[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8538-8543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4155]
[[Page 8537]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part III
Department of Justice
_______________________________________________________________________
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program
_______________________________________________________________________
Notice of the Fiscal Year 1998 Missing and Exploited Children's
Program; Proposed Program Plan and Announcement of Discretionary
Competitive Assistance Grant; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 33 / Thursday, February 19, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 8538]]
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Programs
[OJP (OJJDP-1154]
RIN 1121-ZA91
Notice of the Fiscal Year 1998 Missing and Exploited Children's
Program; Proposed Program Plan and Announcement of Discretionary
Competitive Assistance Grant
AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention, DOJ.
ACTION: Proposed Program Plan for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
(OJJDP) is publishing its Missing and Exploited Children's Fiscal Year
(FY) 1998 Proposed Program Plan and soliciting public comment on the
proposed plan and priorities. After analyzing the public comments on
this Proposed Program Plan, OJJDP will issue its final FY 1998 Missing
and Exploited Children's Program Plan.
DATES: Comments must be submitted by April 20, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Public comments should be mailed to Shay Bilchik,
Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention,
810 Seventh Street NW., Room 8413, Washington, D.C. 20531.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald C. Laney, Director, Missing and
Exploited Children's Program, 202-616-3637. [This is not a toll-free
number.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Missing and Exploited Children's Program
is administered by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention (OJJDP). Pursuant to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention (JJDP) Act of 1974, as amended, section 406(a)(2), 42,
U.S.C. 5776, the Administrator of OJJDP is publishing for public
comment a Proposed Program Plan for activities authorized by Title IV
of the JJDP Act, the Missing Children's Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5771
et seq., that OJJDP proposes to initiate or continue in FY 1998. Taking
into consideration comments received on this Proposed Program Plan, the
Administrator will develop and publish a Final Program Plan that
describes the program activities OJJDP plans to fund during FY 1998
using Title IV funds.
The actual solicitation of any competitive grant applications under
the Final Program Plan will be published at a later date in the Federal
Register. No proposals, concept papers, or other types of applications
should be submitted at this time.
Background: The Nature of the Problem of Missing and Exploited Children
The issues involving missing and exploited children can be divided
into four categories: family abduction, nonfamily abduction, child
exploitation, and the impact these events have on children and
families. These issues are summarized below, using data drawn from the
1988 National Incidence Study of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, or
Thrownaway Children (NISMART), the most current available data. The
NISMART II study, funded in 1996, will produce new data beginning in
1999.
Family Abduction
In 1988, NISMART estimated that 354,100 family abductions were
occurring each year. Forty-six percent of these abductions (163,200)
involved concealment of the child, transportation of the child out of
State, or intent by the abductor to keep the child indefinitely or to
permanently alter custody. Of this more serious subcategory of family
abductions, a little more than half were perpetrated by men who were
noncustodial fathers and father figures. Most victims were children
between the ages of 2 and 11. Half of these abductions involved
unauthorized takings, and half involved failure to return the child
after an authorized visit or stay. Fifteen percent of these abductions
involved the use of force or violence, and between 75 and 85 percent
involved interstate transportation of the child. About half of family
abductions occurred before the parents' relationship ended. Half did
not occur until 2 or more years after a divorce or separation, usually
after parents developed new households, moved away, developed new
relationships, or became disenchanted with the legal system. More than
half occurred in the context of relationships with a history of
domestic violence. An estimated 49 percent of abductors had criminal
records, and a significant number had a history of violent behavior,
substance abuse, or emotional disturbance. As NISMART found, it is not
uncommon for child victims of family abduction to have their names and
appearances altered; to experience medical or physical neglect,
unstable schooling, or homelessness; or to endure frequent moves. These
children are often told lies about the abduction and the left-behind
parent, event that the left-behind parent is dead.
Nonfamily Abduction
NISMART reported that an estimated 3,200 to 4,600 short-term
nonfamily abductions were known to law enforcement in 1988. Of these,
an estimated 200 to 300 were stereotypical kidnapings where a child is
gone overnight, is killed, is transported a distance of 50 miles or
more, or is being detained by a perpetrator who intends to keep the
child permanently. Young teenagers and girls were the most common
victims. Two-thirds of short-term abductions involved a sexual assault.
