Trinity Mount Ministries

Showing posts with label .blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label .blog. Show all posts

Monday, December 17, 2012

ADAM (Find My Child) 1983 (Movie)


ADAM (Find My Child) 1983 from Trinity Mount Ministries on Vimeo.


Code Adam

The Adam Walsh Story
On July 27, 1981, 6-year-old Adam Walsh and his mother Revé went to a department store about a mile away from their home to shop for lamps. When they entered the store Adam saw several children playing video games on a television monitor and asked if he could stay to play. His mother let him stay and went to the lamp department, which was about 75 feet away. Because the lamp she wanted was not in stock she returned rather quickly, less than 10 minutes later, but couldn’t find Adam. After looking for Adam on her own for two hours, someone finally called the local police department. By the end of that week thousands of fliers with Adam’s photograph were distributed through the local area. Sixteen days after Adam disappeared from the store his body was found and identified.
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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Texas Fugitive Arrested & Missing Child Recovered in Sitka:


For Immediate ReleaseContact:
December 11, 2012Sr. Inspector Lisa Norbert, District of Alaska (907) 271-3504; USMS Headquarters Public Affairs (202) 307-9065
Texas Fugitive Arrested & Missing Child Recovered in Sitka
Anchorage, AK – The U.S. Marshals Service reports the recovery of the 400th missing child under Operation Pickup, a collaborative program involving the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), USMS and state/local law enforcement that targets fugitives who are believed to be in the company of a missing child.

Under Operation Pickup, the U.S. Marshals Service in Northern Texas and Alaska assisted the Amarillo Police Department in Texas in locating fugitive Micki Brogdon who allegedly abducted her son in November 2011. Brogdon was wanted by the Amarillo Police Department in Texas for Interference with Child Custody and the child was reported missing.

The USMS nationwide investigation revealed that Brogdon traveled from Texas to South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Washington and Alaska prior to her arrest.

On Monday, December 10, 2012, the Alaska USMS requested assistance from the Sitka Police Department which resulted in the arrest of Brogdon. The missing child was recovered and placed into the custody of the State of Alaska, Office of Children’s Services pending being reunited with his father.

On Tuesday, December 11, 2012, Brogdon will appear before the court in Sitka, Alaska; pending her extradition based off the Texas warrants.

The U.S. Marshals Service would like to thank the Sitka Police Department and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for their assistance which led to Brogdon’s arrest and the recovery of the missing child.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.
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Sunday, December 2, 2012

Missing Children's Bulletin, includes 14-year-old Mid-South case:


Tipton County News


TBI releases latest Missing Children's Bulletin, includes 14-year-old Mid-South case
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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Emilliano Terry update: Missing child's mom Camilia Terry arrested by police after body found:


CLEVELAND - The search for 3-year-old Emilliano Terry was suspended Monday night after the body of a young boy was found at a waste plant in Oakwood Village, Cleveland police said.

Cleveland police and the Cleveland Division of the FBI held a news conference just before 10 p.m. Monday about the boy, who disappeared from Kossuth Park at about 5 p.m. Sunday.

“We come here with heavy hearts, I’m sure you understand. Today, at approximately 4 o’clock, a body of a small child matching the description of Emilliano Terry was discovered at a waste treatment plant in Oakwood Village. At this time, we have suspended the search for Emilliano Terry, pending a ruling from the coroner’s office tomorrow morning," said Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath.

"So, in other words, right now, currently, we are treating this as a homicide, rather than a missing person or abduction.”

Cleveland police said officers spotted a Waste Management truck in the area of East 130th Street and Buckeye Road, and recorded the number of the truck. Officers then contacted Waste Management to have them set aside the trash from that truck and that's where the body was found intact.

The child's body was wrapped in four or five plastic bags, Cleveland police said. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's office has an autopsy planned for Tuesday morning to decide time and manner of death.
His mother, 20-year-old Camilia Terry, told police she was pushing one of her three children on the swing when the 3-year-old vanished. Her 5-year-old told police he saw a car in the area, but Cleveland police said there was nothing to indicate Emilliano got into that car.

