News Archive

Progress Edition

February 25, 2026

‍By Chandler Harmon, Staff Writer

The Giles County Sheriff’s Department is working with inmates to give them a better chance of reintegrating into the community.

The department has partnered with Ozone Environmental Services (OES) to provide inmates with basic hazmat, cleanup training and other skills while incarcerated, Sheriff Joe Purvis said, adding the program teaches participants how to properly handle and clean hazardous material spills, including fuel and other dangerous substances commonly involved in vehicle crashes and industrial incidents.

Participants who successfully complete the course receive state certification, the sheriff said, giving them a desired skill set upon release. The company providing the training has already hired some graduates and has committed to helping others find employment, he noted.

Launched in 2025 in partnership with Tennessee Workforce Group, the initiative began when program leaders approached jail administration about providing OSHA-regulated hazmat training to incarcerated individuals, OES Regional Manager Matt Church said, adding Giles is the first department to allow the program to operate inside its facility.

“This is more than just hazmat,” Church said. “It’s about life-making skills, accountability and giving people who made bad decisions a real second chance.”

Participants complete a 40-hour OSHA certification course that qualifies them for hazardous materials work nationwide. The certification is not limited to one company, meaning graduates can seek employment across the country, Church added. The current class, made up entirely of women, marks a significant milestone.

Hazmat and environmental response work is traditionally male-dominated, particularly in the private sector. Organizers say it is rare to see women performing day-to-day site work and emergency response, Church said.

Accomplishments

One of the department’s key accomplishments has been its focus toward stronger community involvement, Purvis said. Deputies have increased outreach efforts through Kid’s Place Child Advocacy Center and partnerships with local organizations, he noted, adding the department has also continued expanding jail programs aimed at addiction recovery and rehabilitation.

‍Goals

A major goal for the upcoming year is implementing OffenderWatch software, a nationwide database system designed to better monitor and manage registered sex offenders, Purvis shared.

“What it allows us to do is manage the roughly 46 sex offenders that live out in the county,” he explained. “So we can manage their movements, manage their compliance checks. It’s also an investigative tool.”

Purvis is planning to meet with neighboring counties to explore regional collaboration using the same system to share information.

“When a registered offender moves into the county from another jurisdiction, our deputies save countless hours researching and re-entering data because the offender record is seamlessly shared between agencies,” Purvis said. “OffenderWatch maintains a historical record of offender information, which supports our registry staff, investigators and deputies in working together more effectively. This allows our team to be more proactive in managing offenders and keeping our community informed and protected.”

By joining the program, GCSD gained access to a national information-sharing platform used by thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. The system provides real-time communication, improved tracking of offender movement and enhanced coordination between jurisdictions, helping agencies maintain accurate records and respond more quickly to changes in offender status, according to Purvis.

The OffenderWatch public website also provides community members with the ability to search for registered sex offenders in their area, submit tips directly to law enforcement and access important safety resources. Purvis added that the platform includes public safety and awareness information designed to help families better recognize potential risks and take proactive steps to protect themselves and their communities.

Another goal he highlighted is expanding a partnership with the FBI through the Safe Streets Task Force. Assigning a deputy to the federal task force would allow access to federal resources and to potentially pursue federal charges for repeat offenders, which carry stronger sentencing options.

Additionally, the department is increasing its emphasis on internal training for deputies and corrections officers to improve service quality and reduce liability.

Employees

The Sheriff’s Department currently has 45 deputies (including the sheriff), 31 corrections officers and three civilian employees.

Grants

Purvis highlighted multiple grant opportunities his department has utilized, including state funding to add an additional School Resource Officer (SRO) at the alternative school, Tennessee Highway Safety Office grant funding for DUI enforcement, traffic enforcement, radar units, in-car computers, multiple SRO positions (nine total) funded through grants, a grant-funded position supported by the Ingram Foundation and state cost-sharing grants that help offset the cost of training and equipping new academy graduates.

Improvements

The department is also increasing its focus on structured training across both patrol and corrections divisions. Leadership recently added positions dedicated to strengthening internal training efforts, the sheriff said.

“The better trained the deputies and corrections officers are, the better their ability is to serve the community and serve it right,” he stressed, noting better training directly improves service to the community while also reducing departmental liability.

Calls

Purvis said the Giles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a total of 10,847 calls for service Below is a snapshot of some of the activity and statistics from the year:

• Total arrests: 893 (792 adults, 101 juveniles)

• Drug-related arrests: 128

• Domestic violence–related calls: 177

• Death investigations: 48

• Mental health–related calls: 57

• Overdoses: 7

• Traffic stops: 2,196

• Civil process papers served: 3,151

• Uses of force: 76

• Total bookings into the Giles County Jail: 1,506

Commendations

Purvis is grateful for the committed, devoted group of men and women who staff his department.

“Giles County is fortunate to have a dedicated, professional group of people working at their sheriff’s office

who truly care about the community and its citizens,” he said.

He noted that deputies and corrections officers routinely handle difficult and often unseen situations with professionalism, pride and compassion.

“They work here because they want to serve their community,” Purvis said, adding that he is proud to work alongside them.

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As of January 2026, Washoe County has launched a new OffenderWatch public portal and notification system to help residents monitor registered sex offenders in the Reno area, allowing users to search addresses, view maps, and receive email alerts. The Regional Sex Offender Notification Unit (RSONU) continues to track and arrest non-compliant offenders.

The system aims to enhance public safety by providing accessible information to the community.

Washoe County residents now have access to a tool to help monitor where registered sex offenders live. For more information and a link to the Regional Sex Offender Notification Unit search portal visit 2news.com or our free 2 News Nevada app. #crime #offenderwatch #search #police
https://www.2news.com/news/local/new-offenderwatch-portal-to-check-for-sex-offenders/video_6b708c68-fa43-5a2c-af79-64b7551139d4.html

MANDEVILLE, La., October 23, 2025 (Newswire.com) -
OffenderWatch®, the nation’s premier software provider offering sex offender registry (“SOR”) management and community notification network solutions, announced that it has received a significant investment from the STG Allegro fund.

Through this strategic partnership, OffenderWatch® and STG will use the capital to enhance the Company’s product offerings, accelerate innovation, and expand its reach to deliver even greater value to law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Founded in 2000 by Lou Luzynski and Mike Cormaci, and led by the current CEO Ben Luzynski, OffenderWatch® has become the nation’s trusted provider in SOR management and community notification. Over more than 25 years, the Company has unwaveringly prioritized public safety and endeavored to support and empower the everyday heroes in law enforcement that keep our communities safe. With a network of more than 4,000 law enforcement agencies across the U.S. and Canada, OffenderWatch® provides secure, configurable solutions to more than 15,000 law enforcement officers, agency staff, and community members to help monitor hundreds of thousands of offenders.

"For more than two decades, OffenderWatch® has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with law enforcement in their mission to protect communities and families,” said Ben Luzynski, CEO of OffenderWatch®. “Our success has always been built on trust – trust from the officers who rely on our platform and the communities they serve. Partnering with STG allows us to deepen that commitment by investing further in technology, security, and support that strengthen those partnerships. We’re excited to work with STG to continue empowering law enforcement with tools that make their jobs safer, smarter, and more effective.”

