98-4155. Notice of the Fiscal Year 1998 Missing and Exploited Children's Program; Proposed Program Plan and Announcement of Discretionary Competitive Assistance Grant  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 8538-8543]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-4155]
    
    
    
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    Part III
    
    
    
    
    
    Department of Justice
    
    
    
    
    
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    Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program
    
    
    
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    Notice of the Fiscal Year 1998 Missing and Exploited Children's 
    Program; Proposed Program Plan and Announcement of Discretionary 
    Competitive Assistance Grant; Notice
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 33 / Thursday, February 19, 1998 / 
    Notices
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
    
    Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Programs
    [OJP (OJJDP-1154]
    RIN 1121-ZA91
    
    
    Notice of the Fiscal Year 1998 Missing and Exploited Children's 
    Program; Proposed Program Plan and Announcement of Discretionary 
    Competitive Assistance Grant
    
    AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and 
    Delinquency Prevention, DOJ.
    
    ACTION: Proposed Program Plan for public comment.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 
    (OJJDP) is publishing its Missing and Exploited Children's Fiscal Year 
    (FY) 1998 Proposed Program Plan and soliciting public comment on the 
    proposed plan and priorities. After analyzing the public comments on 
    this Proposed Program Plan, OJJDP will issue its final FY 1998 Missing 
    and Exploited Children's Program Plan.
    
    DATES: Comments must be submitted by April 20, 1998.
    
    ADDRESSES: Public comments should be mailed to Shay Bilchik, 
    Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 
    810 Seventh Street NW., Room 8413, Washington, D.C. 20531.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald C. Laney, Director, Missing and 
    Exploited Children's Program, 202-616-3637. [This is not a toll-free 
    number.]
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Missing and Exploited Children's Program 
    is administered by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
    Prevention (OJJDP). Pursuant to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
    Prevention (JJDP) Act of 1974, as amended, section 406(a)(2), 42, 
    U.S.C. 5776, the Administrator of OJJDP is publishing for public 
    comment a Proposed Program Plan for activities authorized by Title IV 
    of the JJDP Act, the Missing Children's Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5771 
    et seq., that OJJDP proposes to initiate or continue in FY 1998. Taking 
    into consideration comments received on this Proposed Program Plan, the 
    Administrator will develop and publish a Final Program Plan that 
    describes the program activities OJJDP plans to fund during FY 1998 
    using Title IV funds.
        The actual solicitation of any competitive grant applications under 
    the Final Program Plan will be published at a later date in the Federal 
    Register. No proposals, concept papers, or other types of applications 
    should be submitted at this time.
    
    Background: The Nature of the Problem of Missing and Exploited Children
    
        The issues involving missing and exploited children can be divided 
    into four categories: family abduction, nonfamily abduction, child 
    exploitation, and the impact these events have on children and 
    families. These issues are summarized below, using data drawn from the 
    1988 National Incidence Study of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, or 
    Thrownaway Children (NISMART), the most current available data. The 
    NISMART II study, funded in 1996, will produce new data beginning in 
    1999.
    
    Family Abduction
    
        In 1988, NISMART estimated that 354,100 family abductions were 
    occurring each year. Forty-six percent of these abductions (163,200) 
    involved concealment of the child, transportation of the child out of 
    State, or intent by the abductor to keep the child indefinitely or to 
    permanently alter custody. Of this more serious subcategory of family 
    abductions, a little more than half were perpetrated by men who were 
    noncustodial fathers and father figures. Most victims were children 
    between the ages of 2 and 11. Half of these abductions involved 
    unauthorized takings, and half involved failure to return the child 
    after an authorized visit or stay. Fifteen percent of these abductions 
    involved the use of force or violence, and between 75 and 85 percent 
    involved interstate transportation of the child. About half of family 
    abductions occurred before the parents' relationship ended. Half did 
    not occur until 2 or more years after a divorce or separation, usually 
    after parents developed new households, moved away, developed new 
    relationships, or became disenchanted with the legal system. More than 
    half occurred in the context of relationships with a history of 
    domestic violence. An estimated 49 percent of abductors had criminal 
    records, and a significant number had a history of violent behavior, 
    substance abuse, or emotional disturbance. As NISMART found, it is not 
    uncommon for child victims of family abduction to have their names and 
    appearances altered; to experience medical or physical neglect, 
    unstable schooling, or homelessness; or to endure frequent moves. These 
    children are often told lies about the abduction and the left-behind 
    parent, event that the left-behind parent is dead.
    
