[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43550-43555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21507]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Justice Programs
[OJP(OJJDP)-1141]
RIN 1121-ZA87


Title IV Missing and Exploited Children's Fiscal Year 1997 
Program Plan

AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and 
Delinquency Prevention, Justice.


[[Page 43551]]


ACTION: Proposed program plan for public comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 
(OJJDP) is publishing its Title IV Missing and Exploited Children's 
Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 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 
1997 Title IV Program Plan.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by October 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Public comments should be mailed to Shay Bilchik, 
Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 
633 Indiana Avenue N.W., Room 742, 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 a program of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention (OJJDP). Pursuant to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention Act (JJDPA) 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, 
the Missing Children's Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5771 et seq., that 
OJJDP proposes to initiate or continue in FY 1997. 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 1997 
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).

Family Abduction

    An estimated 354,100 family abductions occur each year. Forty-six 
percent of these abductions (163,200) involve 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 
are perpetrated by men who are noncustodial fathers and father figures. 
Most victims are children between the ages of 2 and 11. Half involve 
unauthorized takings, and half involve failure to return the child 
after an authorized visit or stay. Fifteen percent of these abductions 
involve the use of force or violence, and 75 to 85 percent involve 
interstate transportation of the child. About half of family abductions 
occur before the relationship ends. Half do not occur until 2 or more 
years after a divorce or separation, usually after parents develop new 
households, move away, develop new relationships, or become 
disenchanted with the legal system. More than half occur in the context 
of relationships with a history of domestic violence. An estimated 49 
percent of abductors have criminal records, and a significant number 
have a history of violent behavior, substance abuse, or emotional 
disturbance. 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, even that the left-behind parent is dead.

Nonfamily Abduction

    An estimated 3,200 to 4,600 short-term nonfamily abductions are 
known to law enforcement each year. Of these, an estimated 200 to 300 
are stereotypical kidnapings where a child is gone overnight, is 
killed, or is transported a distance of 50 miles or more or where the 
perpetrator intends to keep the child permanently. Young teenagers and 
girls are the most common victims. Two-thirds of short-term abductions 
involve a sexual assault. A majority are abducted from the street. More 
than 85 percent of nonfamily abductions involve force, and more than 75 
percent involve a weapon. Most episodes last 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. An 
estimated 114,600 nonfamily abductions are attempted each year, 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.
    An estimated 446,700 children run away from households each year. 
In addition, an estimated 12,800 children run from juvenile facilities 
each year. Many children who run from households also run from 
facilities. About one-third of these runaways left home or a juvenile 
facility more than once. Of all runaways, 133,500 are without secure 
and familiar places to stay during their episodes. More than a third of 
runaways run away more than once during the year. One in ten travels a 
distance of more than 100 miles. Of the runaways from juvenile 
facilities, almost one-half leave the State. Runaways are mostly 
teenagers, but almost 10 percent are 11 years old and younger. They 
tend to come disproportionately from households with stepparents. 
Family conflict seems to be at the heart of most runaway episodes. 
Between 60 and 70 percent of runaways report being 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.
    There are an estimated 127,100 thrownaway children who are directly 
told to leave their households, who have been away from home and are 
not allowed back by their caretakers, whose caretakers make no effort 
to recover them when they have run away, or who have been abandoned or 
deserted. By comparison, for every child who is a thrownaway, there are 
four runaway children. An estimated 59,200 thrownaway children are 
without secure and familiar places to stay during the episodes. Most 
thrownaways are older teenagers, but abandoned children tend to be 
young (half under the age of 4). Thrownaways are concentrated in low-
income families and families without

[[Page 43552]]

both natural parents. Compared to runaways, thrownaways experience more 
violence and conflict within their families and are less likely to 
return home.
    An estimated 438,200 children are lost, injured, or otherwise 
missing each year. Of these, 139,100 cases are serious enough for the 
police to be called. Almost half involve children under 4. Most of 
these episodes last less than a day. A fifth of the children experience 
physical harm. Fourteen percent of the children are abused or assaulted 
during the episodes.