Rushi Kulkarni, Managing Director, Co-Lead of STG Allegro said,

“The OffenderWatch® team’s dedication to their law enforcement customers and to their mission to keep communities safe is reflected in the quality of the OffenderWatch® platform and network. We have been impressed by the Company’s ability to provide high-quality, reliable software at great value to its customers. We look forward to partnering with the OffenderWatch® management team to continue delivering best-in-class software, product innovation, support, and value to law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.”

STG’s investor base includes several police and public safety pension funds, whose commitment to community well-being and public service aligns closely with OffenderWatch®’s mission – further underscoring the shared purpose behind the partnership. Guggenheim Securities, LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to STG on this transaction, and Paul Hastings LLP acted as legal advisor.

About OffenderWatch
OffenderWatch is the nation’s premier sex offender registry management software provider, serving law enforcement and the public for over 25 years. The Company provides law enforcement agencies and public officials with the tools they need efficient, compliant, and effective sex offender registry management and community notification.

‍About STG
STG is a private equity partner to market leading companies in data, software, and analytics. The firm brings experience, flexibility, and resources to build strategic value and unlock the potential of innovative companies. Partnering with a goal to build customer-centric, market winning portfolio companies, STG seeks to create sustainable foundations for growth that bring value to existing and future stakeholders. The firm is dedicated to transforming and building outstanding technology companies in partnership with world class management teams. STG’s expansive portfolio has consisted of more than 50 global companies. For more information, please visit http://www.stg.com/.

SafeCheck+ Provides  Improved Screenings for Residential Communities

As the nation’s leading sex offender registry (SOR) monitoring and community notification network, OffenderWatch is proud to announce a strategic partnership with TenantEvaluation, a trusted provider of risk management solutions. This collaboration will empower TenantEvaluation to roll out SafeCheck+, a cutting-edge tool designed to deliver enhanced and timely access to the most comprehensive sex offender data available.

Through this partnership, TenantEvaluation will leverage OffenderWatch’s extensive database and expertise, which has been trusted by over 4,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide for more than 25 years. SafeCheck+ will provide landlords and communities with near real-time, accurate sex offender information, enabling safer tenant screenings and improved public safety in homeowner and condominium communities.

“We are thrilled to partner with TenantEvaluation to bring SafeCheck+ to the forefront of risk management,” said George Sosa, Director of Strategic Partnerships at OffenderWatch. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to public safety, ensuring that residential associations have the most up-to-date and reliable data to make informed decisions that protect their communities.”

TenantEvaluation’s innovative approach, combined with OffenderWatch’s robust SOR network, will streamline the process of identifying potential risks, reducing the time and effort traditionally required for manual searches. This partnership marks a significant step forward in safeguarding communities by integrating advanced technology with trusted data.

For more information about SafeCheck+ and the OffenderWatch-TenantEvaluation partnership, please visit https://www.tenantevaluation.ai/safecheck or https://www.tenantevaluation.ai/get-started.

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About OffenderWatch

OffenderWatch is the nation’s premier sex offender registry management and community notification system, serving law enforcement and the public for over 25 years. With a network of over 4,000 agencies, OffenderWatch provides secure, configurable solutions to monitor offenders and protect communities.

About TenantEvaluation

TenantEvaluation is a leading provider of risk management and tenant screening solutions, dedicated to helping Property Management companies and communities make informed decisions to enhance safety and reduce liability.

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The Caribbean, known for its vibrant cultures and picturesque landscapes, faces an urgent public safety challenge—the effective monitoring and management of sex offenders. While some nations have made progress in implementing sex offender registries, the region as a whole still lacks a standardized, integrated approach.

OffenderWatch^® President Mike Cormaci provides an overview of how many Caribbean nations are handling offender registration and monitoring, the unique challenges facing the region, and what could be done to address these critical issues:

Strengthening Sex Offender Management in the Caribbean: A Call for Modernization and Regional Collaboration

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The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has announced its integration into the nationwide OffenderWatch sex offender registry network, enhancing its ability to track registered offenders and share crucial information with law enforcement agencies across the country.

OffenderWatch, the leading sex offender registration solution in the United States, is utilized by over 3,500 local and state law enforcement agencies in 33 states. This advanced software streamlines interagency collaboration, allowing for efficient offender tracking and investigation coordination. Madison County residents can now access the Madison County Sheriff’s Office website to search for registered offenders in their neighborhood and subscribe to email alerts for updates.

“Madison County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to join the coast-to-coast OffenderWatch network in order to better share information, coordinate investigations, and collaborate on sex offenders,” said Sheriff Todd Hood. “When a registered offender moves into the county, our deputies save countless hours on data entry, enabling us to be more proactive in offender management and keeping the community informed.”

With over 900,000 registered sex offenders in the U.S., agencies often rely on disparate systems for offender management. OffenderWatch bridges these gaps by allowing different agencies to collaborate on a single offender record, improving accuracy and public safety.

“Data sharing among law enforcement agencies leads to better investigations and safer communities,” said Mike Cormaci, president and co-founder of OffenderWatch. “With Madison County joining our network, we expand our ability to protect children and reduce victimization.”

Madison County residents can also download the free OffenderWatch App on Android and iPhone devices, providing real-time notifications about registered offenders moving into their area. The app includes online safety tips and guidance on discussing offender awareness with children.

For more information or to sign up for email alerts, visit www.offenderwatch.com.

‍Read More: Madison County Officials Joining National Sex Offender Network | https://wibx950.com/madison-county-sheriffs-office-taking-steps-to-protect-community-from-sex-offenders/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

The Arvada Police Department has become the first in Colorado to implement the OffenderWatch sex offender tracking system and app — and hopes that other departments in the state will follow its lead.

APD announced its participation in the program, which will see the department utilize the sex offender registration and notification tool, along with the company’s Family Safety app, on Jan. 2. OffenderWatch is a Louisiana-based company with 4,000 law enforcement department partners.

APD Public Information Officer Chase Amos explained the benefits of the OffenderWatch system.

“In the simplest terms, OffenderWatch is a sex offender registration tool and community notification system,” Amos said. “Community members will benefit by being able to more easily search for registered sex offenders near their homes and sign up for email alerts regarding newly registered offenders in their area.

“Another huge benefit for residents is the OffenderWatch app,” Amos continued. “Through the app, parents can track a child’s location and be alerted if their kid is near an offender’s house for a significant period of time. The app also sends alerts to parents of any communication from registered sex offenders through call, email or text.”

Prior to the adoption of OffenderWatch, Amos said a sex offender had to manually complete a lengthy form for their initial registration and every time they were required to re-register, which will now become automated with OffenderWatch’s integration.

Registered sex offenders also no longer have to call an APD detective to report life activities, such as getting a new phone number, vehicle or email address, which are required to be reported under state law. Now, sex offenders can make those changes to their OffenderWatch profile online.

Amos said the automation of that, and alerts that OffenderWatch provides APD when a sex offender is arrested or released from custody, will both save detectives time and increase offender compliance.