Camilia Terry called 911 and told dispatchers that she hadn’t seen her son for 15 minutes. She cried and described Emilliano’s cloths before hanging up.

“Some time during the day, of today, the statements of Miss Terry became very inconsistent and we decide that we would further investigate her involvement in this situation,” Cleveland Police Cmdr. Deon McCauley said.

Camilia Terry is in the is in the custody of Cleveland police and it will be up to prosecutors to determine charges. Officers said she did not admit to any crime.

Her other two children are now with Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services. Cleveland police said they plan to search Camilia Terry's house again.

"On behalf of the Cleveland Division of Police, our condolences go out to all those who loved and cared for this child throughout his life, and to the community who came to care for him these last 24 hours," McGrath said in a blog post . "This is a tragic end for an innocent young life in our community. And we will not accept it."


Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/national/emilliano-terry-update-missing-childs-mom-camilia-terry-arrested-by-police-after-body-found##ixzz2DREDiQHC


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Sunday, November 25, 2012

Cleveland: Police issue alert for missing child:



Cleveland: Police issue alert for missing child

12:07 AM, Nov 26, 2012  

CLEVELAND -- Police are actively seeking help from the public in locating a missing 3-year-old boy.


According to police, Emilliano Terry went missing around 5:05 p.m. at Kossuth Park near East 121st Street and Williams Avenue.
Terry is a black male, about 2'6" and weighs about 30 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray North Face coat, a red and black sweater, blue jeans and blue and black Champion brand tennis shoes.
The child's mother, Camilia Terry, 20, says she was in the park with her children Sunday evening. Her attention was briefly diverted by one of her children when her 3-year-old child went missing.
One of Terry's children reported that Emilliano may have left the area in a black vehicle with an unknown driver. Police added that the vehicle may have been a Saab.
Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call the Fourth District Detective's Bureau at 216-623-5418.
You may also contact police at 216-623-5400.
WKYC-TV

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Friday, November 23, 2012

FBI - Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted Report, 2011:


Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted Report, 2011

11/23/2012
Mollie Halpern: An FBI report shows that 72 law enforcement officers made the ultimate sacrifice in the United States and Puerto Rico in 2011.
David Cuthbertson: We had 16 more officers die in the line of duty than we did in 2010.
Halpern: I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau and this is FBI, This Week. Most of the officers were killed with firearms during arrest situations. Their average age was 38 and they had served for about 12 years at the time of their deaths. David Cuthbertson is the Assistant Director of the Criminal Justice Information Services Division…
Cuthbertson: The LEOKA report provides us a somber reminder that every day thousands of law enforcement officers are on the street protecting us against criminals. That protection does not come for free—it does come at a cost.
Halpern: The FBI uses the report to form the basis of our officer safety awareness training courses.
Cuthbertson: In the last four years, the FBI has provided the officer safety awareness training courses to over 54,000 public safety professionals…in the U.S. and abroad.
Halpern: For more information visit www.fbi.gov
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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Happy Universal Children's Day! From Stop It Now!


Stop It Now masthead
Happy Universal Children's Day! 

On this day in 1989 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Join us in celebrating this day - and supporting child rights.
Visit StopItNow.org to take action! 

  • Read about "Child rights and adult responsibility" 
  • Support US ratification of the CRC
  • Read about competing meanings of childhood and child sexual abuse in the Caribbean 
  • Learn more about child rights worldwide
Securing children's rights to prevent abuse
By providing support, information and resources to keep children safe, Stop It Now! works to secure children's right to freedom from violence. Now more than ever adults, communities and society around the world are stepping up to the responsibility to protect this right. 
Child rights as a foundation for prevention
Our collaboration with international organizations has made clear that the CRC has been critical to governments taking seriously the protection and support of children, while not interfering with parents' responsibility to care for their children.

Stop It Now! supports the United States' ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as part of our commitment to support human rights for all children. The United States is in the company of South Sudan and Somalia as the only countries not to have ratified the treaty.

Join us in celebrating - and committing to help fully realize the rights of children everywhere.  
Donate Now buttonDonate now to support a child's right to safety.

