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September 2011
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Precautions
Against Child Predation
by
Sheriff Ted Mink
Online
child predators can interact with children through a variety of channels:
computers, video games, handheld gaming devices and mobile phones. These
tools make millions of people accessible at your child's fingertips ... and
vice-versa. Paradoxically, young people asserting their individuality
online remain very vulnerable to predation. Their innocence, natural
curiosity, desire for attention, ingrained trust in adults, and/or desire
to rebel against their parents can lead them into the path of someone who
could harm them.
What
Children Can Do
Activities
that may seem fairly harmless to your child can lure the attention of
predators. Here are some precautions your child can take -- with your help
-- that may help him or her steer clear of online predators.
- Profile and content. The profile information and content
you generate is critical. The images, opinions and personal
information you share can be used by others to manipulate you,
blackmail you, or literally locate you. Use a neutral profile photo
that doesn't show your face; consider a photo of an object or
landscape. Never take nude or semi-nude photos of yourself or allow
someone else to do so. Remember, anything you say or post can live
forever online if re-posted by someone else.
- Screen names. Select gender-neutral and
age-appropriate screen names for yourself. You can inadvertently give
out a lot about yourself with a screen name like "britt98"
(Brittany, born in 1998?). Screen names that suggest sex, violence or
drugs, which might seem fun or funny, can draw attention from the
wrong people.
- Privacy settings. On Facebook and other social sites,
lock down your privacy settings so that only your approved friends can
see your photos, video and updates. Leaving privacy open is like
inviting strangers to tag along with you everywhere you go.
- Friends list. While it may be tempting to build
the largest friend list possible, to appear more connected or popular,
you should only accept friend requests from people you actually know,
and trust.
- Say no to creepers. If you are contacted, in any format,
by someone you don't know, do not respond. Use your settings to block
that person from contacting you. Never agree to meet someone in person
whom you met online. If you're contacted by an adult you know, talk to
your parents about the communication.
What
Parents Can Do
Every
child is different. Different ages, maturity levels and special
circumstances will dictate what's appropriate for each child. The most
important thing parents can do is stay involved with kids' online
activities, and help them understand the dangers. Sooner or later they'll
be on their own, and will need that foundation of online common-sense.
Until then...
- Keep a computer in a well-trafficked
room in your home. Remember that smartphones are just small computers
... limit private access to them as well.
- Stay involved in your child's online
activities. Insist on access (including passwords!) to social
networking, e-mail, texting and gaming. Check them periodically.
- Find out what online safeguards are
in place at your child's school, friends' homes, and any other place
where your child may be using computers or video games.
- Consider downmarket mobile phones
that don't offer photo, video or Internet capabilities.
- Remember that predators aren't
always strangers. "Grooming" by trusted adults plays a huge
role in child predation. Watch for changes in your child's
relationships with adults in his/her life. Adults who work with
children and teens have professional boundaries; cultivating
significant online or text-based relationships with individual
children is not appropriate.
Learn
More
There
are several resources for parents and children on this topic, including NetSmartz.org, FBI.gov and the
District Attorney's Office CHEEZO program.
Information in this article
was adapted from NetSmartz.org and FBI.gov.
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Join
us for the Sheriff's Safety Fair!
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 The Sheriff's Safety Fair
is a fun-filled event for all ages, featuring interactive booths,
demonstrations and activities for everyone! The Sheriff's Office hosts
this annual fair at the Summerset Festival to engage our community in
taking steps to stay safe and healthy.
Learn about everything from
disaster preparedness and kids' safety to identity theft and Internet
predator information. Check out special units and community programs from
the Sheriff's Office and other participating agencies (below). Whether
you're eight or 80, you'll find something at the Sheriff's Safety Fair that
can help you stay safe!
Saturday,
September 17: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday,
September 18: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sheriff's Office
displays, info booths and other highlights:
- Animal
Control
- Crime
Prevention
- K-9
teams and demonstrations
- Bomb
Squad
- "Kookie
the clown" and Charlie Check-First info (kids' safety)
- Disaster
preparedness info
- Information
on careers and youth programs
Safety programs from
our event partners (subject to change):
- Boating/water
safety: Colorado State Parks
- "Safe
Choices" crashed car display: the Rocky Mountain Insurance
Information Association
- Hiking/wilderness
safety: Alpine Rescue Team
- Child
Internet safety: The First Judicial District Attorney's Office/ CHEEZO
Internet predator investigators
- School
safety and anti-bullying: Safe2Tell, Jeffco school resource officers
- Flu
and other health info: Jeffco Public Health
- Sports
injury prevention: Centura Health
- Auto
theft prevention: Metro Auto Theft Task Force/Lockdown
- Alcohol
awareness: Alcoholics Anonymous
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Distressed
Property Proposal
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The
Sheriff's Office will present a proposed ordinance regarding distressed
properties at a public meeting of the Jefferson County Board of County
Commissioners at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, September 20, 2011. The meeting will be
held in Hearing Room 1 in the Jefferson County Administration and Courts
Building. Supporters and opponents of this ordinance are welcome to provide
testimony.
The Sheriff's Office has proposed the ordinance in an effort to see that
banks and other owners of foreclosed or vacant and hazardous properties
take responsibility for security of the properties, thus mitigating health
and safety hazards and quality-of-life impacts on the surrounding
neighborhoods. The proposed ordinance would require the owners of
foreclosed or vacant and hazardous properties to register with the
Jefferson County Planning and Zoning department and provide emergency
contact information. The registry would help Sheriff's Office personnel
reach the owners of distressed properties upon discovery of graffiti,
trespassers, squatters, hazardous structural problems, and other issues.
Read the entire proposed ordinance here.
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Drug
Takeback Day
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 The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office will be joining law
enforcement agencies nationwide to remove potentially dangerous
controlled substances from our nation's medicine cabinets. The DEA's
National Take-Back Day provides an opportunity for the public to surrender
expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other
medications for destruction. Sheriff's representatives will be set up
at three drop-off locations across the county.
Saturday,
October 29
10
a.m. - 2 p.m.
Multiple
locations
View a list of locations
and more at our website.
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