Impact on Children and Families

    The majority of families of missing children experience substantial 
psychological consequences and 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 a reabduction. Many child victims of 
family abduction experience substantial psychological consequences and 
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. Almost four-fifths of victims and families of 
missing children do not receive mental health or counseling services. 
In most cases, the only nonfamily person present is a police officer.

Introduction to the Fiscal Year 1997 Program Plan

    According to the most recent FBI National Crime Information Center 
statistics, approximately 2,200 children are reported missing to law 
enforcement each day. 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 
necessity of a national response to missing children and enacted the 
Missing Children's Assistance Act to establish a Missing and Exploited 
Children Program within the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention (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 will continue to concentrate on programs that are 
national in scope, promote awareness, and enhance the Nation's response 
to missing children and their families.
    The Office will continue to support the National Center for Missing 
and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which serves as the national resource 
center and clearinghouse.
    In FY 1996, NCMEC's toll-free hotline received 107,052 calls that 
ranged from citizens reporting investigative leads to requests for 
publications and advice from parents, law enforcement, prosecutors, and 
other professionals working on issues of missing children. The NCMEC 
Web site, which provides missing children posters and publications 
available for downloading, registered more than 1 million requests for 
information. In addition, NCMEC, using OJJDP funds, completed an 
upgrade of the State Missing Clearinghouse online communications 
network with the installation of new computers, scanners, software, and 
printers. This upgrade has substantially enhanced the clearinghouses' 
capacity to share information and disseminate missing children posters.
    As the competitively awarded Title IV Training and Technical 
Assistance grantee, Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) of Appleton, 
Wisconsin, will continue to offer training courses pertaining to 
investigation of child abuse and missing and exploited children cases 
and will provide technical assistance upon request. In FY 1996, 1,522 
individuals attended FVTC's 40-hour courses that provided information 
about investigative techniques, interview strategies, offender and 
victim profiles, and an overview of available resources to assist State 
and local law enforcement to investigate cases of missing, exploited, 
and abused children. FVTC also facilitated OJJDP's national training 
workshop for State clearinghouses and nonprofit organizations working 
on missing and exploited children's issues.
    The workshop, attended by representatives from every State and 
Canada, fostered communication and networking; offered information 
about programs, activities, and services; and provided tools for 
professionals returning to their communities to work on missing 
children issues.
    Several new initiatives began in FY 1996. The Federal Agency Task 
Force for Missing and Exploited Children released the publication 
Federal Resources on Missing and Exploited Children: A Directory for 
Law Enforcement and Other Public and Private Agencies. The Directory 
contains information regarding services ranging from the immediate 
delivery of specialized forensic and investigative services at the 
scene of an abducted child investigation to longer term training and 
prevention programs that improve community safety and enhance 
investigative resources of Federal, State, and local law enforcement 
agencies.
    To help investigators determine if a child is abused or exploited 
and collect the evidence necessary for effective prosecution, OJJDP 
developed four new portable guides for police officers, medical 
professionals, and social services professionals investigating child 
abuse and exploitation cases. These guides, which provide ``on the 
scene'' guidance to law enforcement officers investigating suspected 
crimes against children, were the first in an 11-part series. In FY 
1996, OJJDP released Recognizing When a Child's Injury or Illness Is 
Caused by Abuse, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Child Sexual Abuse, 
Photodocumentation in the Investigation of Child Abuse, and Diagnostic 
Imaging of Child Abuse. The remaining seven guides on topics such as 
child homicide, burn injuries, pedophiles, and interviewing child 
witnesses will be released in FY 1997. Because the guides have been 
well received, OJJDP is considering expanding the series to other 
topics on which it would be helpful for law enforcement and other 
child-serving professionals to have information immediately available.
    In FY 1996, OJJDP played a major role in the implementation of the 
Presidential memorandum regarding the posting of missing children's 
posters in Federal buildings. OJJDP and NCMEC assisted the General 
Services Administration and other Federal agencies to develop 
procedures and guidelines to make information about specific missing 
children available to Federal workers and the general public.
    Also in FY 1996, OJJDP--working with the Attorney General--sent 
letters to all State Attorneys General, State Missing Children 
Clearinghouses, and United States Attorneys to share information about 
Federal programs, services, and activities to support law enforcement 
and other professionals working on missing children issues. In 
addition, the Attorney General presented NCMEC's Law Enforcement 
Officer of the Year Award to Detective Sheila Jenkins of Pascagoula,