A majority of the victims were abducted from the street. More than 85
percent of nonfamily abductions involved force, and more than 75
percent involved a weapon. Most episodes lasted less than a day. Most
researchers and practitioners consider the number of short-term
abductions to be an underestimate because of police reporting methods
and lack of reporting on the part of victims. Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) data support estimates of 43 to 147 stranger
abduction homicides of children annually between 1976 and 1987. Using
FBI data, NISMART estimated that 114,600 nonfamily abductions were
attempted in 1988, most involving strangers and usually involving an
attempt to lure a child into a car. In a majority of these cases, the
police were not contacted.
Child Exploitation
Children are also at risk of being victimized as a result of a
range of circumstances that fall into three categories: running away;
being expelled from the home, or ``thrownaway,'' by parents or
guardians; or being otherwise lost or missing.
NISMART estimated that each year 446,700 children ran away from
households and 12,800 children ran from juvenile facilities. Many
children who ran from households also ran from facilities. About one-
third of these runaways left home or a juvenile facility more than
once. Of all runaways identified, 133,500 were without secure and
familiar places to stay during their episodes. More than a third of
runaways ran away more than once during the year. One in ten traveled a
distance of more than 100 miles. Of the runaways from juvenile
facilities, almost one-half left the State. Runaways were mostly
teenagers, but almost 10 percent were 11 years old or youngers.
Runaways tended to come disproportionately from households with
stepparents. Family conflict seemed to be at the heart of most runaway
episodes. Between 60 and 70 percent of runaways reported being
[[Page 8539]]
seriously abused physically. It is estimated that from 25 to 80 percent
of all runaways are sexually abused. Runaways, particularly chronic
runaways, are at higher risk for physical and sexual victimization,
substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies,
violence, and suicide.
NISMART reported that an estimated 127,100 thrownaway children were
told directly to leave their households, had been away from home and
were not allowed back by their caretakers, had caretakers, who made no
effort to recover them when they ran away, or had been abandoned or
deserted. By comparison, for every thrownaway child, there were four
runaway children. An estimated 59,200 thrownaway children were without
secure and familiar places to stay during the episodes. Most
thrownaways were older teenagers, but abandoned children tended to be
young (half under the age of 4). Thrownaways were concentrated in low-
income families and families without both natural parents. Compared
with runaways, thrownaways experienced more violence and conflict
within their families and were less likely to return home.
An estimated 438,200 children were lost, injured, or otherwise
missing each year, according to the 1988 study. Of these, 139,100 cases
were serious enough for the police to be called. Almost half involved
children under 4. Most of these episodes lasted less than a day. A
fifth of the children experienced physical harm. Fourteen percent of
the children were abused or assaulted during the episodes.
Impact on Children and Families
The majority of families of missing children experience serious
psychological consequences and substantial emotional distress. The
level of emotional distress equals or exceeds the emotional distress
for other groups of individuals exposed to trauma, such as combat
veterans and victims of rape, assault, or other violent crime, with
families where the missing child is subsequently recovered deceased
exhibiting the highest level of emotional distress. Once home, a third
of abducted children live in constant fear of reabduction. Many child
victims of family abduction experience serious psychological
consequences and substantial emotional distress. Trauma symptoms may be
evident for up to 4 or 5 years after recovery. More than 80 percent of
recoveries of missing children are concluded in less than 15 minutes
with no psychological or social service support. In most cases, the
only nonfamily person present is a police officer. Almost four-fifths
of victims and families of missing children do not receive mental
health or counseling services.
Introduction to the Fiscal Year 1998 Program Plan
According to the most recent FBI National Crime Information Center
(NCIC) Missing Person file statistics, approximately 2,200 children are
reported missing to law enforcement every day in the United States.
Many of these children are runaways; others are taken by noncustodial
parents and used as pawns in custody battles between their parents.
Some wander away and are unable to find their way home, and still
others represent a parent's worst nightmare, the loss of a child to a
predator.