The program also allows APD to be connected to a multi-state network that includes all of Colorado’s bordering states and encompasses over 900,000 registrants, allowing the department to better collaborate across jurisdictions.

“For us, OffenderWatch allows us to access a nationwide database of over 900,000 registrants, allowing us to better collaborate in investigations across state lines and more easily transfer registration information to and from other jurisdictions when an offender moves from or to Arvada,” Amos said.  

“Additionally, OffenderWatch is an easy-to-use platform that will make us more efficient during the offender registration process,” Amos continued.

Amos said that while APD is the first department in Colorado to adopt OffenderWatch, he hopes other local agencies will follow.

“We are the first agency in Colorado to implement OffenderWatch, but it is used in all of our bordering states so we think/hope we’ll see other Colorado agencies pick it up too,” Amos said.

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The Arvada Police Station building Credit: Dolly DeHerrera

A 31-year-old Texas man has been sentenced to ten years in prison for failing to register as a sex offender as mandated by state law, according to the Grimes County District Attorney’s Office. Gage Anthony Stringo was sentenced on July 12 of this year after pleading guilty to the charge of failing to register.

Stringo was arrested on November 5, 2023, during a routine encounter with deputies from the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office in Todd Mission, TX. Authorities investigated and discovered that Stringo had not registered since April 2020, despite the fact that he had been sentenced to prison and was required to maintain lifetime registration after his release due to a prior conviction for indecency with a child in Montgomery County.

Sgt. Trey Oldham of the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office noted that Stringo’s case is not unique, but explained how OffenderWatch has helped his county mitigate the strain that many law enforcement agencies face due to non-compliant offenders. 

While Sgt. Oldham acknowledged that some offenders abscond from the area or fail to keep up with the requirements, others face challenges—including homelessness—that can interfere with their ability to register even if they intend to stay compliant. 

“They bounce from place to place a lot of times, so it’s a little bit more difficult to keep up. They face other challenges too, like transportation needs and communication needs to communicate. So that’s a bigger challenge for them and for us,”

Sgt. Oldham noted that all of these issues can strain the resources of agencies that don’t have an integrated system for collecting and sharing sex offender records across jurisdictions because they have to transfer and manage all of their files manually. Manual management processes are not only more time consuming; they also contain more potential failure points for monitoring agencies.

“We have a unique situation and we’re also kind of fortunate when it comes to working with other counties and even other agencies that are out of state [because of OffenderWatch]. If a sex offender is moving from our jurisdiction, say to a jurisdiction in another state that is also an OffenderWatch agency, we can literally pick that sex offender’s profile and hand it over to that partner agency immediately,” Sgt. Oldham said. “So it makes the transition a lot smoother and a lot faster. For non-OffenderWatch agencies, of course, they would have to do things in a manual way. So they would have to either mail records or email records individually,” 

Thanks to OffenderWatch and the active efforts of the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office to regularly monitor offenders and verify their addresses more efficiently, Sgt. Oldham pointed out that Brazos County has succeeded in keeping non-compliance rates very low. Many experts conclude that minimizing non-compliance is key to preventing repeat offenses.

 “I think that the biggest goal of the sex offender program is to make sure that sex offenders are accounted for. We know where they’re at at all times,” Sgt. Oldham said. 

Currently, there are nearly 800,000 individuals throughout the United States who have been placed on a sex offender registry, with the state of Texas alone accounting for approximately 100,000 of that total.

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As parents, you've probably used the phrase "Stranger Danger” to describe to your kids those people to avoid. However, there are some shortcomings to focusing solely on the potential threat posed by people your child doesn't know.

First of all, some kids will heed this warning from their parents, but others could still be convinced to go with a stranger if they were offered candy or asked to assist in looking for a lost dog. In today’s world, strangers can even attempt to contact your child in real life and or through online channels.

Second, there's always a possibility your child may become separated from you and have no choice but to interact with a "stranger" in order to find help in getting back to safety.

So what's concerned parent to do?

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Raising Awareness

Although this a sensitive topic, the best defense against child sexual predators is starting conversations early so that your children have the knowledge they need to identify what is or is not appropriate. Not only will they be more likely to recognize or even avoid a bad situation, but you'll have the reassurance of knowing that they're getting the correct information from you rather than from someone else who may or may not be reliable.

Depending on your child’s age, the conversation may not be as in depth as it might be with a teenager, but here are some examples of what to say in different scenarios. If a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood:

1. Tell your child that someone who has done something harmful to kids has moved into your area.
2. Because of this, your child can only venture out into their neighborhood either with a group of friends or under adult supervision –– never alone.
3. If they ask about details of what the offender did, simply say they did something inappropriate to hurt a child.
4. Remember to remind your child that most people in this world do care about kids, but there are also those that do have harmful intentions towards kids.
5. Make sure your child is aware of the address of the house to avoid. If there is a photo of the individual available, share that with your child as well so they can recognize the offender.
6. Be open to any questions they have and let them know they can come to you to talk about this matter at any time.
7. Some young children may not comprehend the subject matter or understand its importance. Tell them to take the situation seriously, and reassure them that you are trying to protect them, not just scare them

Understanding "Bad Strangers"

Should your child ever become separated from you away from home and have no other option than to ask an adult for help, make sure they can identify someone who is less likely to present a danger to them, even if they don't know the individual personally.

1. While there are some strangers who hurt kids, explain to your child that these strangers will usually try to get kids far away from any other people before they do anything harmful.
2. If your children are ever in a situation where they need to ask for help from people they don't know, there are ways that they can recognize who is less likely to be a "bad stranger".
3. Teach them to look for moms with kids, uninformed police officers, security guards, or other low-risk adults who they can ask for emergency assistance.
4. Help them memorize important information like your full name, home address, and telephone number so that they or a trustworthy adult can get contact you quickly.

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"Stranger Danger" Online

Many kids, even very young ones, already own a cell phone. This makes them easily accessible to strangers anywhere. Whether your child plays online games, talks to other players in chat rooms, engages on social media, or sends texts to “friends”, they could be chatting with or being contacted by a child predator.

1. The first thing you need to remind your kid is that everything posted on the internet (and even messages sent through their phone) could fall into the wrong hands and be used against them.
2. Teach them to respect their bodies, and not to share any compromising photos of themselves or other kids. Remind them to not share any personal information online with those they do not know in real life.
3. If they get a text or message online from a “stranger” or new “friend” that makes them feel uncomfortable or scared, they should immediately come to you so that you can take action.
4. Conduct some “what-if” scenarios to help your child identify warning signs so that you can work together to prevent them from being lured into a bad situation.

Having these conversations does not make you overprotective or a “helicopter parent”. It doesn’t even mean you don’t trust your kid. Having these conversations could prevent the unthinkable by giving your children the tools they need to protect themselves.

For an added layer of security, download the OffenderWatch Family Safety App for iPhone or Android. The app allows you to track your kids in real time, locate registered sex offenders near your family, and receive alerts if your child is contacted by a registered sex offender through call, text, or email.

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In today’s technology driven world, kids use social media sites, chat rooms, and texting as their primary communication tools. Online predators know this and are constantly roaming these online spaces for their next victims. 

