National Alert Registry

May 27, 2005 -- Understanding and protecting your child ren from child molesters and predators can be a sensitive subject. As parents, we find it difficult to discuss with our children, but do we really want them to learn about this the hard way - from a molester

The FBI estimates that there is a child molester or s e x offender living in every square mile of the United States. One in ten men has molested children. Most child molesters are able to molest dozens of children before getting caught and have a 97% chance of getting away with their crimes!

As parents, caretakers and community leaders, here are some simple rules we can use to help protect our children:

1) Teach Children Key Information.
Teach your child (ren) their full name, address, phone number with area code, parents' names and work phone numbers. Practice reciting this information often as children may often forget pertinent information over time. Also practice how to make an emergency call to you or 911 from a pay phone.

2) Teach Children Who is Safe - And Who Is Not.
Children should be taught at an early age what type of "stranger" is okay to ask for help when they are lost or frightened. Good examples are: a mother with children, a counter clerk in a store or a uniformed police officer. Next time you visit a store, practice picking these types of people out with your child (ren).

3) Know Where Your Child is Going.
Children should always inform you before they go anywhere. This applies to older children as well since they are equally at risk to abduction by child predators. As you give your older children more freedom, reiterate safety rules with them. As a parent ask the questions: who, what, when, where, why and take the time to follow up on their responses.

4) Teach Children About The "Buddy System".
Never let your child ren go anywhere alone. Remind them that there is safety in numbers and they should always use the buddy system, never going anywhere alone. Stress the point that they should avoid situations that might isolate them from others or crowds.

5) Don't Let Children Be Lured In.
Children should be taught not to go near cars or be lured by adults asking for directions, help finding something they lost, that their parents are in trouble and that they will take them to mom or dad. Share a code word with your child known only to family members and trusted friends. Make sure your child understands that they should not accept a ride with anyone not having the family code.

6) Reinforce Safety Skills.
Parents should seize opportunities to reinforce safety skills. If an incident occurs in your community, speak frankly about it and use this time to discuss and re-emphasize the safety rules with them. Be sure to comfort them with the fact that there is always someone who can help them. Please visit www.goodknight.org for Government Sponsored Abduction Prevention Materials (books, tapes, DVD videos, & programs). These materials are bilingual (Spanish/English). Some of the safety films were written, created, and directed entirely by children so that other children could learn how to protect themselves from dangerous situations by recognizing the behavior patterns of those who might try to harm them.

7) Know How To Report Your Missing Child.
Time is a very critical factor in abduction cases. Seventy four percent of children who are abducted are murdered within three hours of the abduction. When you can not find your child , you should immediately call your local law enforcement and provide your child 's name, date of birth, height, weight, and any distinctive marks such as eyeglasses, braces or scars. Request that your child 's information be immediately entered into the National Crime Information Center's Missing Person File. After you have reported your child missing to local law enforcement, call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.

8) Take the Initiative to be Informed.
As a parent, be informed by knowing where the child predators live in your neighborhood and around your local schools. The National Alert Registry has a wealth of information on convicted child predators all in one place, including photos, addresses, degree of criminal offenses, and distinguishable markings. Visit the National Alert Registry at http://nationalalert.tripod.com where retrieving this important information is fast and affordable, making it easier for you to.

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