In 1984, Congress recognized the need for a national response to
missing children and enacted the Missing Children's Assistance Act to
establish a Missing and Exploited Children Program within OJJDP. The
Missing Children's Assistance Act authorizes assistance for research,
demonstration, and service programs and for establishment and support
of a national resource center and clearinghouse dedicated to missing
and exploited children.
In FY 1997, OJJDP's Missing and Exploited Children's Program
continued to coordinate the Federal Government's response to missing
and exploited children and provided funding support for research,
training, technical assistance, and demonstration projects. Some
notable FY 1997 accomplishments are described below.
OJJDP and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
(NCMEC) published A Report to the Nation: Missing and Exploited
Children, which offers State action plans and advisory memorandums
suggesting methods to enhance State and local responses to missing and
exploited children cases. The report has been disseminated to all State
Governors and attorneys general and is available through OJJDP's
Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse (JJC) and NCMEC. The JJC telephone
number is 800-638-8736, and the NCMEC number is 800-843-5678.
OJJDP and the Washington State Attorney General's Office released
the results of a 3-year, OJJDP-funded research project that analyzed
the solvability factors of missing children homicide investigations.
The study provided information regarding victim, offender, and serial
offender composites; the importance of linking all of the evidentiary
sites within a homicide event; and the relationships between the
various sites. Copies of the report can be obtained by calling the
Washington State Attorney General's Office Homicide Investigation
Tracking Office at 800-345-2793.
OJJDP, working with NCMEC and the FBI's Child Abduction and Serial
Killer Unit (CASKU) and Criminal Justice Information Services Division,
developed and implemented the Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training
Center (JRLETC), which offers multitiered training for law enforcement
executives and investigators. The training center, dedicated to the
memory of 9-year-old Jimmy Ryce, who was abducted and murdered in
Florida, opened April 15, 1997. OJJDP Administrator Shay Bilchik
presided over the dedication ceremony, which included remarks from
Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson, FBI Director Louis Freeh,
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Jimmy's parents, Donald and
Claudine Ryce. Composed of several complementary elements, JRLETC
offers 2-day seminars focusing on broad coordination and policy
development issues for law enforcement executives and regional 5-day
courses emphasizing investigative techniques for law enforcement
officers who are responsible for investigating missing children cases.
In FY 1997, Fox Valley Technical College, an OJJDP cooperative
agreement recipient, provided training to more than 4,100 law
enforcement and other professionals working on missing and exploited
children cases. These courses integrate current research and include
modules pertaining to investigative techniques, interview strategies,
comprehensive response planning, media relations, lead and case
management, and other topics related to missing and exploited children
cases.
To help investigators determine if a child is abused or exploited
and collect the evidence necessary for effective prosecution, OJJDP
released seven additional Portable Guides in FY 1997 (the first four in
the series were issued in FY 1996) for police officers, medical
professionals, and social service professionals investigating child
abuse and exploitation cases. The Guides, sized to fit in patrol car
glove compartments or detectives' briefcases, provide immediate
reference materials for ``on the scene'' investigations. Subjects
covered include methods of interviewing victims, evidence collection
techniques, investigative strategies, and recognition of injuries
caused by abuse. Two additional guides are currently under development:
Multidisciplinary Team Approach to
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Investigating Child Abuse and Computers and the Sexual Exploitation of
Children.
Fiscal Year 1998 Programs
In FY 1998, OJJDP proposes to continue its concentration on
programs that are national in scope, promote awareness, and enhance the
Nation's response to missing and exploited children and their families.
New Programs
Title IV new programs to be funded in FY 1998 are summarized below.
The grant to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to
implement the Title IV national resource and clearinghouse function is
considered a new program because the existing project period grant
expires in FY 1998 and a new award will be made to support these
functions during FY 1998. The Training and Technical Assistance program
will be recompleted in FY 1998, and a new project period grant will be
awarded. The Internet Crimes Against Children Regional Task Force
Development program is a new program to be competitively funded in FY
1998. While funds for other new programs in FY 1998 are limited, OJJDP
is interested in obtaining input from the field on program and service
needs that will assist us in planning both FY 1998 and future
programming.