"You have lifted the burden. I have the answer now of what I need to do for this child." (A Helpline caller)
Visit StopItNow.org to learn more about how you can help us make a difference and to explore other giving options.
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Monday, November 19, 2012

NCMEC Prevention Tips for Parents and Guardians:

Keeping Kids Safer
Tips you can trust
Abduction and Harm – Prevention Tips for Parents and Guardians

Many parents and guardians feel they are faced with new and unprecedented challenges when trying to keep their children safer in today’s fast-paced society. To help minimize risks to your younger children, they should be supervised by you or another trusted adult, a person you have come to rely on and with whom you and your children feel comfortable.

Parents and guardians should teach older children how to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations. You should not expect your children to rely solely on their judgment about people, even if the person is someone known to you or your family.

It is also important not to confuse children with the concept of “strangers.” They do not have the same understanding of who a stranger is as an adult might. The “stranger-danger” message is not effective, as danger to children is often much greater from someone they or you know.

No matter whom the person is, whether known or unknown, the important message to teach children is to get out of potentially dangerous situations as quickly as possible.

Read more...
Latest News
Nominations for the 2013 National Missing and Exploited Children’s Law Enforcement Awards 

The National Missing and Exploited Children's Awards are held annually on or near May 25 — National Missing Children’s Day. The ceremony, hosted by the National Center, is held in partnership with the Fraternal Order of Police and the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Since the first ceremony in 1996, we have honored 193 outstanding law-enforcement officers.

United States law-enforcement agencies of all sizes and jurisdictions may be considered by submitting nominations for an officer or non law-enforcement personnel who have performed above and beyond the call of duty in safely recovering a missing child or successfully resolving a complex child sexual exploitation investigation.

The 2013 ceremony will take place in May in Washington, DC.

Take Action
Support NCMEC by Shopping Through Socialvest

What if you could multiply your giving to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children by doing something you already do every day? Well now you can, thanks to our new partnership with Socialvest! Socialvest allows you to shop online with hundreds of retailers (including Amazon, Nordstrom, Best Buy, Expedia and Saks) and earn a percentage of every dollar you spend back for the National Center with each purchase.
How To Get Started:

1. Sign up: Create a free account here:https://www.socialvest.us/ncmec. Once you’ve signed up your Socialvest earnings will automatically be donated to us every month.

2. Get shopping: To start earning, make sure you have downloaded the free browser app: https://www.socialvest.us/toolbar-download. This is an easy tool that allows you to go directly to participating retailer’s sites. With the app, you can also search for retailers or products through Google or Bing and discover new earning opportunities!

3. Earn and Give: Each Socialvest retailer gives back anywhere between 1-35% of the total purchase amount at no additional cost to you. Once you’ve made a purchase your giving dollars will automatically be donated to the National Center. You can keep track of the impact you have on your Socialvest account page.

Thank you for supporting the National Center by doing something you already do – shop online!
Child Pornography Suspect Arrested; Child Rescued 

On Feb. 26, 2012, the CyberTipline received five reports from a registered Electronic Service Provider (ESP) regarding a user who had reportedly emailed sexually abusive images of pre-pubescent children to another individual using their service. The ESP provided information, including an email address, screen name, and zip code associated with the reported suspect. An Exploited Children Division analyst quickly traced the reported zip code to a location in Connecticut. Through extensive online searches of the reported email address, she found an online profile containing important clues.

Read more…
Make a Donation

NOTES FROM NCMEC

The Importance of Having a Good Photo of Your Child
One of the most important tools for law enforcement to use in the case of a missing child is an up-to-date, good-quality photograph. The National Center recommends parents and guardians keep current child identification information on hand and offers the following tips when taking a photograph of your child.Read more...

YOU Make a Difference

Make a Gift to the National Center this Holiday Season 

The generosity of our donors helps law enforcement have the tools they need to close cases and catch predators before they victimize our kids. Your support gives children the skills they need to protect themselves as they grow. And, most of all, your gifts help bring missing kids home. Please continue to keep hope alive by considering a gift to the Nation Center this holiday season.

Or give a donation in honor of a friend instead of sending them a traditional gift! When you donatethrough our website, and provide the contact information for the person you would like to be notified of your gift, we will send a note card letting them know of your generosity on their behalf. You can also call our Development Department at 866-411-KIDS to make a donation.