    Nonfamily Abduction
    
        NISMART reported that an estimated 3,200 to 4,600 short-term 
    nonfamily abductions were known to law enforcement in 1988. Of these, 
    an estimated 200 to 300 were stereotypical kidnapings where a child is 
    gone overnight, is killed, is transported a distance of 50 miles or 
    more, or is being detained by a perpetrator who intends to keep the 
    child permanently. Young teenagers and girls were the most common 
    victims. Two-thirds of short-term abductions involved a sexual assault. 
    A majority of the victims were abducted from the street. More than 85 
    percent of nonfamily abductions involved force, and more than 75 
    percent involved a weapon. Most episodes lasted less than a day. Most 
    researchers and practitioners consider the number of short-term 
    abductions to be an underestimate because of police reporting methods 
    and lack of reporting on the part of victims. Federal Bureau of 
    Investigation (FBI) data support estimates of 43 to 147 stranger 
    abduction homicides of children annually between 1976 and 1987. Using 
    FBI data, NISMART estimated that 114,600 nonfamily abductions were 
    attempted in 1988, most involving strangers and usually involving an 
    attempt to lure a child into a car. In a majority of these cases, the 
    police were not contacted.
    
    Child Exploitation
    
        Children are also at risk of being victimized as a result of a 
    range of circumstances that fall into three categories: running away; 
    being expelled from the home, or ``thrownaway,'' by parents or 
    guardians; or being otherwise lost or missing.
        NISMART estimated that each year 446,700 children ran away from 
    households and 12,800 children ran from juvenile facilities. Many 
    children who ran from households also ran from facilities. About one-
    third of these runaways left home or a juvenile facility more than 
    once. Of all runaways identified, 133,500 were without secure and 
    familiar places to stay during their episodes. More than a third of 
    runaways ran away more than once during the year. One in ten traveled a 
    distance of more than 100 miles. Of the runaways from juvenile 
    facilities, almost one-half left the State. Runaways were mostly 
    teenagers, but almost 10 percent were 11 years old or youngers. 
    Runaways tended to come disproportionately from households with 
    stepparents. Family conflict seemed to be at the heart of most runaway 
    episodes. Between 60 and 70 percent of runaways reported being
    
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    seriously abused physically. It is estimated that from 25 to 80 percent 
    of all runaways are sexually abused. Runaways, particularly chronic 
    runaways, are at higher risk for physical and sexual victimization, 
    substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies, 
    violence, and suicide.
        NISMART reported that an estimated 127,100 thrownaway children were 
    told directly to leave their households, had been away from home and 
    were not allowed back by their caretakers, had caretakers, who made no 
    effort to recover them when they ran away, or had been abandoned or 
    deserted. By comparison, for every thrownaway child, there were four 
    runaway children. An estimated 59,200 thrownaway children were without 
    secure and familiar places to stay during the episodes. Most 
    thrownaways were older teenagers, but abandoned children tended to be 
    young (half under the age of 4). Thrownaways were concentrated in low-
    income families and families without both natural parents. Compared 
    with runaways, thrownaways experienced more violence and conflict 
    within their families and were less likely to return home.
        An estimated 438,200 children were lost, injured, or otherwise 
    missing each year, according to the 1988 study. Of these, 139,100 cases 
    were serious enough for the police to be called. Almost half involved 
    children under 4. Most of these episodes lasted less than a day. A 
    fifth of the children experienced physical harm. Fourteen percent of 
    the children were abused or assaulted during the episodes.
    