There are an estimated 500,000 online predators active each day. Children between 12 and 15 are especially susceptible to being groomed by online predators. In cases where children have been physically harmed by predators they met online, 100% of them reported that they went to meet the offender voluntarily. Additionally, recent studies reveal that 15-20% of teens surveyed say they have considered arranging an in-person meeting with someone they have only talked to online. 

According to the FBI, an estimated 89% of sexual advances directed at kids occur in Internet chat rooms or through instant messaging. While the end goal for some of these online predators may be an in-person meeting, others may aim to engage in sextortion schemes that target kids by instructing them to send sexually explicit photos of themselves and using those photos as blackmail. 

While some predators use fake profile pictures and fake ages to pose as peers, many never attempt to hide the fact that they are adults because teens often feel validated by the idea of having an older “friend” who appears attentive and supportive. Online predators may use shared hobbies or interests (real or fake) to establish an online relationship with the victim. Interaction then progresses to gaining the child’s trust by complimenting them, listening sympathetically, and engaging in increasingly personal conversation. Over time, these exchanges evolve into sexual conversations, and can eventually result in kids sending inappropriate photos or agreeing to meet in person..

This process is one that occurs more often than most parents want to believe. Here are five warning signs that may indicate that your child is being groomed by an online predator: 

1. Your child begins to spend an increased (even excessive) amount of time online. 
2. Your child becomes very secretive about online activities and won’t allow you to see their screen or view their social media accounts. They may become possessive of phones or personal devices, or quickly switch tabs or screens whenever they realize you are close by..
3. Your child begins using mature or sexually explicit language that you would not otherwise expect them to know. 
4. Your child becomes unusually withdrawn or emotionally volatile.
5. You find sexually explicit photos or pornography on devices or computers that your child uses. 

The first and most important step in addressing any of these red flags is to talk to your child about the changes in their behavior and your concerns about the stress they appear to be experiencing. If you determine that your child may be the victim of a sextortion scheme, there are a number of resources that can help you respond and report the issue.

Whether your child has already encountered an online predator or not, there are also steps you can take to mitigate the risk. Install parental controls on all devices that your child can access,  and have a candid and serious conversation with your child about your rules and expectations for their online behavior.

The free OffenderWatch Family Safety App is another valuable tool in the fight to prevent the unthinkable. With the Family Safety App, parents can track their kids in real time, locate registered sex offenders nearby, and receive alerts when a new offender moves into their area. Other premium notification and blocking features are available with a monthly Family Watch subscription.

As we observe National Children’s Mental Health Week, it's crucial to address a topic that often remains shrouded in silence and discomfort: child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse encompasses a range of behaviors, from inappropriate touching to more severe forms of assault. This form of abuse can have devastating and long-lasting effects on a child's mental health and overall well-being. Perpetrators can be acquaintances, family members, or even strangers, making it challenging to identify and prevent. By raising awareness and understanding the warning signs, we can take steps to protect our children and ensure they receive the support they deserve.

Some common warning signs that parents and caregivers can watch for:

• ‍Behavioral Changes: Keep an eye out for sudden changes in behavior, such as withdrawal, aggression, or fearfulness. Younger children may also exhibit regressive behaviors like bed-wetting or thumb-sucking.
• ‍Physical Signs: While not always present, physical signs such as unexplained bruises, injuries to genital areas, or difficulty walking or sitting can indicate possible abuse.
• ‍Emotional Distress: Children who have been sexually abused may experience a range of emotional reactions, including depression, anxiety, nightmares, or sudden mood swings.
• ‍Sexual Knowledge or Behavior Beyond Their Age: If a child demonstrates knowledge of sexual acts or engages in sexual behaviors that are developmentally inappropriate, it could be a red flag.
• ‍Avoidance of Certain People or Places: Pay attention if a child consistently avoids being alone with a particular person or refuses to go to certain places without providing a clear reason.

If you suspect that a child close to you may be experiencing sexual abuse, it's essential to take action promptly and appropriately.

• ‍Stay Calm and Reassuring: Approach the child with empathy and reassurance. Let them know they are safe and that you believe them.
• ‍Listen and Validate: Allow the child to share their feelings and experiences at their own pace. Listen without judgment and validate their emotions.
• ‍Report Suspicions: If you have reasonable suspicion or evidence of abuse, report it immediately to the appropriate authorities, such as Child Protective Services or law enforcement.
• ‍Provide Support: Offer ongoing support to the child by connecting them with a trusted therapist, counselor, or support group specializing in child sexual abuse.
• ‍Educate Yourself: Take the time to educate yourself about child sexual abuse, its impact, and how to prevent it. Knowledge is power in safeguarding our children.

Above all, remember that addressing child sexual abuse requires sensitivity, compassion, and a commitment to protecting the well-being of our most vulnerable members of society. By breaking the silence and raising awareness, we can create a safer environment where children can thrive free from the shadow of abuse.

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Transitioning to a new calendar year spurs many of us to be more mindful of positive change and focus on developing new, healthier habits or life skills. For parents, this annual phenomenon represents a perfect opportunity to lay the groundwork for an open and ongoing conversation with our kids about the potential dangers of online sexual predators.  

Talk to Your Kids About Using Tech Safely

Parents naturally wish that there was no need to address this topic, but unfortunately, ignoring the problem will never make it go away––it will only leave your child vulnerable. Sexual predators are relentless and will use any means at their disposal to find their next victim, including online grooming, sextortion, and luring kids to real-life meetings. A typical online predator is in the process of grooming 10 or more victims at a time.

Considering the fact that in 2024 even very young children spend increasing amounts of time online or on connected devices, it’s more crucial than ever to ensure children aren’t at undue risk of being exploited by these dangerous individuals. 

Here are some important points to cover with your children when you talk to them about how online predators operate:

• Remind your children that everything posted on the Internet or sent through their phone could end up in the wrong hands and may be used against them. 
• Teach them to respect their bodies and stress that they should never share any compromising photos of themselves or other kids.  
• Remind them not to share any personal information with people they do not know well in real life. 
• If they get a text or message online from a “stranger” or new “friend” that makes them feel uncomfortable or scared, they should let you know immediately so that you can take action. 

What Is Sextortion?

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), law enforcement received over 7,000 reports related to the online sextortion of minors in 2022, resulting in at least 3,000 victims (primarily boys) and more than a dozen deaths by suicide.  Keep in mind that these numbers only represent the individuals who came forward to report incidents of sextortion. A significant number of victims are too scared or embarrassed to tell anyone what happened to them. 

How Does Sextortion Happen?

Predators create fake accounts on social media platforms, chat rooms, and online games to begin a conversation with children and identify which of them are particularly lonely, hungry for attention, or otherwise susceptible to manipulation. Once a child engages, the predator will seek to gain their trust and eventually persuade them to send inappropriate photos or videos. The predator will threaten to share these images with a child’s friends and family if they don’t take further action, such as sending money or additional, more inappropriate materials. This is sextortion.

What Can I Do to Stop Sextortion?

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has outlined several important action items for young people who have been victimized by sextortion.