Copyright© 2012 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. All rights reserved.

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Charles B. Wang International Children's Building
699 Prince Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3175
The United States of America
Phone: 703-224-2150
Fax: 703-224-2122
Hotline: 1-800-THE-LOST
(1-800-843-5678)
CONTACT US

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Baseball hat, phone book could lead to clues in child exploitation case:




Posted: Nov 19, 2012 10:46 AM PSTUpdated: Nov 19, 2012 11:06 AM PST

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The Federal Bureau of Investigations is looking for answers, and a man, in connection to a child exploitation case that could have a Charlotte connection.

According to the Charlotte Division of the FBI, agents are seeking the public's assistance to identify an unknown individual who may be able to provide valuable information in the case.
Investigators say they found a series of photographs online showing a prepubescent female, approximately 10 years old, posing naked in sexually explicit positions.
An unknown man is seen in the photos witnessing the child's behavior from a bed nearby.
Agents have released portions of this images to the public in hopes of getting information about the incident. They say the photographs have been circulated and traded as child pornography among various illegal Internet forums.
Investigators were able to enhance the background of one of the photographs. They found what they believe to be a child's drinking cup from the QuikTrip chain of gas stations. 
According to investigators, they believe the photographs were likely taken prior to November of 2005, in or around 13 U.S. cities, including Charlotte and Greenville/Spartanburg in South Carolina.
"A baseball cap displaying what could be the logo of a local sports team, as well as a partial image of what appears to be a telephone book, are also clues which may provide valuable information regarding the location of this endangered child," a release from the FBI stated.
This unknown man's identity and current whereabouts are unknown.
"He appears to be an older, white male between the ages of 55 and 65 with brown eyes, gray hair, and a full beard and mustache," the FBI stated.
"The public is reminded that no charges have been filed in this case and the pictured individual is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law."
The information is coming out as a part of the FBI's Rescue Me and Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) initiatives, both of which represent strategic partnerships between the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  
Rescue Me focuses on utilizing clues obtained through in-depth image analysis to identify the child victims depicted in child exploitation material, while ECAP seeks national and international media exposure of unknown adults (referred to as John/Jane Doe) who visibly display their faces and/or other distinguishing characteristics in child pornography images.
Anyone with information to provide should contact their local FBI office at 704-672-6100, submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov/ , or call the FBI's toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Copyright 2012 WBTV. All rights reserved.
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Talk to your kids today about sexual abuse:






By
Posted Nov 19, 2012 @ 03:01 AM

The growing number of child sexual abuse cases is frightening. And it sends a strong message that we all need to remain vigilant in raising awareness to this horrendous crime so that more children will come forward if they have been victimized.
Parents or other caregivers, don’t put off addressing this issue. Have an age-appropriate discussion with your child today. It’s one of the most important things you’ll ever do.
Scandals abound. The latest comes from Britain, where police said last week that a renowned BBC TV host who died last year was one of the nation’s worst pedophiles, possibly abusing several hundred children. Meanwhile, the Penn State scandal percolates a year later, with former president Graham Spanier facing charges that he lied about and concealed child sex abuse allegations involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. Sandusky is serving up to 60 years in prison after being convicted of abusing young boys over a 15-year period.
Also last week, Trenton Town Supervisor Mark Scheidelman was charged with felony sex abuse, accused of abusing a 7-year-old boy. Police say Scheidelman, 52, might have abused others over the past three decades, and are asking alleged victims to come forward.
Earlier this year, it was announced that reports of sexual abuse against children in Oneida County steadily increased between 2005 and 2009. If there’s any ray of hope in this, it’s that more children are coming forward to report abuse because of heightened awareness.
Talking about such things with our kids can be uncomfortable. But there are many agencies such as the YWCA Mohawk Valley, Oneida County Child Advocacy Center or Mohawk Valley office of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that can provide information for discussing this with your child.
Don’t put it off. Begin a dialogue now and help your child understand that they must come to you if they are uncomfortable with anything. And by all means, if you suspect abuse, report it by calling the YWCA’s 24-hour confidential hotlines: 866-4120 in Herkimer County; 797-7740 in Oneida County. You can also call the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center at 732-3990.
Tips for parents, caregivers
-- Talk. Maintain a dialogue with children identifying good touch versus bad touch and helping them understand that their bodies belong to them.
-- Tone down the stranger danger. While children need to be aware of strangers and how to keep themselves safe, the vast majority of child sexual abusers are individuals the child knows, such as a parent or other relative, a teacher, coach, clergy, neighbor or family friend.
-- Break the silence. Child sexual abuse thrives on secrecy. Children need to be able to tell a trusted adult if someone tries to hurt or touch them inappropriately.
-- Get educated. Encourage professional prevention programs in the local school system and throughout the community.
— YWCA Mohawk Valley
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Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Combating Transnational Organized Crime and Human Trafficking:



Deputy Attorney General James Cole Speaks at the 81st INTERPOL General Assembly Ministerial Meeting on Combating Transnational Organized Crime and Human Trafficking
Rome, Italy ~ Monday, November 5, 2012

Good Afternoon.  Thank you, Ambassador Aragona, INTERPOL President Khoo Boon Hui, and Secretary General Ron Noble.  I would also like to thank our host country and the people of Italy and, more specifically, Rome, for their warm hospitality.  And I would like to thank INTERPOL and the National Central Bureaus and delegations from around the world for organizing and attending this extraordinary event – celebrating our joint achievements, building upon our relationships, discussing issues critical to our domestic and global security, and developing a path forward for this organization of law enforcement officials united in our joint pursuit of justice.  I had the privilege of addressing the 80th General Assembly in Hanoi, Vietnam . . . and it is again an honor to be here and to be asked to speak with the global law enforcement community.

During my tenure as Deputy Attorney General, I have come to learn firsthand the unprecedented level of international cooperation between INTERPOL member countries in developing the critical law enforcement tools of 24/7 communication, information sharing and coordinated responses.  This works to deprive criminals of their transnational advantage.  The unwavering dedication to mission by INTERPOL and the world’s National Central Bureaus is both inspiring and critical to our joint successes in combating crime.  Frankly, the broad array of issues you each deal with on a daily basis and on a global scale is simply astonishing.

The United States and its citizens have benefitted greatly from our robust partnership with INTERPOL and its member countries and allies.  You all have played a significant role in adding a layer of security around our borders.  For that, we are ever grateful – and we pledge to continue supporting the mission of INTERPOL and reciprocating your invaluable assistance and cooperation.

Last year, I spoke about cybercrime and cybersecurity and called upon more countries to ratify the Budapest Convention – built upon the same three tenets as INTERPOL: international collaboration, steadfast vigilance and continuous engagement.  Since we last gathered, six countries have ratified the Convention: Austria, Belgium, Georgia, Japan, Malta and Switzerland.  Thank you for your partnership in this endeavor and your steadfast commitment to the rule of law and the security of all of our nations.  For those that have not yet acted – and I understand that there are at least nine countries that have expressed official interest (Argentina, Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Korea, Mexico, the Philippines and Senegal) – I urge you all to take steps to ratify this powerful law enforcement tool.

Today, I would like to address two areas – sometimes intertwined – that would benefit greatly from INTERPOL’s continued leadership and support and member countries’ investment, vigilance and cooperation: Transnational Organized Crime and Human Trafficking.

Transnational organized crime poses a significant and growing threat to the security of each of our nations, our citizens, and the international community as a whole.  Not only are criminal networks expanding, but they are also diversifying their activities – with dire implications for public safety, public health, democratic institutions and, in this already tough economic climate, the financial stability of nations across the globe.  The United Nations estimates that, in 2009, transnational organized criminal activities generated $870 billion in illegal proceeds – equivalent to almost 7% of world exports.

Whatever form they take, these borderless criminal networks have common goals and methods of achieving of those goals:  they seek power, influence and commercial gains – through a pattern of corruption, violence, threats and illicit financial transactions.

 The United States is fully engaged in the fight against transnational organized crime.  In January 2010, we completed a comprehensive review of this issue and identified five key threats that it poses to global security:

1. Threat To The Rule of Law:  The penetration of governments by these criminal networks is subverting the rule of law, democratic institutions, and transparent business practices.  Their growing reach and power is allowing them to establish strategic alliances with government leaders and intelligence services around the world, and threatens stability.