National Resource Center and Clearinghouse
Congress has provided $5 million to continue and expand the
programs, services, and activities of the National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children, a national resource center and clearinghouse
dedicated to missing and exploited children and their families. As
provided in Title IV, the functions of the Center include, but are not
limited to, the following:
Provide a toll-free hotline where citizens can report
investigative leads and parents and other interested individuals can
receive information concerning missing children.
Provide technical assistance to parents, law enforcement,
and other agencies working on missing and exploited children issues.
Promote information sharing and provide technical
assistance by networking with regional nonprofit organizations, State
missing children clearinghouses, and law enforcement agencies.
Develop publications that contain practical, timely
information.
Provide information regarding programs offering free or
low-cost transportation services that assist in reuniting children with
their families.
In FY 1997, NCMEC's toll-free hotline received 127,796 calls
ranging from citizens reporting information concerning missing children
to requests from parents and law enforcement for information and
publications. NCMEC also assisted in the recovery of 4,607 children,
disseminated millions of missing children photographs, distributed
thousands of publications, and sponsored four regional meetings of
State missing children clearinghouses.
In a major effort to broaden its photograph distribution capacity,
NCMEC is displaying missing children posters on hundreds of Web sites
by using push technology to automatically broadcast photographs and
case information to requesting Web sites. In addition, NCMEC worked
with private industry representatives to create a wide array of
awareness and prevention activities that include public service
announcements, direct mail campaigns, and distribution of mousepads
that list safe Internet practices for children.
In FY 1998, in addition to performing the ongoing functions of the
national resource center and clearinghouse, NCMEC will complete the
development of a Web site that will enable State missing children
clearinghouses and law enforcement agencies to post missing children
posters on the Internet. In response to research documenting that
adolescent females are at greater risk than adolescent males of sexual
victimization, NCMEC will revise its Internet safety publication, Child
Safety on the Information Highway, and will implement a new safety
awareness program focusing on teens.
Congress has appropriated $1.9 million in FY 1998 for NCMEC to
develop a national training and technical assistance program designed
to enhance the national investigative response to Internet crimes
against children. NCMEC, in partnership with OJJDP and in cooperation
with the U.S. Customs Service; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the
U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and
Obscenity Section and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the
National District Attorneys Association, will initiate a broad program
of activities in FY 1998 to combat crimes against children by criminals
using computer technology or the Internet. As envisioned, these
activities will include the installation of a NCMEC CYBER Tipline to
collect information regarding child pornography and other computer
crimes against children. Once the Tipline is implemented, citizens will
be able to use the Internet to provide information about criminal
Internet activity targeting children.
Additional project activities include an Internet crimes against
children teleconference for law enforcement and a national law
enforcement training program that will include regional investigative
seminars in the field and policy development seminars at JRLETC. NCMEC
and OJJDP will be using a national technical advisory group composed of
representatives from Federal, State, and local law enforcement,
prosecutors, and private industry (including the agencies referenced
above) to guide implementation of this initiative.
A 1-year cooperative agreement will be awarded to NCMEC in FY 1998
for the performance of the national resource center and clearinghouse
functions. No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1998.
Missing and Exploited Children Training and Technical Assistance
OJJDP proposes to issue a solicitation for an assistance award to
provide Title IV national training and technical assistance on missing
and exploited children to law enforcement, prosecutors, and health and
family services professionals. The purpose of this program is to ensure
the provision of up-to-date, practical training and technical
assistance for professionals working on missing and exploited children
issues.
The program was competitively funded in FY 1995 for a 3-year
project period under a cooperative agreement awarded to Fox Valley
Technical College (FVTC) of Appleton, Wisconsin. In FY 1997, FVTC
provided training to more than 4,100 law enforcement, prosecution,
child welfare services, and medical professionals. FVTC supported
missing and exploited children activities by providing direct technical
assistance pertaining to information sharing, protocol development,
response planning, child protection legislation, juvenile prostitution,
and multidisciplinary team development to more than 40 State and local
units of government and professional associations. FVTC also
facilitated the development of several OJJDP publications including,
When Your Child is Missing: A Family Survival Guide. Written by parents
for parents, this publication, scheduled for release in spring 1998,
will provide guidance for searching parents from the perspective of
parents who have lost children to abductions. FVTC also provided
substantial assistance in the creation of several titles in OJJDP's
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Portable Guides series and the publication of the Federal Agency Task
Force Joint Report.