    Impact on Children and Families
    
        The majority of families of missing children experience serious 
    psychological consequences and substantial emotional distress. The 
    level of emotional distress equals or exceeds the emotional distress 
    for other groups of individuals exposed to trauma, such as combat 
    veterans and victims of rape, assault, or other violent crime, with 
    families where the missing child is subsequently recovered deceased 
    exhibiting the highest level of emotional distress. Once home, a third 
    of abducted children live in constant fear of reabduction. Many child 
    victims of family abduction experience serious psychological 
    consequences and substantial emotional distress. Trauma symptoms may be 
    evident for up to 4 or 5 years after recovery. More than 80 percent of 
    recoveries of missing children are concluded in less than 15 minutes 
    with no psychological or social service support. In most cases, the 
    only nonfamily person present is a police officer. Almost four-fifths 
    of victims and families of missing children do not receive mental 
    health or counseling services.
    
    Introduction to the Fiscal Year 1998 Program Plan
    
        According to the most recent FBI National Crime Information Center 
    (NCIC) Missing Person file statistics, approximately 2,200 children are 
    reported missing to law enforcement every day in the United States. 
    Many of these children are runaways; others are taken by noncustodial 
    parents and used as pawns in custody battles between their parents. 
    Some wander away and are unable to find their way home, and still 
    others represent a parent's worst nightmare, the loss of a child to a 
    predator.
        In 1984, Congress recognized the need for a national response to 
    missing children and enacted the Missing Children's Assistance Act to 
    establish a Missing and Exploited Children Program within OJJDP. The 
    Missing Children's Assistance Act authorizes assistance for research, 
    demonstration, and service programs and for establishment and support 
    of a national resource center and clearinghouse dedicated to missing 
    and exploited children.
        In FY 1997, OJJDP's Missing and Exploited Children's Program 
    continued to coordinate the Federal Government's response to missing 
    and exploited children and provided funding support for research, 
    training, technical assistance, and demonstration projects. Some 
    notable FY 1997 accomplishments are described below.
        OJJDP and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 
    (NCMEC) published A Report to the Nation: Missing and Exploited 
    Children, which offers State action plans and advisory memorandums 
    suggesting methods to enhance State and local responses to missing and 
    exploited children cases. The report has been disseminated to all State 
    Governors and attorneys general and is available through OJJDP's 
    Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse (JJC) and NCMEC. The JJC telephone 
    number is 800-638-8736, and the NCMEC number is 800-843-5678.
        OJJDP and the Washington State Attorney General's Office released 
    the results of a 3-year, OJJDP-funded research project that analyzed 
    the solvability factors of missing children homicide investigations. 
    The study provided information regarding victim, offender, and serial 
    offender composites; the importance of linking all of the evidentiary 
    sites within a homicide event; and the relationships between the 
    various sites. Copies of the report can be obtained by calling the 
    Washington State Attorney General's Office Homicide Investigation 
    Tracking Office at 800-345-2793.
        OJJDP, working with NCMEC and the FBI's Child Abduction and Serial 
    Killer Unit (CASKU) and Criminal Justice Information Services Division, 
    developed and implemented the Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training 
    Center (JRLETC), which offers multitiered training for law enforcement 
    executives and investigators. The training center, dedicated to the 
    memory of 9-year-old Jimmy Ryce, who was abducted and murdered in 
    Florida, opened April 15, 1997. OJJDP Administrator Shay Bilchik 
    presided over the dedication ceremony, which included remarks from 
    Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson, FBI Director Louis Freeh, 
    Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Jimmy's parents, Donald and 
    Claudine Ryce. Composed of several complementary elements, JRLETC 
    offers 2-day seminars focusing on broad coordination and policy 
    development issues for law enforcement executives and regional 5-day 
    courses emphasizing investigative techniques for law enforcement 
    officers who are responsible for investigating missing children cases.
        In FY 1997, Fox Valley Technical College, an OJJDP cooperative 
    agreement recipient, provided training to more than 4,100 law 
    enforcement and other professionals working on missing and exploited 
    children cases. These courses integrate current research and include 
    modules pertaining to investigative techniques, interview strategies, 
    comprehensive response planning, media relations, lead and case 
    management, and other topics related to missing and exploited children 
    cases.
        To help investigators determine if a child is abused or exploited 
    and collect the evidence necessary for effective prosecution, OJJDP 
    released seven additional Portable Guides in FY 1997 (the first four in 
    the series were issued in FY 1996) for police officers, medical 
    professionals, and social service professionals investigating child 
    abuse and exploitation cases. The Guides, sized to fit in patrol car 
    glove compartments or detectives' briefcases, provide immediate 
    reference materials for ``on the scene'' investigations. Subjects 
    covered include methods of interviewing victims, evidence collection 
    techniques, investigative strategies, and recognition of injuries 
    caused by abuse. Two additional guides are currently under development: 
    Multidisciplinary Team Approach to
    