2. Threat To Global Financial Markets:  These criminal networks are increasing their subversion of legitimate financial markets, threatening economic interests and raising the risk of significant damage to the world financial system.

3. Threat To Computer Systems Worldwide:  These criminal networks are becoming increasingly involved in cybercrime, which costs consumers billions of dollars annually, creates risks to sensitive corporate and government computer networks, and undermines worldwide confidence in the international financial system.

4. Threat To Peace and Security:  Terrorists and insurgents are increasingly turning to criminal networks to generate funding and acquire logistical support.

5. And the Threat To Public Health:  Despite demonstrable counterdrug successes in recent years, illicit drugs remain a serious threat to the health, safety, security, and financial well-being of our nations’ citizens, as well as a source of great wealth and operating capital for these criminal groups.

In response to this threat assessment, in July 2011, the United States launched a national Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime, which calls for a whole-of-government approach – capitalizing upon a coordinated effort and intelligence sharing by and between our domestic law enforcement partners and our Departments of Justice, State, Treasury, and Homeland Security.  We realized that law enforcement measures alone would not fully counter the threat of transnational organized crime. 

Included in this approach was: the work of our Department of the Treasury to impose financial sanctions on major transnational organized crime groups and individuals; and the work of our Department of State to deny entry to the United States to transnational criminal aliens and others who have been targeted for financial sanctions.  As a direct result of these actions, five transnational organized crime groups that span the globe already have been subjected to these crippling financial sanctions.

Building on our successful counter-narcotics work, we have developed a Center to bring together nine federal law enforcement agencies to share data and intelligence -- both domestically and internationally -- on organized crime investigations.  This innovation expands our abilities to spot patterns and coordinate investigations against transnational organized crime networks.  It also aids our attempts to identify forfeitable assets associated with these criminal activities and obtain seizures and forfeitures of the proceeds of their crimes.  And it hits these networks where it hurts the most – in their pocketbooks – depriving them of their ill-gotten gains and the resources they need to continue and expand their criminal activities.

A key component of our transnational organized crime strategy and resulting success has been, and will continue to be, forging successful and strategic partnerships with our friends and allies around the world.  Through increased law enforcement cooperation and capacity building, and through the increased use of such legal instruments as the U.N. Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, we are forging alliances with partner nations against transnational organized crime . . . .  Alliances that will become increasingly important as this problem continues to spread from country to country.

There is no easy or quick solution.  But, like the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, the universal ratification and implementation of the U.N. Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime would be an important step in the right direction. 

Our joint efforts are paying off.  Historically, the United States has partnered with nations such as this year’s host (Italy) and, coincidentally, next year’s host (Colombia) to successfully take on powerful transnational organized groups.  More recently, we have achieved great successes working with nations such as Mexico against major narcotics trafficking organizations and with Romania to crack down on organized cybercrime groups.  We have also found great partners in Hungary, Spain and the United Kingdom -- and are actively seeking additional partners to further expand these efforts.

 Transnational organized crime is not a problem that the United States, or any one country, can solve alone.  We are pleased to see that other countries – such as the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand – have done assessments and published complementary strategies against transnational organized crime and other nations are considering and developing similar strategies.  I encourage every country to perform similar assessments of the threats posed by transnational organized crime, and develop a strategy against those threats.  The United States is eager to work with you in developing sophisticated investigative capabilities needed to fight these criminal groups.  Tools such as wiretaps and undercover operations; the use of confidential informants; and legislation that criminalizes the activities practiced by these criminal networks such as money laundering, migrant smuggling and cybercrime are necessary if we are ever going to actually win this fight.

And gatherings such as this are vital places for countries to come together and resolve to join to respond effectively as criminals adopt new techniques or seek to conceal their crimes behind a veil of legitimacy and the protection of borders.  I can pledge to you that the United States will be a strong and relentless partner in these vital efforts.

