the public refer to the www.ncmec.org for other abduction-prevention reading material.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist crime victims. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is one of the five OJP component bureaus. For more information on the AMBER Alert program, visit www.amberalert.gov and for information on OJJDP's Child Protection Division, visit www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a private, non-profit organization that provides assistance to families, law enforcement, and organizations to help find missing children, combat child sexual exploitation, and promote child victimization prevention education. For more information, visit www.missingkids.com

Special thanks to the FBI's Agent Fennerty and Public Affairs Specialist Michelle Goldschen, as well as Michele Laure, who was an important catalyst to this project! ..."

Missing Child Resources

The Missing Child Resources link is a list of some of the assistance available to you should your child go missing. It will periodically be updated, however please suggest any other sites.

What's love got to do with it?

NBC airs continuing stories of 12 year olds and adults. Why one is an alleged love story involving a convicted sex offender and the other involves the organization perverted justice?

http://www.perverted-justice.com/

Dateline NBC
(New) 06/02/2006 8:00 PM
Josh Mankiewicz interviews Mary Kay Letourneau and her onetime pupil Vili Fualaau, who talk about their headline-grabbing relationship---which began as an affair between a 34-year-old teacher and her 12-year-old student---and their subsequent marriage in 2005.

What is the difference between the Mugshots: of 50 men arrested after the latest installment of the "Dateline" report and Mary K, other then they haven’t been convicted yet.

By Chris Hansen
Correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 2:58 a.m. ET Feb 4, 2006
This report aired Dateline Friday, Feb. 3, 9 p.m. We want to warn you some of what you'll read is explicit. But parents need to know what their kids can confront when they sit down at the computer.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - A month ago, Dateline launched its third investigation into a growing national epidemic—grown men trolling the Internet, many looking for sex with children. This time, to expose them, we set up multiple hidden cameras in a house in Southern California.

A decoy coaxes the men in, but instead of finding a 12- or 13-year-old home alone, the men looking for sex will meet me. …

Hurricane season officially starts

It is the official start of hurricane season. FEMA says they are ready and the levees will hold in New Orleans so time will tell. This is a link to the FEMA site for children explaining various natural disasters and what to do. There is some useful information but you would think there would be more emphasis on following evacuation orders versus riding it out. The story of the “Disaster Twins” , (Julia and Robbie), is interesting. What is confusing is what the father concludes on the family vacation to Florida.

FEMA Kids site

"If we lived here," their father said, "we would have storm shutters to protect our windows and we'd listen to the radio in case we had to evacuate. Hurricanes are dangerous, but we would get warning."

Isn't the issue one of heeding the warnings not that they aren’t given?

Helpful tips from a previous post for being prepared.

Missing Children: A Petition for Public Service

While viewing various missing children blogs, I ran across this request. It may have merit. It was ironic to me based on the recent negative press MySpace has received, that it was directed toward Myspace users. Also every link you click includes a partial page “ad” for the NPNowPublic site (see screenshot below). Non-the-less, it will be interesting to see how/if the concept evolves.

"..A family member has created this site for MySpace. I thought it looked like a great idea..."






http://view.nowpublic.com/