Grant will expand state and local efforts to apprehend sexual predators
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that Connecticut is receiving nearly $600,000 in federal stimulus funds to expand state and local efforts in apprehending sexual predators who use the Internet to victimize children.
"These funds will be a tremendous help in bringing these reprehensible individuals to justice and keeping our children safe," Governor Rell said. "This money will help supply the tools and training state and local police needs to identify and apprehend Internet predators before they can harm another child."
The Governor said the Department of Public Safety, the primary investigative and computer forensic agency in the state, applied in her name in April to the U.S. Department of Justice for $584,975 in Internet crime grants available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The agency was recently notified that its application was approved.
Connecticut's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is composed of state troopers, local officers and civilians. The stimulus funds will support comprehensive integrated efforts by state and local police departments through expanded training, forensic analysis, community awareness programs and upgraded technology.
Among other specifics, the funds will:
* Expand the Child Sexual Predator training program at the State Police Forensic Laboratory in Meriden for local first responders, such as police, paramedics and others
* Expand Internet service, training, equipment and personnel costs for the "Catch a Predator" initiative for 27 specially trained local officers in undercover investigations
* Fund efforts for more "knock-and-talks," in which officer go into the neighborhoods of suspected predators, allowing them to canvass the area and gather information
* Expand Sexual Predator Safety education to 60 schools year, providing students and teachers with materials and training on Internet safety
* Purchase desktop and laptop computers, forensic hardware, cameras and other technology upgrades to track e-mails, chats and other communications from suspected pedophiles
"Our Internet Crimes Against Children Unit has one of the most important assignments in law enforcement," said Public Safety Commissioner John Danaher III. "This grant will significantly enhance our ability to investigate and arrest pedophiles who use the Internet to prey on our children. We look forward to increased success in these investigations."
To view the grant application and award notification and for all other comprehensive details of ARRA projects in Connecticut, visit the state's official stimulus Web site by going to www.ct.gov and clicking on the CT Recovery link.