 I want to speak as well about a particular kind of transnational organized crime – one that demands enhanced global attention and a unified law enforcement response: human trafficking.  As stated by President Obama during his recent speech to the Clinton Global Initiative, human trafficking, simply put, is modern-day slavery.  And like transnational organized crime, it can take many forms.  It is the young woman who moves to another country for the promise of a new life – but instead finds herself enslaved and repeatedly sold for sex.  Or it is the child who ran away from home and finds herself in the same situation because, in desperate need, she accepted help from the wrong person.  Or it is the migrant worker who is deprived of identification, transportation and access to money in order to ensure his or her total dependence on his or her employer.

One of the greatest horrors of this crime is that traffickers view their victims as nothing more than a commodity, something that can be bought and sold, or simply taken . . . and eventually discarded.  The treatment traffickers mete out to their victims is fully consistent with that; they are treated as property or things -- not people.  As has been so astutely pointed out:  You can only sell a drug once, but you can sell a human being over, and over, and over leaving the victims in a perpetual life of bondage.

Although human trafficking may take many forms, it often has two common elements.  First, it is hidden in plain sight – what may appear at first to be a prostitution offense, a domestic abuse incident, a physical or sexual assault, a labor dispute or an immigration crime, upon closer examination may turn out to be a case of human slavery.  Second, victims are often traumatized and may be reluctant to cooperate with authorities – either fearing their captors or not trusting law enforcement or both.  This is especially true when a trafficking victim is not legally in the country or is forced to commit crimes to survive.  Because of this, we have learned over time that increasing awareness by first responders of factors that may indicate a potential human trafficking offense is critical to increasing our ability to identify and help human trafficking victims.

The United States is fully engaged in combating human trafficking.  The Attorney General and I – and indeed all of us at the Department of Justice – are fully committed to preventing and fighting human trafficking in all its forms.  And our efforts in this area continue to increase.  Last year, the Department set a new record in the number of defendants charged in human trafficking cases, and over the last three years, there has been a 30% increase in the number of forced labor and human trafficking cases charged.  But, as with so many other law enforcement initiatives, the United States has not -- and cannot -- eradicate this horrific crime alone.  It is frequently an international crime and we necessarily rely heavily upon our law enforcement partners from around the globe as well as our colleagues in governmental and non-governmental organizations that are focused on helping human trafficking victims recover from the devastating harms they have suffered.

 An essential element in bringing successful human trafficking prosecutions has been this broad array of partnerships.  These partnerships increase the effectiveness of our joint efforts, and yield concrete results.

After attending the 80th General Assembly in Vietnam, I had the honor of visiting the Philippines and addressing the graduates of a course on Human Trafficking at the Philippine National Police Headquarters.  The course was conducted by American and Philippine police instructors through the Justice Department’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program.  Graduates of this course are now key players on the front lines of the fight against human trafficking.

United States and Mexican law enforcement authorities are working together to dismantle sex trafficking networks operating on both sides of our joint border.  Our collaborative efforts have brought freedom to victims and secured landmark convictions and substantial sentences against the traffickers in a number of high impact bilateral cases.

 In July 2012, a Ukrainian national was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years, and his brother was sentenced to 20 years in prison, for their roles in a family-run human trafficking organization which smuggled young Ukrainian immigrants into the United States over a seven year period and forced them to work on cleaning crews for no pay.  The defendants used threats, physical and sexual assault, and debt bondage to keep the victims in involuntary servitude.  The defendants also threatened violence to the families of the victims who still resided in the Ukraine and repeatedly and brutally raped at least two female workers.  INTERPOL played a key role in this successful prosecution and we thank our partners in Germany for arresting and extraditing one of the defendants to stand trial and be confronted by his victims.

These efforts – which highlight the value of engaging in global partnerships to combat human trafficking – send an important message: we will relentlessly pursue those who trade in the misery of other human beings and we will rescue their victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.

At the same time, we must understand that criminal prosecution alone is not the answer.  It simply cannot undo the years of physical and emotional abuse and torment to the victims and their families and the permanent scars left behind.  That is why we must do everything we can to focus on prevention: prevention through the dismantling of trafficking rings before they can ensnare other victims; prevention through deterrence so that our prosecutions and significant sentences dissuade others who may consider engaging in this crime; prevention through public awareness so these organizations have less room to operate; and, lastly, prevention through the education of potential victims who, driven by fear, poverty, or lack of education, often unwittingly place their lives in the hands of exploitative traffickers.