• Remember, you are not to blame––the predator is.
• Before deciding whether to pay money or otherwise comply with the predator, ask for help. This can be a very complex problem that requires guidance from trusted adults or law enforcement agents.  
• Be aware that cooperating with or paying these predators rarely stops the blackmail and harassment.
• REPORT the predator’s account via the associated platform’s safety feature.
• BLOCK the predator and DO NOT DELETE the profile or messages. These pieces of evidence can provide critical assistance to law enforcement in identifying the responsible parties and preventing them from causing further harm.
• If you feel like you don’t have an adult in your corner, reach out to NCMEC for support by calling 1-800-THE-LOST, or email gethelp@ncmec.org. 

Parents or children can also take the following steps to address this issue:   

• Contact NCMEC to help remove any explicit images a predator has acquired from the Internet. 
• Visit cybertipline.org to report the incident to the FBI and request their help with that process.
• If children don’t feel they have adults in their corner, they can reach out to NCMEC for support at  gethelp@ncmec.org or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST. 

The bottom line is this: If young people are being exploited, they are victims of a crime and it must be reported. 

How Do I Report Sextortion?

• Call or email your local FBI field office. You can view this list of all FBI field offices and the areas they cover to find the contact information you need.
• If you’re not sure which field office to contact, call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
• Visit tips.fbi.gov to submit an online report.

What Else Can I Do to Prevent Sextortion?

In order to prevent kids from being exploited by predators, parents need to know who their children are talking to. One important tool that enables parents to block predators’ access is the OffenderWatch Family Safety App. For just $4.99 a month, parents can upgrade to a Family Watch subscription that enables them to track their child’s phone, get notified if their child lingers near a registered sex offender’s residence for a prolonged period of time, or receive alerts if a registered sex offender or any individual on a customized “Do Not Contact” attempts to communicate with their child phone via text, call, or email.

To learn more about the OffenderWatch Family Safety App and Family Watch subscription features, visit offenderwatch.com/family-safety-app.

Making the decision to buy your child a cell phone is not an easy one. As the holidays approach, there's a good chance that kids who don't already have their own phones will put one on their wish list.

But just because kids can ask for a phone, does that mean they're ready for one? To answer that question, parents should consider the following issues and make sure they're prepared for their child to have that level of responsibility.

1. Is a cell phone a want or a need? Most kids want a cell phone because they think it's a status symbol, or because their friends have one. However, neither of those points address the question of whether having their own phone is a necessity. Do they need to be able to contact you in case of emergencies? Do they need to be able to search the internet for information? Do they need to be able to communicate with friends or use certain apps? Do they spend most of their time with you or in the care of another adult you know and trust? If your kids aren't frequently in situations where they have to function independently or without reliable supervision, you may decide that a cell phone is more of a luxury than a day-to-day need.

‍Are they mature enough to handle the responsibility? Cell phones are expensive, powerful devices that must be protected and treated with respect at all times. Do your kids demonstrate the responsibility necessary to respect family rules and manage their behavior in other areas of their life? Do they take care of other items you have bought for them?

‍Do you have the right securities in place? Even the most responsible kids still need supervision when using a cell phone because it isn't just a helpful resource for finding information––it can also unintentionally create an avenue for exposure to things your kids may not be ready to see or provide predators greater access to their devices and information. As a parent, you also have an obligation to be aware of the popular apps and how they work, set up the appropriate privacy settings, stay on top of critical security news and updates, and download a safety app that can watch out for you and your family. One such resource is the OffenderWatch Family Safety App, a free download that provides live location trapping and public records searches to help you stay informed about potentially dangerous child predators in your area. Learn more about the freeFamily Safety App, as well as other premium add-on features available, at www.offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app.

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For more information, visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children or check out this article about Online Predators and the Grooming Process for tips to help parents identify red flags and talk to your children about online safety.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

After a year of exams, studying and hectic schedules, the kids are finally out of school. So that means time to relax, but it also means the words ‘I’m Bored’ are going to be heard multiple times.Don’t let them spend hours at a time on their smartphones or tablets. Try alternative ideas.

Get them outside!

Here are some ideas to encourage kids to step away from the blue screens and get active.Set Tech Ground RulesSet an allotted amount of screen time throughout the day and monitor your child’s phone or tablet to make sure they are not overdoing it. Make all mealtimes tech free. Set a certain time at night when technology should be shut down and charge all items in the living room, not their bedrooms.Encourage Physical ActivityPut the tech away and go play in the backyard, go for a hike, or have a nature scavenger hunt.Earn Tech TimeEstablish chores or outdoor activities that must be completed before screentime is awarded.Learning AppsDownload learning or family game apps you can do together. Consider hiking, biking and fitness apps or a family fitness challenge.Online SafetyIf you are going to allow screen time, be sure you know exactly what they are doing and familiarize yourself with what apps they are using. Regardless of the time of year, remind your kids that certain online rules need to always be followed. Do not “friend” anyone they do not know IRL, never give strangers personal information like their home address or phone number and be careful about what they post.

Summertime Safety Tips

Here are some safety reminders for kids playing outside.Stay hydrated: Encourage your child to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially when they are engaged in physical activities or spending time outdoors in the heat. Remind them to drink water even if they don't feel thirsty.Sun protection: Teach your child the importance of sun protection. Apply sunscreen with a high SPF to their exposed skin 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours. Encourage them to wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and lightweight, loose-fitting clothing to protect against harmful UV rays.Play safely in water: Whether swimming in a pool, lake, or ocean, ensure your child is always supervised by an adult who knows how to swim. If your child is not a strong swimmer, consider using approved flotation devices. Teach them about water safety rules, such as not running near the pool and never swimming alone.Heat safety: Be cautious about outdoor activities during peak heat hours, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Encourage your child to take breaks in shaded areas or indoors to cool down. Remind them never to leave pets, or themselves, in a parked car, even for a brief time, as it can quickly become dangerously hot.Insect protection: Apply insect repellent to protect against mosquito bites and tick-borne diseases when spending time outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas. Teach your child to avoid areas with standing water, as they can attract mosquitoes.Playground safety: Inspect playground equipment to ensure it is in good condition and free from hazards. Teach your child to use equipment appropriately and avoid rough play that could lead to falls or injuries. Remind them to watch out for hot surfaces on slides, swings, or metal play structures.Bike safety: If your child rides a bicycle, ensure they always wear a properly fitted helmet. Teach them to follow traffic rules, stay on designated paths, and use appropriate hand signals. Encourage them to ride with a buddy or in groups in well-lit areas and never ride at dusk or in the dark without proper lights.Stay connected: If your child is old enough to be out and about without constant supervision, establish a system to stay connected. Make sure they have a cellphone or another reliable means of communication and set clear rules and boundaries about where they can go and when they should check in with you. Track your kids and locate sex offenders near them and get location notifications as they come and go from set locations. Learn more: www.offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app.Let’s have a healthy, happy, and physically active summer!