One cooperative agreement with a 3-year project period would be
awarded in FY 1998 under a competitive program announcement.
Internet Crimes Against Children Regional Task Force Development
Congress has appropriated $2.4 million in FY 1998 to develop and
support regional law enforcement task forces to address the problem of
Internet crimes against children. OJJDP will issue a solicitation for
assistance awards to States or local units of government, or
combinations thereof, to support implementation of regional task forces
to investigate Internet crimes against children. The purpose of the
program design will be to assist communities to develop comprehensive
multiagency responses that emphasize collaboration, information
sharing, and victim assistance. Eight to twelve grants will be awarded
to develop or expand regional multidisciplinary task forces under this
solicitation.
Continuation Programs
Title IV continuation programs for FY 1998 are summarized below.
Available funds, implementation sites, and other descriptive
information are subject to change based on the plan review process,
grantee performance, application quality, fund availability, and other
factors. No additional applications will be solicited for these
programs in FY 1998.
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association's Safe Return
Program
OJJDP is responsible for providing oversight of this program, for
which Congress has provided $900,000 in FY 1998 to facilitate the
identification and safe return of memory-impaired persons who are at
risk of wandering from their homes.
In FY 1997, the Safe Return Program increased its registration data
base to 30,000 individuals, assisted in the return of more than 1,700
wanderers, and continued the development of an image data base
consisting of more than 25,500 photographs.
In FY 1998, the program will continue to expand the national
registry of memory-impaired persons, maintain the toll-free telephone
service, provide a Fax Alert System, conduct a ``train the trainers''
program for law enforcement and emergency personnel, develop
information and educational materials, launch a national public
awareness campaign, and transition current ``wandering persons''
programs into the national Safe Return Program.
National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
OJJDP proposes to continue to transfer funds to the Department of
Justice's Management Division through a reimbursable agreement to
continue NCMEC's online access to the FBI's National Crime Information
Center (NCIC) Wanted and Missing Persons files. The ability to verify
NCIC entries, communicate with law enforcement through the Interstate
Law Enforcement Telecommunication System, and be notified of life-
threatening cases through the NCIC flagging system is crucial to
NCMEC's mission of providing advice and technical assistance to law
enforcement.
NISMART II
Temple University Institute for Survey Research was awarded a 3-
year project period grant in FY 1995 to conduct the second National
Incidence Study of Missing, Exploited, Abducted, Runaway, and
Thrownaway Children (NISMART II). This project builds on the strengths
and addresses some of the weaknesses of NISMART I. Temple has assembled
a team of experts in the field of child victimization and survey
research capabilities, particularly surveys involving children and
families concerning sensitive topics. Temple has contracted with the
University of New Hampshire Survey Research Laboratory and Westat,
Inc., to carry out specific components of the study and provide
extensive background knowledge about the particulars of NISMART I.
Specifically, the NISMART II study will (1) revise NISMART I
definitions, (2) conduct a household survey that interviews both
caretaker and child, (3) conduct a police records study, (4) conduct a
juvenile facilities study, (5) analyze National Incidence Study-3
Community Professionals Study, (6) develop a single estimate of missing
children, and (7) conduct analyses and prepare reports. The project is
scheduled for completion in FY 2000.
In FY 1997, the NISMART II definitions were revised under the
guidance of the project Advisory Board, and data survey collection
instruments were developed and submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget for clearance.
In FY 1998, project activities will include completing the Computer
Assisted Telephone Interview program, pretesting the survey
questionnaires and refining them as necessary, and collecting data. In
addition, a Fact Sheet documenting the scope of the research,
definition revisions, and methodology changes will be published.
