For more information visit;
Sacramento Sheriffs Department - http://www.sacsheriff.com/crime_prevention/documents/cyber_crime_04.cfm
National Crime Prevention Council - http://www.ncpc.org

Cyberspace is a gigantic community of millions, where people research information for school, learn about movies, shop, listen to music, watch video clips, even develop sites of their own. As in any community, there are people and places you should avoid to reduce your crime risk.

Rules of the Road on the Internet

The best tool you have for screening material found on the Internet is your brain. If you come across sites that are pornographic, full of hate literature, or excessively violent, move on. Here are a few reminders for safe browsing on the World Wide Web:

• Never give out your name, address, telephone number, password, school name, parent's name, pictures of yourself, credit cards, or any other personal information to others online.
• Never agree to meet face to face with someone you've met online without discussing it with your parents. Only if your parents decide that it's okay to meet your "cyber-friend," arrange to meet in a familiar public place, and take an adult with you.
• Never respond to messages from unfamiliar persons.
• Never enter an area that charges for services without getting your parents' permission first.
• If you receive pornographic material or threatening e-mail, save the offensive material, tell your parents, and contact that user's Internet service provider and your local law enforcement agency.
  The Sites You See (and Visit)
  
  E-mail
  E-mail is a great way to communicate with your friends and family. Sometimes you may receive messages trying to sell you something or encouraging you to visit a Web site. It is probably best not to respond to e-mail from people or groups you don't know. These sites might be a scam to sell you something you don't want. Remember, the sender might not be who he or she seems to be. If you respond, you are confirming that you have a valid e-mail address. That information can encourage the sender to forward inappropriate e-mail or put your address on even more lists.
  
  Chat rooms
  When someone is posting a message in a chat room, other users have no way of knowing who that person really is. Though the anonymity of a chat room can be liberating — it's cool to create a different identity — some use it as a way to meet people they want to harm. Never say anything in a chat room that you wouldn't say in public. Many chat rooms have monitors or speakers who maintain order. These monitors can kick people out of the room for inappropriate behavior.
  
  If you meet someone online and strike up a good relationship with them, they may want to go to a private chat room. Most of these rooms are unmonitored. There will be no filter for inappropriate conduct.
  
  Harassment
  Not everyone online minds their manners. When you are in chat rooms or bulletin boards there is a chance that you'll get messages that are harassing, demeaning, or just plain mean. Just ignore them. Some messages, however, may constitute harassment, which is a crime under federal law. If someone sends you messages or images that are obscene, lewd, filthy, or indecent, with the intent to harass or threaten you, report it to your Internet service provider. One trick to avoid harassment is to choose a gender-neutral name to use in a chat room and other public places on the Internet.
  
  Assessing a Web Site
  
  Aside from the fun ways to keep in touch with people, the Web can be a powerful research tool. But you need to be able to evaluate the pages you visit to know whether the information is accurate. As you visit new sites keep these pointers in mind:
  
  Look for Web pages that have a proper title, additional resources, a contact person with his or her e-mail address, an announcement of the last time the page was updated, and current links.
  Know who are the authors or sponsors of the site. What gives them the authority to discuss the issue at hand?
  Know the code. Check the URL (Web site address) to see what the domain name includes: a .com (commercial), a .gov (government), an .org (organization), .net (network), an .edu (educational organization), or a two letter country code (country of origin). This will provide an idea of the author or sponsor of the site. Not all commercial sites want to sell you something and not all educational sites will educate you. Be an educated consumer as you sort through the information.
  Know what's happening. Is the main purpose of this site to sell, inform, or persuade you?
  Check with the author first, if you find information that you want to use for your research, about copyright privileges and permission.
  Take Action
  
  Educate your parents. Take the time to show your parents what you do online. Show them your Web site, if you have one. Tell them who you are communicating with on a daily basis. Most likely you will be teaching your parents some new tricks.
  Talk to your parents about where you can go online and how long you can stay online. Also, tell them about activities you participate in online.
  Teach other teens about keeping safe on the Internet.
  Know your rights — where to report crimes and what you can report

For more information visit National Crime Prevention Council - http://www.ncpc.org/resources/files/pdf/fraud/Identity-Theft-Brochure.pdf

In the course of the day you may write a check at the drugstore, charge tickets to a concert, rent a car, call home on your cell phone, or apply for a credit card. Chances are you don't give these routine transactions a second thought. But others may.

Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in America, affecting half a million new victims each year. Identity theft or identity fraud is the taking of a victim's identity to obtain credit, credit cards from banks and retailers, steal money from a victim's existing accounts, apply for loans, establish accounts with utility companies, rent an apartment, file bankruptcy, or obtain a job using the victim's name. Thousand of dollars can be stolen without the victim knowing about it for months or even years.

The imposter obtains your social security number, your birth date, and other identifying information such as your address and phone number. With this information and a fake driver's license, they can apply in person for instant credit or through the mail posing as you. They often claim they have moved and provide their own address. Once the first account is opened, they can continue to add to their credibility.

They get the information from your doctor, lawyer, school, health insurance carrier, and many other places. "Dumpster divers" pick up information you may have thrown away, such as utility bills, credit card slips, and other documents.

To prevent this from happening to you;

• Do not give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know whom you're dealing with. Identity thieves will pose as bank representatives, Internet service providers, and even government officials to get you to reveal identifying information.
• Shred all documents, including pre-approved credit applications received in your name, insurance forms, bank checks and statements you are discarding, and other financial information.
• Do not use your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your social security number, or a similar series of numbers as a password for anything.
• Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry. Take what you'll actually need. Don't carry your social security card, birth certificate, or passport, unless necessary.
• Do not put your social security number on your checks or your credit receipts. If a business requests your social security number, give them an alternate number and explain why. If a government agency requests your social security number, there must be a privacy notice accompanying the request.
• Do not put your telephone number on checks.
• Be careful using ATMs and phone cards. Someone may look over your shoulder and get your PIN numbers, thereby gaining access to your accounts.
• Make a list of all your credit card account numbers and bank account numbers with customer service phone numbers and keep it in a safe place.
• When you order new credit cards in the mail or previous ones have expired, watch the calendar to make sure you get the card within the appropriate time. If the card is not received within that time, call the credit card grantor immediately to find out if the card has been sent. If you don't receive the card, check to make sure a change of address was not filed.
• Do not put your credit card number on the Internet unless it is encrypted on a secured site.
• Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if bills don't arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address.
• Cancel all credit cards that you have not used in the last six months. Open credit is a prime target.
• Order your credit report at least twice a year. Reports should be obtained from all three major sources: Equifax at 800-685-1111; Experian at 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); or TransUnion at 800-680-7293. Correct all mistakes on your credit report in writing. Send the letters return receipt requested. Identify the problems item by item and send with a copy of the credit report back to the credit reporting agency. You should hear from the agency within 30 days.
  Write to Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735 to get your name off direct mail lists.

For more information visit National Crime Prevention Council - http://www.ncpc.org/topics/by-audience/parents/bicycle-safety

Bike riding can be a fun activity for children, but if they don't know how to ride safely it can also be a very dangerous one. In 2002, almost 300,000 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms after bicycle accidents. Often, these accidents are preventable.

You can protect your children by teaching them the following rules:

• Always wear a helmet and make sure it's fastened. Helmets can reduce head injuries by up to 85 percent and in many states it's illegal for children not to wear them.
• Wear bright clothing. Bright and light colored clothing makes riders more noticeable. If children are allowed to bike ride after dark, make sure they have reflectors on their bike, helmet, and clothing.
• Ride in safe places, such as in parks, on bike trails, and on roads with little traffic.
• Obey the rules of the road. Bikers must stop at all stop signs and red lights, use hand signals when turning, and ride only on the right hand side of the road, with traffic. To practice using road signs, check out these.
• Look both ways before crossing an intersection. Seven out of 10 bike crashes happen at driveways and intersections.
• Whenever possible cross the road at crosswalks. That's where drivers expect to see bicyclists and pedestrians crossing intersections. Remember, always walk bikes across crosswalks.
• Give bikes regular tune ups. It's just as important for a bike to be well maintained as a car. 
• Lock up or keep bikes in a safe place. To help police return a bike if it is stolen and recovered, record the serial number and take a picture of the bicycle for their use. Many local police departments have free bike registration days and other bike registration programs.
• Ride with a friend. It's more fun and safer because help is there if needed.
• If children know these, they are on their way to safe riding. These tips are great for rollerblading and skateboarding too!