Child abuse is a serious problem that affects millions of children around the world. Child abuse can take many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. It is a problem that affects all communities, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.About 1 in 7 children experienced child abuse and neglect in the last year. (Source: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/fastfact.html)Preventing child abuse is everyone’s responsibility. Parents, caregivers, teachers, and members of the community all have a role to play in keeping kids safe.Here are a few ways to help prevent child abuse:1. Education and Awareness Parents, caregivers, and teachers need to be aware of the signs of child abuse and how to report it. They should also be aware of the resources available to them, such as hotlines and counseling services.Children should also be aware of their rights and how to protect themselves from abuse. They should be taught to recognize abusive behaviors and to tell a trusted adult if they are being abused.2. Positive ParentingThis type of parenting approach emphasizes love, respect, and understanding. It focuses on building a positive relationship between the parent and child. Positive parenting involves setting clear boundaries and expectations, but also providing children with love and support.3. Support ServicesParents and caregivers should have access to support services that can help them cope with the stresses of parenting. These services can include counseling, parenting classes, and support groups. They can help parents develop the skills they need to be effective caregivers and help prevent abuse.4. Reporting AbuseReporting abuse is a critical step in preventing further harm to a child. Anyone who suspects that a child is being abused should report it immediately to the appropriate authorities. This includes teachers, healthcare providers, and members of the community.By increasing awareness about child and family well-being and working together to implement effective strategies that support families, we can create a safer and healthier world for all children.RESOURCES AVAILABLE:Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453)This hotline is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. Serving the U.S. and Canada, the hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis counselors who—through interpreters—provide assistance in over 170 languages. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, call 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453). For more information about the hotline, visit https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/.Children’s Maltreatment 2021 Report To see additional data on child maltreatment, you can access this report, available on the Children’s Bureau website, at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/data-research/child-maltreatment.OffenderWatch AppThe OffenderWatch App is a great tool to track your kids, get notified as they come and go from places, and get alerted if they are contacted by a registered sex offender or a person on your watch list. Parents can set up a watchlist of persons who should not contact their child (e.g., an ex with a protective order or a bully) or locations the child should avoid (home of the ex with restraining order, a park where drug users frequent, or the street known for human trafficking).http://www.offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app.

You may have received a notice of a registered sex offender that moved close to where you live. Maybe you are concerned because your child walks to the bus stop past the home of a registered sex offender. Maybe you have the OffenderWatch App on your child’s phone and have located the registered sex offenders located near them. Now how do you talk to your child about sex offenders?How do I Talk to My Kids About Sex Offenders?Grade-schoolers can begin to understand that a person who appears nice can have hurtful intentions.

• Tell your child that while most people care about children and would help them in any situation, some choose to hurt children.
• Stress to your child the importance of being cautious of people they do not know.
• Your child should not walk or ride bikes in the neighborhood without adult supervision, or if old enough, they should only do so in the company of two or more friends.
• Say that an individual who was in prison lives nearby.
• Use the notice to point the individual out to your child and tell them to stay away from that person.

Answering your Child’s QuestionsMany children will accept your directions for steering clear of the person. Others will have questions. You will need to explain further because if you do not, they will find someone else to ask. You want your child to get their information from you.Child: Why was that person in prison?Parent: They hurt a child.Child: What did they do?Parent: They touched the child inappropriately, in their private areas, which is a crime.Child: Why did they do that?Parent: Some things you will not understand until you are older, and this is one of them. I do not completely understand it myself.Further PrecautionsEven after your explanation and warning, you might need to see that an adult escorts your child and their friend's home from school and you may want to keep them from roaming the neighborhood on their bicycle. If approached by the individual in question, tell your child to get away quickly. They should let you know what happened when they get home or tell an adult nearby, or if they have a cell phone, they should call you.Here are some more basic safety skills:

• Teach your child to trust their feelings and say NO and run away from a situation that does not feel right.
• There are some strangers that can assist them if they need help – other parents with children, other children, police in uniform or store clerks.
• Teach your child to dial 911.

What if my child is contacted by a registered sex offender?Do not confront the individual. If the behavior of the individual seems inappropriate, contact your local law enforcement, and inform them of your suspicion. If your child received an email or text message, be sure to save it and take a screen shot of it. If you received an email or postcard notice about an offender, contact the local agency listed on the notice. Or call your local Sheriff’s Office. Your local law enforcement will investigate for you.Download the OffenderWatch AppDownload the OffenderWatch Family Safety App and locate registered sex offenders near your address, your child’s location, and track your child. You can also set up an account for your child and get alerts if a registered sex offender contacts your child through call, text, or email. Click to learn more: https://offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app/.

A frightening trend!

• An online perpetrator sent Ryan a romantic picture of a young female and asked for one of him in return. Immediately after Ryan shared an intimate photo of his own, the cybercriminal demanded $5,000, threatening to make the photo public and send it to Ryan’s family and friends. Hours later, police said, a panicked Ryan took his own life.
• Brian Montgomery lost his 16-year-old son after he took his own life when he was extorted with explicit imagery. His teen son reportedly received a message from an Instagram account, modeling an "attractive" young girl, that lured him into communication after claiming to be a mutual acquaintance.  Eventually, Walker opened a video chat with the perpetrators, who recorded him partaking in sexual activity. Shortly after, they pressed him for $1,000, his father said, using the imagery as leverage. 
• “The Monster knew exactly what to say and what to post to get into a 15-year-old's brain.” Once the hacker had a picture of Braden, Argiro-Markus said her son was threatened and told to pay the predator $1,800 or "else the monster" was going to release it among other pictures the hacker took from Braden's Instagram account. "The messages go on and on for 27 minutes," she wrote. "The last five minutes of B's life, he said over and over again, 'I am only 15, why are you doing this to me? I am only 15, you will ruin my life.' It is a thread that in a way I wish I never read, but here we are." At 11:28 a.m., Braden died by suicide.

Victims of Sextortion Committing Suicide

The FBI reports an explosive increase in teenage boys being targeted online and extorted for money through sextortion.Sextortion has gained popularity among predators because it is something that predators can do through any online site, app, gaming, messaging, or social media platform. Sometimes the predator will make first contact by sending a threat saying they already have a revealing photo or video and are going to share publicly if the teen doesn’t send additional photos. More often, it starts with a teen thinking they are communicating with someone their age, a peer, who is interested in forming a relationship.After they have gained the trust of their victim, the predator will ask for a sexual or risqué photo or video. Once they have received it, they will then threaten to publish it or share it with the teen’s family and friends if they don’t send money or additional photos.These predators know where to reach kids, which ones to target, and how to talk to them on their level. One person the FBI put in prison for this crime was a 40-year-old man who previously worked as a youth minister so he could learn how teens talked to one another.Unfortunately, many teens feel there is no way out of an embarrassing situation like this. The shame, confusion, and fear of this getting out will cause teens anxiety, depression, and in many cases, could lead to suicide.Here are a few suggestions for teens to prevent Sextortion or actions to take if it is happening to you:

• Be very selective about what you share online and especially be wary of strangers. Block or ignore messages from those you don’t know in real life.
• Any content you create online can be made public. Nothing actually “disappears”
• Be aware that people can pretend to be someone different online. Videos and photos on their profiles could be fake.
• Ask for help. If you are receiving messages or requests online that don’t seem right, go to an adult immediately. Screenshot any messages and then block the sender.
• If you are in a sextortion situation, reach out to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or report the crime online at tips.fbi.gov. Agents see these cases all the time and have helped thousands of young people. They want to stop the harassment, arrest the predator, and get young people the support they need.
• Remember – you are NOT the one in trouble and you are NOT alone. Although it may feel hopeless, there are professionals available to help you and your family. If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about your child, or friend, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States by dialing 988.