Effective Community-Based Approaches for Dealing With Missing and
Exploited Children
In FY 1995, the American Bar Association (ABA) was awarded an 18-
month grant to study effective community-based approaches for dealing
with missing and exploited children. The objectives of Phase I of this
study were to (1) conduct a national search for communities that have
implemented a multiagency response to missing and exploited children
and their families, (2) select five communities with working
multiagency responses that hold promise for replication, (3) evaluate
these five communities, and (4) prepare a final report. Phase I was
completed in July 1997. In Phase II, which started in August 1997, the
ABA is preparing a final report that synthesizes the research findings
from Phase I into a modular training curriculum to help communities
plan, implement, and evaluate a multiagency response to missing and
exploited children and their families. The project will be completed in
FY 1998 with no further funding anticipated at this time.
Parent Resource Support Network
In FY 1997, OJJDP entered into a competitively awarded 3-year
cooperative agreement with Public Administration Services (PAS) to
develop and maintain a parent support network. The need for victim
parents to speak with other victim parents has emerged as a constant
theme in several OJJDP focus groups. The goal of this project is to
stimulate development of a network of screened and trained parent
volunteers who will provide assistance and advice to other victim
parents.
In FY 1998, PAS will install a case management system to document
referrals and assistance activity, recruit parent mentors, develop and
deliver a training curriculum for the volunteer parents, and begin
direct service delivery to requesting parents. No funds will be
required in FY 1998.
Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center Program
In FY 1997, OJJDP--in partnership with the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, the FBI, and OJJDP grantee Fox Valley
Technical College--developed and implemented the Jimmy Ryce Law
Enforcement Training Center (JRLETC) program. JRLETC offers two law
enforcement training tracks that are designed to
[[Page 8542]]
improve the national investigative response to missing children cases.
JRLETC's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) seminars approach missing
children cases from a management perspective and offer information
regarding coordination and communication issues, resource assessment,
legal concerns, and policy development for police chiefs and sheriffs.
The Responding to Missing and Exploited Children (REMAC) course offers
modules focusing on investigative techniques for all aspects of missing
children cases.
In FY 1997, 197 police chiefs and sheriffs and 634 investigators
representing law enforcement agencies from every State participated in
at least one of the JRLETC programs. In addition, representatives from
every National Crime Information Center (NCIC) State Control Terminal
Agencies received training at JRLETC about the NCIC flagging system and
related missing children issues.
Congress appropriated $1,185,000 in FY 1998 to continue operation
of the Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center. OJJDP, NCMEC, the
FBI, and FVTC will continue to provide training and technical
assistance through the JRLETC and will augment the training with a new
onsite technical assistance program to respond to the numerous requests
for assistance from JRLETC graduates. It is envisioned that teams
composed of FBI, NCMEC, and law enforcement management experts will
merge FBI Child Abduction and Serial Killer Unit (CASKU) investigative
expertise with proven law enforcement management practices to assist
police chiefs and sheriffs in designing unique missing children
investigative and response protocols for their communities.
Under the JRLETC appropriation, OJJDP plans to award $500,000 to
FVTC to support regional REMAC courses, with the remaining $685,000 to
be awarded to NCMEC to continue the CEO seminars.
Fiscal year 1998 funds will be awarded to supplement cooperative
agreements to NCMEC and FVTC to continue operation of the Jimmy Ryce
Law Enforcement Training Center. No additional applications will be
solicited in FY 1998.
Criminal Parental Kidnaping Training and Technical Assistance
In FY 1997, OJJDP supplemented an FY 1994 competitive award by
awarding continuation funding to the American Prosecutors Research
Institute (APRI) to provide parental abduction training and technical
assistance for prosecutors and to develop a training course pertaining
to the prosecution of child exploitation cases. Child exploitation
prosecutions are among the most complicated that prosecutors confront
because of the age and immaturity of victims, societal and law
enforcement attitudes toward these victims, the need for specialized
understanding of the dynamics of sexual exploitation, and the
jurisdiction and communication difficulties resulting from the
involvement of numerous agencies. To effectively handle such cases,
prosecutors must approach victims with great sensitivity and an
understanding of the psychological dynamics involved.