For more information visit National Crime Prevention Council - http://www.ncpc.org/topics/by-audience/parents/guns

News stories are frightening: a child accidentally shoots a sibling while handling a gun; a child brings a gun to school to settle an argument with a peer; a young person is shot by a stray bullet while playing outside her home.

Incidents like these happen every day in the United States. On an average day in 2002, eight young people were killed by a gun – that’s one every three hours (Children’s Defense Fund).

The good news is that parents can do a lot to protect their children from gun violence. A good start is to follow these three rules:

Lock it up.
Teach that guns kill.
Explain how to act around guns.
Lock it up.
If you own a gun, keep it locked up, unloaded, and out of reach of children. Store your ammunition separately and keep your ammunition locked up, too. And invest in a trigger lock for your gun.

Not only is it safer to lock up guns and ammunition, but it can be illegal not to. In some states a gun owner can be charged with a crime if he or she doesn’t make an effort to keep the firearm away from minors and a minor uses the gun.

Teach that guns kill.
Kids may not realize that guns can be deadly. In television shows, movies, and video games, violence often doesn’t have consequences. After being shot, a cartoon character may have a hole in his stomach, but it disappears in the next scene. The leading characters in movies never die, only the bad guys do. In video games, characters have many lives.

But parents can use these media as a way to teach their children about the real-life impacts of guns. If you see an example of violence, ask your children what the consequences would be if it happened outside a Hollywood production. Talk about everyone who is affected by gun violence, such as the victim’s children, parents, friends, and community. Discuss the consequences for the shooter and for the shooter’s family— such as jail time and guilt.

Explain how to act around guns.
Even if you don’t own a gun, it’s likely one of your neighbors does. Thirty-five percent of adults live in a home with at least one gun, according to John Hopkins University’s Center for Gun Policy and Research (PDF). If children know how you want them to act around guns, they’ll be more likely to act in a safe manner. Teach kids the four steps to gun safety:

Stop.
Don’t touch.
Get away.
Tell an adult.
Print out the If You Find a Gun... (PDF) worksheet for your children to color about the steps to gun safety.

Talk about specific examples of places your children may see a gun and have your children tell you what they would do. You could talk about the following examples:

A friend shows your child his dad’s gun.
Your child sees a gun in a classmate’s locker or backpack.
Your child overhears a classmate talking about bringing a gun to school.
Your child sees a person walk into a store holding a gun.
Your child finds a gun while playing outdoors.

Here is some information from DOJ website.

Megans Law - Sexual Offender Lookup

For Parents:

• Inform children that it is wrong for adults to engage children in sexual activity.
• Stress to your child that he or she should feel comfortable telling you anything, especially if it involves another adult. If your child does not feel comfortable being completely honest with you, then together you should find another trusted adult your child can talk to in confidence.
• Make an effort to know the people with whom your child is spending time.
• Knowledge is power. This is especially true for protecting children from sexual assault. Teach your children about their bodies, give them the correct language to use when describing their private parts. Emphasize that those parts are private.
• Make sure you know where each of your children is at all times. Know your children's friends and be clear with your children about the places and homes they may visit. Make it a rule that your children check in with you when they arrive at or depart from a particular location and when there is a change in plans. You should also let them know when YOU are running late or if your plans have changed so that they can see the rule is for safety purposes and not being used to "check up" on them.
• Never leave children unattended in an automobile, whether it is running or not. Children should never be left unsupervised or allowed to spend time alone, or with others, in automobiles, as the potential dangers to their safety outweigh any perceived convenience or "fun." Remind children NEVER to hitchhike, approach a car or engage in a conversation with anyone in a car who they do not know or trust, or go anywhere with anyone without getting your permission first.
• Be involved in your children's activities. As an active participant, you will have a better opportunity to observe how the adults in charge interact with your children. If you are concerned about anyone's behavior, take it up with the sponsoring organization.
• Listen to your children. Pay attention if they tell you that they do not want to be with someone or go somewhere. This may be an indication of more than a personality conflict or lack of interest in the activity or event.
• Notice when someone shows one or all of your children a great deal of attention or begins giving them gifts. Take the time to talk to your children about this person and find out why the person is acting in this way.
• Teach your children that they have the right to say NO to any unwelcome, uncomfortable, or confusing touch or actions by others. Teach them to tell you immediately if this happens. Reassure them that you are there to help and it is okay to tell you anything.
• Be sensitive to any changes in your children's behavior or attitude. Encourage open communication and learn how to be an active listener. Look and listen to small cues and clues that something may be troubling your children, because children are not always comfortable disclosing disturbing events or feelings. This may be because they are concerned about your reaction to their problems. If your children do confide problems to you, strive to remain calm, non-critical, and nonjudgmental. Listen compassionately to their concern and work with them to get the help they need to resolve the problem.
• Be sure to screen babysitters and caregivers. Many states now have public registries that allow parents to screen individuals for prior criminal records and sex offenses. Check references with other families who have used the caregiver or babysitter. Once you have chosen the caregiver, drop in unexpectedly to see how your children are doing. Ask your children how the experience with the caregiver was, and listen carefully to their responses.
• Practice basic safety skills with your children. Make an outing to a mall or a park a "teachable" experience in which your children can practice checking with you, using pay phones, going to the restroom with a friend, and locating the adults who can help if they need assistance. Remember that allowing your children to wear clothing or carry items in public on which their name is displayed can bring about unwelcome attention from inappropriate people who may be looking for a way to start a conversation with your children.
• Remember that there is no substitute for your attention and supervision. Being available and taking time to really know and listen to your children helps build feelings of safety and security.
• Also remember that in the vast majority of cases (up to 90%), children are molested by someone they know. Your efforts at keeping your child safe must be informed by this fact and not focused exclusively on the danger that strangers may present. 

For Teenagers

• Adolescence is a scary time for children, and one in which they are most at risk for sexual assault. Prepare for the possibility that as adolescents, they may engage in some risk-taking behavior and try to minimize that risk by educating them about the danger of sexual assault by friends, acquaintances, or others. This danger is enhanced when teenagers are abusing drugs or alcohol.
• Encourage your teenager to trust her or his instincts and if a situation makes him or her uneasy, to get out of it.
• Stress to them that they can always talk to you if they have been hurt or scared (regardless of the circumstances surrounding the incident).

For You

• Trust your instincts when you are with someone about whom you feel uncomfortable (e.g., in an elevator, in a car, in your home). This can be especially difficult for both children and adults who have been socialized to be polite.
• Do not talk yourself out of feeling uncomfortable being alone with someone simply because he or she is an acquaintance or a friend of a friend-most sexual abusers are someone the victim knows.
• Be wary of friends or dates who test your boundaries by making unwanted physical advances to you and then ignore or minimize your protests and other signs that you do not like their behavior.

• Talk openly about the sexual assault of adults and children, men, women, boys, and girls.
• Understand the issues involved in sexual assault. Know the statistics.
• Assume preventing sexual assault is everyone's responsibility.
• Talk to your children about personal safety issues as they relate to child sexual abuse. Do this when you talk to your children about bike safety, crossing the street, or talking to strangers. It is, in many ways, just another personal safety rule about which children need to be aware.
• Increase your knowledge about risk reduction measures you can take to protect yourself.
• Invite your local law enforcement, probation/ parole department, rape crisis center, or child abuse prevention organization to a neighborhood discussion group to learn about the issue and to process people's emotions.
• Get to know your neighbors.
• Organize neighborhood block watches, if desired by your neighbors.
• Do not wait until you are informed that a sex offender is living nearby to begin educating yourself and family on issues of sexual assault.
• Find out what the statistics on child sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, offender arrest, and incarceration are in your community.
• Beware of the media's ability to sensationalize the most horrific of stories concerning the sexual assault of children or adults. These stories, while real and very frightening, are not the norm.