FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290


Blunt Announces More Than $242,000 to Help Protect Children from Cyber Predators

JEFFERSON CITY–Governor Matt Blunt announced the Internet Cyber Crime Grant program was awarded more than $242,000 to support law enforcement in investigating Internet crimes, including those that endanger Missouri’s children.

“These grants help ensure our law enforcement officials have the tools and resources necessary to protect our children from cyber predators, child pornography and child exploitation,” Blunt said. “By providing our law enforcement with the tools they need to go after the predators, we can make the Internet safer for Missouri children.”

Blunt called for and signed tough sex offender legislation in Missouri. His leadership in enacting Missouri’s version of Jessica’s law ensured that our state has some of the strongest sex offender laws in the nation. One provision of the law gives the Department of Public Safety the authority to create the Internet Cyber Crime Grant program to assist law enforcement officials in investigating dangerous Internet crimes, especially sex crimes exploiting children.

The Internet Cyber Crime Grant Program distributes funding to support detectives’ salaries, training and computer forensic personnel who focus on preventing and controlling Internet cyber crime ultimately improving public safety.

Mo. Department of Social Services
State Technical Assistance Team-Operation Predator
$31,059.90
Boone County
Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force
$31,026.14
City of Cassville
Internet Cyber Crimes Against Children
$5,388.26
City of Clayton
Internet Cyber Crime Grant Program
$15,995.48
City of Independence
Independence Against Internet Crime
$12,685.71
Jasper County
Internet Sex Crimes Investigator
$1,369.55
City of Kirksville
Internet Cyber Crime Grant
$17,570.59
City of Lee’s Summit
ICCG/Internet and Cyber Crime Detective
$20,288.49
City of Maryland Heights
Internet Predator Apprehension Program
$9,000.00
Platte County
Western Missouri Cyber Crime Task Force
$70,632.12
Scott County
Scott Co. Sheriff Computer Forensic Investigator Trg.
$27,483.75

The current budget includes $250,000 for grants to Multi-jurisdictional Internet Cyber Crimes Task Forces. Blunt recently told law enforcement authorities he would like to increase that amount next fiscal year.

For more information about the grants contact Terri Durdaller in the Department of Public Safety at 573-751-4819.


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