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    Investigating Child Abuse and Computers and the Sexual Exploitation of 
    Children.
    
    Fiscal Year 1998 Programs
    
        In FY 1998, OJJDP proposes to continue its concentration on 
    programs that are national in scope, promote awareness, and enhance the 
    Nation's response to missing and exploited children and their families.
    
    New Programs
    
        Title IV new programs to be funded in FY 1998 are summarized below. 
    The grant to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to 
    implement the Title IV national resource and clearinghouse function is 
    considered a new program because the existing project period grant 
    expires in FY 1998 and a new award will be made to support these 
    functions during FY 1998. The Training and Technical Assistance program 
    will be recompleted in FY 1998, and a new project period grant will be 
    awarded. The Internet Crimes Against Children Regional Task Force 
    Development program is a new program to be competitively funded in FY 
    1998. While funds for other new programs in FY 1998 are limited, OJJDP 
    is interested in obtaining input from the field on program and service 
    needs that will assist us in planning both FY 1998 and future 
    programming.
    
    National Resource Center and Clearinghouse
    
        Congress has provided $5 million to continue and expand the 
    programs, services, and activities of the National Center for Missing 
    and Exploited Children, a national resource center and clearinghouse 
    dedicated to missing and exploited children and their families. As 
    provided in Title IV, the functions of the Center include, but are not 
    limited to, the following:
         Provide a toll-free hotline where citizens can report 
    investigative leads and parents and other interested individuals can 
    receive information concerning missing children.
         Provide technical assistance to parents, law enforcement, 
    and other agencies working on missing and exploited children issues.
         Promote information sharing and provide technical 
    assistance by networking with regional nonprofit organizations, State 
    missing children clearinghouses, and law enforcement agencies.
         Develop publications that contain practical, timely 
    information.
         Provide information regarding programs offering free or 
    low-cost transportation services that assist in reuniting children with 
    their families.
        In FY 1997, NCMEC's toll-free hotline received 127,796 calls 
    ranging from citizens reporting information concerning missing children 
    to requests from parents and law enforcement for information and 
    publications. NCMEC also assisted in the recovery of 4,607 children, 
    disseminated millions of missing children photographs, distributed 
    thousands of publications, and sponsored four regional meetings of 
    State missing children clearinghouses.
        In a major effort to broaden its photograph distribution capacity, 
    NCMEC is displaying missing children posters on hundreds of Web sites 
    by using push technology to automatically broadcast photographs and 
    case information to requesting Web sites. In addition, NCMEC worked 
    with private industry representatives to create a wide array of 
    awareness and prevention activities that include public service 
    announcements, direct mail campaigns, and distribution of mousepads 
    that list safe Internet practices for children.
        In FY 1998, in addition to performing the ongoing functions of the 
    national resource center and clearinghouse, NCMEC will complete the 
    development of a Web site that will enable State missing children 
    clearinghouses and law enforcement agencies to post missing children 
    posters on the Internet. In response to research documenting that 
    adolescent females are at greater risk than adolescent males of sexual 
    victimization, NCMEC will revise its Internet safety publication, Child 
    Safety on the Information Highway, and will implement a new safety 
    awareness program focusing on teens.
        Congress has appropriated $1.9 million in FY 1998 for NCMEC to 
    develop a national training and technical assistance program designed 
    to enhance the national investigative response to Internet crimes 
    against children. NCMEC, in partnership with OJJDP and in cooperation 
    with the U.S. Customs Service; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the 
    U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and 
    Obscenity Section and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the 
    National District Attorneys Association, will initiate a broad program 
    of activities in FY 1998 to combat crimes against children by criminals 
    using computer technology or the Internet. As envisioned, these 
    activities will include the installation of a NCMEC CYBER Tipline to 
    collect information regarding child pornography and other computer 
    crimes against children. Once the Tipline is implemented, citizens will 
    be able to use the Internet to provide information about criminal 
    Internet activity targeting children.
        Additional project activities include an Internet crimes against 
    children teleconference for law enforcement and a national law 
    enforcement training program that will include regional investigative 
    seminars in the field and policy development seminars at JRLETC. NCMEC 
    and OJJDP will be using a national technical advisory group composed of 
    representatives from Federal, State, and local law enforcement, 
    prosecutors, and private industry (including the agencies referenced 
    above) to guide implementation of this initiative.
        A 1-year cooperative agreement will be awarded to NCMEC in FY 1998 
    for the performance of the national resource center and clearinghouse 
    functions. No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1998.
    
