Kids Plugged In

As the Internet grows, the problem of sexual predators has increased tremendously.

The following are statistics on the growing problem:

• The Internet Filter Review, an online publication that is dedicated to protecting children from pornography on the Internet, has estimated that there are 100,000 web sites offering illegal child pornography. They also report that the average age of exposure to Internet pornography is 11-years-old.
• The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports that one in five girls and one in ten boys are sexually exploited before they reach adulthood.
• One in five children, ages 10 to 17, received unwanted sexual solicitations online, according to the Youth Internet Safety Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

In addition to investigating and prosecuting the cases, the agents and attorneys of the Child Predator Section have created a training program and teach young people and their parents, how to avoid being a victim of a sexual predator. Educating parents and young people about the dangers of sexual predators is extremely important. The training program has the agents, who catch the predators, in classrooms and churches teaching and warning parents and young people about these predators and the tactics they use.

Anyone who has information about child predators is urged to contact the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section at 1-800-385-1044. You can also report online or anonymously by clicking here.