It truly is hard to believe that it has been 150 years since President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation – freeing slaves in the United States -- and more than 60 years since the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights prohibited the practice of slavery on a global scale.  Yet, in communities in the United States and around the world, human trafficking still exists.  In fact, according to the United Nations, there are 27 million people worldwide who currently toil in bondage – more than at any time in human history.  The crimes against them are not a single episode, but a repeated violation of their rights and their dignity.  While we have made great strides in attacking the problem, there is still so much yet to be done.  These victims depend on us for their rescue.  We must not let them down.

 No country or law enforcement agency has the ability or perspective necessary to fully assess the nature of the crimes and criminal enterprises we face or to adequately address them all.  Only by communicating effectively, sharing intelligence and combining resources – within our own governments and with our law enforcement partners and allies – can we truly understand current and emerging trends and create an effective strategy to anticipate and combat these crimes.  Transnational organized crime and human trafficking present extraordinary challenges for all of us.  But, by working together across borders and continents, we can turn the tables on these criminals and the complex and ever evolving threats that they present.  And by attending conferences like this, we build the personal contacts and relationships that are so vital to getting this goal done.

Thank you all again for attending this extraordinary event and for all that you and your nations have done, and will continue to do, to support INTERPOL’s mission and the mission of cooperative law enforcement around the world.
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Lawsuit Against the City of San Jacinto, California, Alleging Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities:



Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Justice Department Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Against the City of San Jacinto, California, Alleging Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities
  The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the city of San Jacinto, Calif., alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act based on its treatment of group homes for persons with disabilities.   This lawsuit is part of the Justice Department’s continuing effort to enforce civil rights laws that require states and municipalities to end discrimination against, and unnecessary segregation of, persons with disabilities.

The lawsuit, filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that the city has impermissibly restricted the ability of group homes for people with disabilities to operate within the city.   Under the city’s zoning code, group homes that are not required to be licensed by the state, as well as some licensed homes, are not permitted uses in any zoning district within the city, and their ability to operate in multi-family zones is restricted.   The United States’ lawsuit further alleges that the city targeted housing for persons with disabilities for enforcement actions, including a November 2008 sweep in which city and county officials, including armed and uniformed police officers and sheriff’s deputies, appeared at homes unannounced and interrogated residents with disabilities from a prepared questionnaire that included intrusive questions targeted to persons with mental disabilities.   The complaint also alleges that the city has conditioned the grant of reasonable accommodations on the adoption of unwarranted limitations on the residents of homes for persons with disabilities.

This lawsuit arose as a result of complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by the operators of group homes who were impacted by the city’s discriminatory enforcement activities.

The suit seeks a court order preventing the city from enforcing its laws in a way that unlawfully discriminates on the basis of disability, and prohibiting the city from failing to make reasonable accommodations.   It also seeks monetary damages to compensate victims and a civil penalty.     

“No person should be denied an equal opportunity for housing in his or her community, or suffer harassment or intimidation, because he or she is a person with a disability,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to preventing discriminatory treatment of people with disabilities.”

“This suit is part of my office’s continuing efforts, in partnership with DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, to ensure that all residents of the Central District are accorded the rights to which they are entitled under the law,” said André Birotte Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.  “Under the law, people with disabilities, including mental disabilities, must be given the opportunity to live in our community, free from discriminatory efforts to exclude them.  This suit seeks to ensure that this opportunity is fully and fairly provided.”
 “Local governments may not zone out people with disabilities from the opportunity to live in mainstream communities,” said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD and DOJ are united in our efforts to combat unlawful interference with the rights of people with disabilities, whether in the form of  unfair zoning restrictions, selective enforcement of ordinances, or otherwise.”
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability.   Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that State and local governments give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services and activities.   More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt .  Individuals who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination or have information related to this lawsuit can call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, e-mail the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov , or contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 1-800-669-9777.

The complaint is an allegation of unlawful conduct.   The allegations must still be proven in federal court.
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