    Missing and Exploited Children Training and Technical Assistance
    
        OJJDP proposes to issue a solicitation for an assistance award to 
    provide Title IV national training and technical assistance on missing 
    and exploited children to law enforcement, prosecutors, and health and 
    family services professionals. The purpose of this program is to ensure 
    the provision of up-to-date, practical training and technical 
    assistance for professionals working on missing and exploited children 
    issues.
        The program was competitively funded in FY 1995 for a 3-year 
    project period under a cooperative agreement awarded to Fox Valley 
    Technical College (FVTC) of Appleton, Wisconsin. In FY 1997, FVTC 
    provided training to more than 4,100 law enforcement, prosecution, 
    child welfare services, and medical professionals. FVTC supported 
    missing and exploited children activities by providing direct technical 
    assistance pertaining to information sharing, protocol development, 
    response planning, child protection legislation, juvenile prostitution, 
    and multidisciplinary team development to more than 40 State and local 
    units of government and professional associations. FVTC also 
    facilitated the development of several OJJDP publications including, 
    When Your Child is Missing: A Family Survival Guide. Written by parents 
    for parents, this publication, scheduled for release in spring 1998, 
    will provide guidance for searching parents from the perspective of 
    parents who have lost children to abductions. FVTC also provided 
    substantial assistance in the creation of several titles in OJJDP's
    
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    Portable Guides series and the publication of the Federal Agency Task 
    Force Joint Report.
        One cooperative agreement with a 3-year project period would be 
    awarded in FY 1998 under a competitive program announcement.
    
    Internet Crimes Against Children Regional Task Force Development
    
        Congress has appropriated $2.4 million in FY 1998 to develop and 
    support regional law enforcement task forces to address the problem of 
    Internet crimes against children. OJJDP will issue a solicitation for 
    assistance awards to States or local units of government, or 
    combinations thereof, to support implementation of regional task forces 
    to investigate Internet crimes against children. The purpose of the 
    program design will be to assist communities to develop comprehensive 
    multiagency responses that emphasize collaboration, information 
    sharing, and victim assistance. Eight to twelve grants will be awarded 
    to develop or expand regional multidisciplinary task forces under this 
    solicitation.
    
    Continuation Programs
    
        Title IV continuation programs for FY 1998 are summarized below. 
    Available funds, implementation sites, and other descriptive 
    information are subject to change based on the plan review process, 
    grantee performance, application quality, fund availability, and other 
    factors. No additional applications will be solicited for these 
    programs in FY 1998.
    
    Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association's Safe Return 
    Program
    
        OJJDP is responsible for providing oversight of this program, for 
    which Congress has provided $900,000 in FY 1998 to facilitate the 
    identification and safe return of memory-impaired persons who are at 
    risk of wandering from their homes.
        In FY 1997, the Safe Return Program increased its registration data 
    base to 30,000 individuals, assisted in the return of more than 1,700 
    wanderers, and continued the development of an image data base 
    consisting of more than 25,500 photographs.
        In FY 1998, the program will continue to expand the national 
    registry of memory-impaired persons, maintain the toll-free telephone 
    service, provide a Fax Alert System, conduct a ``train the trainers'' 
    program for law enforcement and emergency personnel, develop 
    information and educational materials, launch a national public 
    awareness campaign, and transition current ``wandering persons'' 
    programs into the national Safe Return Program.
    
    National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
    
        OJJDP proposes to continue to transfer funds to the Department of 
    Justice's Management Division through a reimbursable agreement to 
    continue NCMEC's online access to the FBI's National Crime Information 
    Center (NCIC) Wanted and Missing Persons files. The ability to verify 
    NCIC entries, communicate with law enforcement through the Interstate 
    Law Enforcement Telecommunication System, and be notified of life-
    threatening cases through the NCIC flagging system is crucial to 
    NCMEC's mission of providing advice and technical assistance to law 
    enforcement.
    
    NISMART II
    
        Temple University Institute for Survey Research was awarded a 3-
    year project period grant in FY 1995 to conduct the second National 
    Incidence Study of Missing, Exploited, Abducted, Runaway, and 
    Thrownaway Children (NISMART II). This project builds on the strengths 
    and addresses some of the weaknesses of NISMART I. Temple has assembled 
    a team of experts in the field of child victimization and survey 
    research capabilities, particularly surveys involving children and 
    families concerning sensitive topics. Temple has contracted with the 
    University of New Hampshire Survey Research Laboratory and Westat, 
    Inc., to carry out specific components of the study and provide 
    extensive background knowledge about the particulars of NISMART I. 
    Specifically, the NISMART II study will (1) revise NISMART I 
    definitions, (2) conduct a household survey that interviews both 
    caretaker and child, (3) conduct a police records study, (4) conduct a 
    juvenile facilities study, (5) analyze National Incidence Study-3 
    Community Professionals Study, (6) develop a single estimate of missing 
    children, and (7) conduct analyses and prepare reports. The project is 
    scheduled for completion in FY 2000.
        In FY 1997, the NISMART II definitions were revised under the 
    guidance of the project Advisory Board, and data survey collection 
    instruments were developed and submitted to the Office of Management 
    and Budget for clearance.
        In FY 1998, project activities will include completing the Computer 
    Assisted Telephone Interview program, pretesting the survey 
    questionnaires and refining them as necessary, and collecting data. In 
    addition, a Fact Sheet documenting the scope of the research, 
    definition revisions, and methodology changes will be published.
    
    Effective Community-Based Approaches for Dealing With Missing and 
    Exploited Children
    
        In FY 1995, the American Bar Association (ABA) was awarded an 18-
    month grant to study effective community-based approaches for dealing 
    with missing and exploited children. The objectives of Phase I of this 
    study were to (1) conduct a national search for communities that have 
    implemented a multiagency response to missing and exploited children 
    and their families, (2) select five communities with working 
    multiagency responses that hold promise for replication, (3) evaluate 
    these five communities, and (4) prepare a final report. Phase I was 
    completed in July 1997. In Phase II, which started in August 1997, the 
    ABA is preparing a final report that synthesizes the research findings 
    from Phase I into a modular training curriculum to help communities 
    plan, implement, and evaluate a multiagency response to missing and 
    exploited children and their families. The project will be completed in 
    FY 1998 with no further funding anticipated at this time.
    
    Parent Resource Support Network
    
        In FY 1997, OJJDP entered into a competitively awarded 3-year 
    cooperative agreement with Public Administration Services (PAS) to 
    develop and maintain a parent support network. The need for victim 
    parents to speak with other victim parents has emerged as a constant 
    theme in several OJJDP focus groups. The goal of this project is to 
    stimulate development of a network of screened and trained parent 
    volunteers who will provide assistance and advice to other victim 
    parents.
        In FY 1998, PAS will install a case management system to document 
    referrals and assistance activity, recruit parent mentors, develop and 
    deliver a training curriculum for the volunteer parents, and begin 
    direct service delivery to requesting parents. No funds will be 
    required in FY 1998.
    
    Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center Program
    
        In FY 1997, OJJDP--in partnership with the National Center for 
    Missing and Exploited Children, the FBI, and OJJDP grantee Fox Valley 
    Technical College--developed and implemented the Jimmy Ryce Law 
    Enforcement Training Center (JRLETC) program. JRLETC offers two law 
    enforcement training tracks that are designed to
    
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    improve the national investigative response to missing children cases.
        JRLETC's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) seminars approach missing 
    children cases from a management perspective and offer information 
    regarding coordination and communication issues, resource assessment, 
    legal concerns, and policy development for police chiefs and sheriffs. 
    The Responding to Missing and Exploited Children (REMAC) course offers 
    modules focusing on investigative techniques for all aspects of missing 
    children cases.
        In FY 1997, 197 police chiefs and sheriffs and 634 investigators 
    representing law enforcement agencies from every State participated in 
    at least one of the JRLETC programs. In addition, representatives from 
    every National Crime Information Center (NCIC) State Control Terminal 
    Agencies received training at JRLETC about the NCIC flagging system and 
    related missing children issues.
        Congress appropriated $1,185,000 in FY 1998 to continue operation 
    of the Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center. OJJDP, NCMEC, the 
    FBI, and FVTC will continue to provide training and technical 
    assistance through the JRLETC and will augment the training with a new 
    onsite technical assistance program to respond to the numerous requests 
    for assistance from JRLETC graduates. It is envisioned that teams 
    composed of FBI, NCMEC, and law enforcement management experts will 
    merge FBI Child Abduction and Serial Killer Unit (CASKU) investigative 
    expertise with proven law enforcement management practices to assist 
    police chiefs and sheriffs in designing unique missing children 
    investigative and response protocols for their communities.
        Under the JRLETC appropriation, OJJDP plans to award $500,000 to 
    FVTC to support regional REMAC courses, with the remaining $685,000 to 
    be awarded to NCMEC to continue the CEO seminars.
        Fiscal year 1998 funds will be awarded to supplement cooperative 
    agreements to NCMEC and FVTC to continue operation of the Jimmy Ryce 
    Law Enforcement Training Center. No additional applications will be 
    solicited in FY 1998.
    
    Criminal Parental Kidnaping Training and Technical Assistance
    
        In FY 1997, OJJDP supplemented an FY 1994 competitive award by 
    awarding continuation funding to the American Prosecutors Research 
    Institute (APRI) to provide parental abduction training and technical 
    assistance for prosecutors and to develop a training course pertaining 
    to the prosecution of child exploitation cases. Child exploitation 
    prosecutions are among the most complicated that prosecutors confront 
    because of the age and immaturity of victims, societal and law 
    enforcement attitudes toward these victims, the need for specialized 
    understanding of the dynamics of sexual exploitation, and the 
    jurisdiction and communication difficulties resulting from the 
    involvement of numerous agencies. To effectively handle such cases, 
    prosecutors must approach victims with great sensitivity and an 
    understanding of the psychological dynamics involved.
        In FY 1997, APRI--in addition to delivering training to 60 
    prosecutors--disseminated a quarterly newsletter, maintained an up-to-
    date parental kidnaping and child exploitation data base that included 
    a compilation of statutes and case law summaries, and provided 
    technical assistance to more than 100 prosecutors and investigators on 
    an as-needed basis. APRI also produced a Judge's Guide benchbook, 
    continued to update the National Directory of Parental Kidnaping 
    Prosecutors and Investigators, created a Web site that provides access 
    to case law information and law review articles, and provided 
    assistance to numerous professional conferences.
        In FY 1998, while continuing, updating, or expanding the above-
    mentioned technical assistance activities, APRI will offer an advanced 
    dual track training course for prosecutors in the areas of child 
    exploitation and parental kidnaping. The parental abduction track will 
    concentrate on difficult case strategies, resource availability, 
    preventive measures, and recovery techniques. The child exploitation 
    track will discuss legal issues pertaining to computer search and 
    seizures, juvenile prostitution, child pornography, and the emerging 
    threat posed by criminals using Internet technology to victimize 
    children. No additional funds are necessary in FY 1998.
    
