OJJDP News @ a Glance, January/February 2007

• NCJ Number: 217167
• Date Published: February 2007
• Length: 0 pages
• Publication Series: OJJDP News @ a Glance
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

This issue of OJJDP (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention) News @ a Glance addresses the proceedings of the 2006 Project Safe Childhood National Conference, mentor recruitment, training in antigang strategies in El Salvador, commercial sexual exploitation of children, the 11th anniversary of AMBER Alert, teen dating violence, new OJJDP publications, and news on recent juvenile justice activities.

Abstract

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide intergovernmental effort to investigate and prosecute crimes against children that are facilitated through the Internet or other electronic media and communications devices. The National Conference (December 4-6, 2006) focused on such issues as strategic planning and partnerships, the legal challenges of pornography trials, advocating for victims of online child exploitation, and investigative forensics. OJJDP, in partnership with the National Network of Youth Ministries and Corporation for National and Community Service, is hosting two national events (February and April 2007) that will assist mentoring programs in finding and recruiting new members, particularly through community-based and faith-based collaborations. OJJDP Gang Program Coordinator Phelan Wyrick conducted gang-prevention training at the International Law Enforcement Academy in San Salvador, El Salvador, January 29-February 2, 2007. The training focused on sharing best practices and lessons learned in gang enforcement and prevention. In September 2006, the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Justice programs announced a $1 million award to the Salvation Army and its partners for a new initiative to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The funding will help communities in five selected cities align investigative, prosecutorial, and victim resources to combat commercial sexual exploitation of children. On January 12, 2007, the U.S. Justice Department commemorated the 11th anniversary of the AMBER Alert program by celebrating its success in saving the lives of 308 children nationwide. Activities of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Prevention Week (February 5-9, 2007) are described.