Free OffenderWatch Family Safety App

Sexual predators who are convicted are listed on the sheriff’s sex offender registry. Parents can download the free OffenderWatch Family Safety app to see registered offenders who live nearby. Parents can track their children as they come and go from home, school, or a friend’s house and see if sex offenders live nearby them and get alerts from the Sheriff’s office if a registered offender moves into their neighborhood.https://offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app/Visit these links for additional resources and articles:Contact the Suicide and Crisis Hotline: https://988lifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortionhttps://tips.fbi.gov/https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/20/us/california-ryan-last-sextortion-scam-arrest/index.htmlhttps://www.foxnews.com/media/father-warns-instagram-sextortion-scam-targeting-teen-boys-son-suicide-evilhttps://www.today.com/parents/teens/sextortion-one-mom-warning-parents-sons-death-rcna55471https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/fbi-michigan-teens-suicide-caused-by-sextortion-from-online-predator

New Year, new resolutions, right?Healthy habits, exercising, and drinking more water may be on your list, but if you are a parent,one of those resolutions should be to keep your child safer by educating them on the dangers of predators.Talk to Your KidsIt’s unfortunate that this is a topic parents must address, but child predators never stop. From online grooming, sextortion, and eventually real-life meetings, these predators are constantly searching for their next victims. Most online predators are grooming over 10 victims at a time.

• Remind your child that everything posted on the internet and even messages sent through their phone, could get into the wrong hands, and used against them. 
• Teach them to respect their bodies and not share any compromising photos of themselves or other kids.  
• Remind them to not share any personal information with those they do not know in real life. 
• If they get a text or message online from a “stranger” or new “friend” that makes them feel uncomfortable or scared, they should immediately come to you so you can take action. 

SextortionAccording to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), over the past year, law enforcement received over 7,000 reports related to the online sextortion of minors, resulting in at least 3,000 victims, primarily boys, and more than a dozen suicides. And that is only the number of those that came forward to report it. A lot of victims are too scared or embarrassed to let anyone know.Using social media platforms, chat rooms, and online games, predators will create fake accounts and begin a conversation, learning which children are lonely, seeking attention, or most vulnerable. Once a child partakes in that conversation, the predator will earn their trust and eventually persuade them to send inappropriate photos or video.Child predators will then tell the child if they do not send money or do something more inappropriate, they will share it with their friends and family. This is sextortion.If Your Child is A Victim of SextortionThe National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has outlined steps parents and young people can take if they or their child are a victim of sextortion, including:

• Remember, the predator is to blame, not your child or you.
• Get help before deciding whether to pay money or otherwise comply with the predator.  
• Cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail and continued harassment.
• REPORT the predator’s account via the platform’s safety feature.
• BLOCK the predator and DO NOT DELETE the profile or messages because that can be helpful to law enforcement in identifying and stopping them.
• Let NCMEC help get explicit images of you off the internet.
• Visit cybertipline.org to report to the FBI for help with the process.
• Ask for help. This can be a very complex problem and may require help from adults or law enforcement.
• If children don’t feel they have adults in their corner, they can reach out to NCMEC for support at  gethelp@ncmec.org or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST. 

If young people are being exploited, they are victims of a crime and should report it. Contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.We Can HelpParents need to know who their kids are talking to. Download the OffenderWatch family safety app. With the Family Watch subscription, parents can receive alerts if a registered sex offender contacts their child via text, call, or email, track their child’s phone, and get notified if their child lingers near an offender’s residence for a prolonged period.www.offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app.It is everyone’s job to work together to prevent the unthinkable.

Making the decision to buy your child a cell phone is not an easy one. As the holidays approach, chances are, a cell phone will be on their gift list.But are they ready for one? Parents should ask themselves several questions and make sure they are prepared to hand over that responsibility to their child.Is a cell phone a want or a need? Most kids want a cell phone because it’s the cool thing to have. Everyone else has one, so why not? But do they need a cell phone? Do they need to be able to contact you in case of emergencies? Do they need to be able to search the internet for information? Do they need to be able to communicate with friends or use certain apps?Are they mature enough to handle the responsibility? Not only can a cell phone be a great device for information, but it can also be a dangerous device for giving your child access to things they may not be ready to see and giving predators access to your child. Do they show responsibility in other areas of their life? Do they take care of other things you have bought them?Do you have the right securities in place? Even if your child seems responsible, they still need supervision. You need to be aware of the popular apps and how they work, set up the appropriate privacy settings, and download a safety app that can watch out for you, like the OffenderWatch Family Safety App.Learn more at www.offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app.Important Data from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: https://www.missingkids.org/ourwork/ncmecdataOther Important articles to check out:https://offenderwatch.com/online-predators-and-the-grooming-process/https://offenderwatch.com/tips-for-talking-to-children-about-sex-offenders/

Have a Safe and Happy Holidays!

Do you know whose door your kids are knocking on while trick-or-treating?

Every home may not be safe. There are more than 850,000 registered sex offenders in the United States[1], many convicted of crimes against minors.Before trick-or-treating this Halloween, sheriff’s offices and police departments advise parents to check their local sex offender registry. However, many parents may not know where to look or what information is most important on the registries. OffenderWatch, the nation’s largest network of local and state agencies managing sex offenders, shares its tips on reading and understanding sex offender registries.Safety tips for a safe Halloween:

1. Before you go trick-or-treating, use a sex offender registry published by law enforcement. Not all registries are created equal. Many third-party websites publish outdated sex offender data, claiming it is accurate. Parents and guardians should only trust data provided through local law enforcement. To find your registry, go to your local sheriff’s office or police department's website, state sex registry site, or visit https://www.nsopw.gov.
2. Search an address and use the map to find offenders in your area. While on your county or city’s sex offender registry, input your home address or the address where you’ll be trick-or-treating to view a map of offenders in that area. Print out the map with addresses to take with you.
3. Sign up for email notifications. While on your county or city’s sex offender page, sign up for email notifications so you will know if a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood.
4. Download the OffenderWatch App. NEW Release launching this month with new app features! Download the app on your phone and your child’s phone so you can locate registered sex offenders near you or your family, and be notified should a registered sex offender reach out to your child through call, text, or email. You can also locate your child’s phone while trick-or-treating. New features will include: Notice when your child leaves the house or arrives at a listed location, List locations for monitoring like home, school, or grammy’s house, and create a Watch List of people who should not be contacting your child (e.g. ex with restraining order, school bully, etc.).
5. Talk to your children. If sex offenders live in your neighborhood, point out their house to your children and explain the offender has a criminal record. Tell your children to let you know if the sex offender tries to talk to them or lure them inside.

[1]National Center for Missing& Exploited Children https://www.missingkids.org/ourwork/ncmecdata.

To download Halloween Safety Tips, click the image below:

Click below to download the OffenderWatch App for Android at Google Play Store and for iPhone at the Apple Store.