    National Center on Child Fatality Review
    
        In FY 1997, OJJDP awarded a noncompetitive award to the National 
    Center on Child Fatality Review (NCCFR) in Los Angeles, California, to 
    develop State and local uniform reporting definitions and generic child 
    fatality review team protocols for consideration by communities working 
    on enhancing their child death investigations.
        NCCFR developed a model for integrating data among the Criminal 
    Justice, Vital Statistics, and Social Services Child Abuse Indices. 
    NCCFR also selected a National Advisory Board, which is composed of 
    representatives from across the country and from relevant disciplines.
        In FY 1998, OJJDP proposes to continue support to NCCFR to (1) 
    disseminate the model protocols for integrating the data mentioned 
    above to State and local child fatality review teams and other relevant 
    agencies; (2) develop a Web site and update it with journal articles, 
    references, new studies, new findings, and new resources; (3) maintain 
    paper and electronic directories of State and local child fatality 
    review teams, national associations, and Federal agency contacts; (4) 
    maintain a listing of contacts for professional specialists such as 
    head trauma, burns, neglect, NCCFR Advisory Board, and related 
    organizations and systems in the respective fields; (5) provide 
    information and training materials on basic team management and special 
    problems such as confidentiality, risk assessment, and special case 
    circumstances; (6) coordinate teleconferences and Internet meetings of 
    the Advisory Board; (7) maintain and share published reports of State 
    and local teams; (8) develop, coordinate, and implement 
    multidisciplinary training; and (9) plan for a national conference.
    
    Investigative Case Management for Missing Children Homicides
    
        In FY 1993, OJJDP made a competitive award to the Washington State 
    Attorney General's Office (WAGO) to analyze the solvability factors of 
    missing children homicide investigations. During the course of that 
    research, WAGO collected and analyzed the specific characteristics of 
    more than 550 missing child homicide cases. These characteristics were 
    recorded in WAGO's child homicide data base.
        In FY 1998, OJJDP proposes to continue to provide funding support 
    to WAGO to ensure the vitality and investigative relevance of its child 
    homicide data base. This funding would support both the gathering of 
    new case information and the development of specific case studies that 
    will be used to illustrate the research findings in training 
    presentations. In addition, the data base would be used by Federal, 
    State, and local law enforcement to perform link analysis by 
    identifying cases with similar characteristics. Law enforcement data 
    base inquiries can be made by calling WAGO at 800-345-2793.
    
    [[Page 8543]]
    
    FBI Child Abduction and Serial Killer Unit (CASKU)
    
        In FY 1997, OJJDP entered into a 3-year interagency agreement with 
    the FBI's CASKU to expand research to broaden law enforcement's 
    understanding of homicidal pedophiles' selection and luring of their 
    victims, their planning activities, and their efforts to escape 
    prosecution. This information will be used by the FBI and OJJDP in 
    training and technical assistance programs. Fiscal year 1997 activities 
    included the drafting of the research manager position description and 
    preliminary survey development.
        In FY 1998, OJJDP will continue funding support to CASKU to (1) 
    complete the research manager employment process to include background 
    screening; (2) complete development of the survey protocol; (3) 
    identify specific individuals to include in the case studies; and (4) 
    begin data collection.
    
        Dated: February 12, 1998.
    Shay Bilchik,
    Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
    [FR Doc. 98-4155 Filed 2-18-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4410-18-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/19/1998
Department:
Justice Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Proposed Program Plan for public comment.
Document Number:
98-4155
Dates:
Comments must be submitted by April 20, 1998.
Pages:
8538-8543 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:
OJP (OJJDP-1154
RINs:
1121-ZA91
PDF File:
98-4155.pdf