Internet Crimes Against Children
... I am more interested in how law enforcement agencies have adapted to this new vehicle criminals use, which has expanded greatly over the last 10 years, and what the agencies are doing to help protect the children from future crimes that maybe committed against them. ... Throughout the class we have discussed how the Internet has played a role in not only our lives but in the lives of children and elders. With nearly 50 Million estimated children online, nearly 20% of them have had requests to engage in some sort of illegal or sexual activity. ... Much of the research used came from policing agencies who post their information on the Internet, as well as a few newspaper articles depicting the men and women in this area who protect the children. ... ” It has also emerged greatly over the past decade due to the use of the Internet and accessibility children have and the even greater accessibility predators have to use and find children as well as the ability to deceive. It is somewhat ironic the deception these predators use to uncover what they want from children is being turned around in their face and it is what is helping to have these people caught. Traditionally, both intrafamilial offenders and strangers have found that young children and teenagers are perfect targets for criminal acts because they are often trusting, naive, curious, adventuresome, and eager for attention and affection. However, the most attractive factor to predators is that children and teenagers historically have not been viewed as credible witnesses. Today, the danger to children is even greater because the Internet provides predators anonymity. Whether the victimization occurs in person or over the Internet, the process is the same—the perpetrator uses information to target a child victim. ... Just like the traditional predator who targets children in person, the online predator usually is willing to spend considerable time befriending and grooming a child.