OffenderWatch partners with law enforcement nationwide to provide technical solutions and a network for managing sex offender registries. With more than 4,000 law enforcement agencies using OffenderWatch, Americans conduct about 1.3 million searches on its sex offender registries per week.“Knowledge is power. We want parents to not only have the information families need to have a safe Halloween, but to also understand that information,” said Mike Cormaci, president and co-founder of OffenderWatch. “We’ve partnered with law enforcement across the country for more than 20 years, helping to improve the sex offender registry and making it easier for both law enforcement and the public to use.”

And just like that, summer is coming to an end and back to school is right around the corner. We've compiled some tips to help ensure you and your kids start the new school year off safely.

Click here to download the pdf: Back to School Safety 2022.

As parents, you have probably used the phrase ‘Stranger Danger” to describe to your kids those people to avoid. However, some kids will heed the warning from their parents, and some would still go with a stranger if offered candy or to assist in looking for a stranger’s lost dog.In today’s world, it’s even scarier because “strangers” can now attempt to contact your kid in real life and online.Although it is a sensitive topic, the best defense for your kids against child sexual predators is to start the conversations early so they are educated and get the correct information from you, and not someone else.Depending on your kid’s age, the conversation may not be as in depth as it might be with a teenager, but here are some examples of what to say in different scenarios.If a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood:

1. Tell your kid that someone who has done something harmful to kids has moved into your area.
2. Because of this, your kid can only venture out into their neighborhood either with a group of friends or under adult supervision, but never alone.
3. If they ask about details of what the offender did, simply say they did something inappropriate to hurt a child.
4. Remember to remind your kid that most people in this world do care about kids, but there are also those that do have harmful intentions towards kids.
5. Make sure your kid is aware of the address of the house to avoid, and if there is a photo of the individual, share that with them as well, so they can recognize the offender.
6. Be open to any questions they have and let them know they can come to you to talk about this matter at any time.
7. Some young kids may not comprehend the subject matter and think it’s a joke or not going to affect them. Tell them to take the situation seriously and reassure them that you are trying to protect them, not just scare them.

Many kids today, as young as 7, have a cell phone. This makes them easily accessible to strangers anywhere. Whether your kid plays online games, talks to other players in chat rooms, engages on social media, or sends texts to “friends”, they could be chatting with or contacted by a child predator.

1. The first thing you need to remind your kid is that everything posted on the internet and even messages sent through their phone, could get into the wrong hands, and used against them.
2. Teach them to respect their bodies and not share any compromising photos of themselves or other kids. And remind them to not share any personal information with those they do not know in real life.
3. If they get a text or message online from a “stranger” or new “friend” that makes them feel uncomfortable or scared, they need to immediately come to you so you can take action.
4. Conduct some “what-if” scenarios to help your child identify warning signs that something is not right, so together you can prevent them from being lured into a bad situation.

Having these conversations does not make you a “helicopter” or nosey parent. It doesn’t even mean you don’t trust your kid.Having these conversations could prevent the unthinkable and it gives them the tools they need to protect themselves.Download the OffenderWatch App, the family safety tool that allows you to track your kids, locate registered sex offenders near your family and send you alerts if your kid is contacted by a registered sex offender through call, text, or email.Learn more: https://offenderwatch.com/sex-offenders-near-me/.

In today’s technology driven world, kids use social media sites, chat rooms, and texting as their primary communication tools. Online predators know this and are constantly roaming these online spaces for their next victims.There are an estimated 500,000 online predators active each day. Children between 12 and 15 are especially susceptible to being groomed by a predator they have met online. And worse than that, kids may eventually agree to meet this “new friend” in real life.According to the FBI, an estimated 89% of sexual advances directed at kids occur in Internet chatrooms or through instant messaging. The grooming process typically starts with the predator asking a kid for sexually explicit self-photos.Predators use fake profile pictures, fake ages, fake shared hobbies, etc. They establish an online relationship with the victim, complimenting them and gaining their trust, until the groomer moves toward sexual conversations, and eventually, even using those inappropriate photos as blackmail.This process is one that occurs more often than most parents want to believe.If your kid starts to spend an increased amount of time online, becomes very secretive, won’t allow you to see their screen or social media accounts, then talk with them. Don’t let it get so far that they feel they can’t come to you or anyone for help.Help prevent the unthinkable by putting parental controls in place and having the difficult, but necessary, conversations with your kid before they get a cell phone or become active online.The OffenderWatch App is a great tool for parents to track their kids, locate registered sex offenders, and get alerts with unwanted contacts, or if a kid is too close to an offender’s residence.Learn more at www.offenderwatch.com/learn-more.

Family life can become a hectic routine of work, school, meals, bills, and after school activities. But the safety of your kids stays a priority throughout your busy day.Smart phones and the internet bring more access than ever to your kids by predators. Busy parents are looking for tools to make it easier to protect their kids online and on their phones.According to a recent survey by Pew Research Center,Two-thirds of parents in the U.S. say parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago, with many citing technologies – like social media or smartphones – as a reason.Take control of your child’s online safetyBeyond limiting screen time, the majority of parents are concerned about their child being the target of online predators, accessing sexually explicit content, accessing violent content online or being bullied or harassed online. It is important for parents to monitor their kids cell phone and game system use and know what they are doing and who they are talking to. Do they know these people in the real world?How else can parents take control of their child’s safety? The OffenderWatch family safety app alerts parents if:

• A registered sex offender contacts their kid’s phone through text, call, or email, or
• If their kid lingers near a registered offender’s residence for a prolonged period of time.

In addition to tracking your kids on a map, you can also see where registered sex offenders live nearby.Just as putting on a seatbelt became an automatic action as soon as a person sits in a car, cell phone monitoring should also be an automatic process as soon as a kid receives a phone.For a busy family, automatic alerts, child tracking, and contact monitoring gives parents an added layer of protection in preventing the unthinkable.For more information, visit www.offenderwatch.com/learn-more

 Now that the presents have been opened, and your kids have new electronic devices, here are a few tips to make sure they remain safe online with their new digital toys.Safety tips for electronic devices:

1. Know your kid’s passwords. These devices are a big responsibility that they aren’t ready to face alone. Parental supervision is necessary to guide them in their online activity.
2. Set boundaries. Maintain a good balance by setting limits on screen time. Set digital curfews when everyone in the home must disconnect from electronic devices.
3. Talk with your kids about possible negative experiences online. If your kids know ahead of time what signs to watch for when surfing the internet, playing on apps, or chatting online. If someone online makes them feel uncomfortable or is acting strange, let them know they can bring it to your attention so you can handle it together.
4. Look for these dangerous apps. Some apps may appear safe or say they are age appropriate, but these apps are a playground for predators. Know the ins and outs of popular apps that could be dangerous. Click here for a list of apps you should know.
5. Plan some non-tech activities. These electronic devices provide hours of fun, but balance screen time with real life. Plan some non-tech activities like board games, charades, arts and crafts and family outing.
6. You can also download the family safety OffenderWatch App to monitor your kid's phone and alert you if a registered sex offender contacts them through call, email, or text.