In FY 1997, APRI--in addition to delivering training to 60
prosecutors--disseminated a quarterly newsletter, maintained an up-to-
date parental kidnaping and child exploitation data base that included
a compilation of statutes and case law summaries, and provided
technical assistance to more than 100 prosecutors and investigators on
an as-needed basis. APRI also produced a Judge's Guide benchbook,
continued to update the National Directory of Parental Kidnaping
Prosecutors and Investigators, created a Web site that provides access
to case law information and law review articles, and provided
assistance to numerous professional conferences.
In FY 1998, while continuing, updating, or expanding the above-
mentioned technical assistance activities, APRI will offer an advanced
dual track training course for prosecutors in the areas of child
exploitation and parental kidnaping. The parental abduction track will
concentrate on difficult case strategies, resource availability,
preventive measures, and recovery techniques. The child exploitation
track will discuss legal issues pertaining to computer search and
seizures, juvenile prostitution, child pornography, and the emerging
threat posed by criminals using Internet technology to victimize
children. No additional funds are necessary in FY 1998.
National Center on Child Fatality Review
In FY 1997, OJJDP awarded a noncompetitive award to the National
Center on Child Fatality Review (NCCFR) in Los Angeles, California, to
develop State and local uniform reporting definitions and generic child
fatality review team protocols for consideration by communities working
on enhancing their child death investigations.
NCCFR developed a model for integrating data among the Criminal
Justice, Vital Statistics, and Social Services Child Abuse Indices.
NCCFR also selected a National Advisory Board, which is composed of
representatives from across the country and from relevant disciplines.
In FY 1998, OJJDP proposes to continue support to NCCFR to (1)
disseminate the model protocols for integrating the data mentioned
above to State and local child fatality review teams and other relevant
agencies; (2) develop a Web site and update it with journal articles,
references, new studies, new findings, and new resources; (3) maintain
paper and electronic directories of State and local child fatality
review teams, national associations, and Federal agency contacts; (4)
maintain a listing of contacts for professional specialists such as
head trauma, burns, neglect, NCCFR Advisory Board, and related
organizations and systems in the respective fields; (5) provide
information and training materials on basic team management and special
problems such as confidentiality, risk assessment, and special case
circumstances; (6) coordinate teleconferences and Internet meetings of
the Advisory Board; (7) maintain and share published reports of State
and local teams; (8) develop, coordinate, and implement
multidisciplinary training; and (9) plan for a national conference.
Investigative Case Management for Missing Children Homicides
In FY 1993, OJJDP made a competitive award to the Washington State
Attorney General's Office (WAGO) to analyze the solvability factors of
missing children homicide investigations. During the course of that
research, WAGO collected and analyzed the specific characteristics of
more than 550 missing child homicide cases. These characteristics were
recorded in WAGO's child homicide data base.
In FY 1998, OJJDP proposes to continue to provide funding support
to WAGO to ensure the vitality and investigative relevance of its child
homicide data base. This funding would support both the gathering of
new case information and the development of specific case studies that
will be used to illustrate the research findings in training
presentations. In addition, the data base would be used by Federal,
State, and local law enforcement to perform link analysis by
identifying cases with similar characteristics. Law enforcement data
base inquiries can be made by calling WAGO at 800-345-2793.
[[Page 8543]]
FBI Child Abduction and Serial Killer Unit (CASKU)
In FY 1997, OJJDP entered into a 3-year interagency agreement with
the FBI's CASKU to expand research to broaden law enforcement's
understanding of homicidal pedophiles' selection and luring of their
victims, their planning activities, and their efforts to escape
prosecution. This information will be used by the FBI and OJJDP in
training and technical assistance programs. Fiscal year 1997 activities
included the drafting of the research manager position description and
preliminary survey development.
In FY 1998, OJJDP will continue funding support to CASKU to (1)
complete the research manager employment process to include background
screening; (2) complete development of the survey protocol; (3)
identify specific individuals to include in the case studies; and (4)
begin data collection.
Dated: February 12, 1998.
Shay Bilchik,
Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
[FR Doc. 98-4155 Filed 2-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-M