[[Page 43553]]

Mississippi, in a ceremony commemorating National Missing Children's 
Day. In FY 1997, OJJDP and its grantees will build on these efforts in 
order to enhance the response to missing, exploited children and their 
families.

Fiscal Year 1997 Programs

    The Title IV continuation programs for FY 1997 are summarized 
below. The 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. Additional programs may be added to the plan based on the 
review and comment process.

Continuation Programs

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children ($3,444,000)
    This 3-year cooperative agreement funds the operation of a national 
resource center and clearinghouse as established in section 404(b), 42 
U.S.C. 5773, of the JJDP Act. The Clearinghouse operates a 24-hour 
toll-free telephone line through which individuals may report 
information regarding the location of a child who is missing or who is 
age 13 or younger and whose whereabouts are unknown to the child's 
legal custodian or request information pertaining to procedures 
necessary to reunite the child with the legal guardian. The 
Clearinghouse is responsible for providing a wide range of assistance 
to State and local governments, public and private nonprofit agencies, 
and individuals. This assistance includes coordinating public and 
private programs that locate, recover, or reunite missing children with 
their legal guardians; providing training and technical assistance; 
disseminating information about innovative and model missing children's 
programs; and facilitating the lawful use of school records to identify 
and locate missing children.
    Under a triparty agreement with the U.S. Department of State, 
OJJDP, and NCMEC, NCMEC is assisting the State Department to carry out 
this Nation's responsibilities under the Hague Convention. NCMEC 
assists in locating children illegally removed from other countries to 
the United States and facilitates access for visitation or their return 
to the custodial parent. In FY 1997, NCMEC is enhancing services to 
American parents whose children have been wrongfully taken to or 
retained in other countries. NCMEC will provide technical assistance on 
legal matters, administrative support, translation services, poster 
dissemination, international organization liaison, and advocacy.
    NCMEC will also coordinate four State Missing Children 
Clearinghouse Coalition meetings in FY 1997. These meetings will 
include State clearinghouse activity reports, information about Federal 
and NCMEC programs and activities, and current policy discussions that 
impact on missing children issues.
    In addition, OJJDP and NCMEC are developing an informational 
brochure pertaining to case-specific public service announcements 
(PSA's) for dissemination to the television media. The brochures will 
contain guidelines and information for local television stations 
producing PSA's about specific children abducted under life threatening 
circumstances.
    For more information about the wide range of NCMEC services for 
parents; missing children organizations; Federal, State, and local law 
enforcement; prosecutors; and other professionals working to reunite 
missing children and their families, please contact NCMEC at 800-843-
5678.
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association's Safe Return 
Program ($900,000)
    OJJDP oversees this program, under which NCMEC serves as the 
clearinghouse and operates the hotline for the Alzheimer's program. In 
FY 1996, with an additional 8,850 registrants, the Safe Return Program 
increased the registration data base to 26,101 individuals and assisted 
in the return of 702 wanderers to their caregivers. In addition, the 
program implemented an image data base consisting of more than 25,500 
photographs, produced and disseminated a training video for law 
enforcement, developed a Safe Return Handbook for the Alzheimer's 
Association chapters, and implemented an awards program to acknowledge 
individuals who play a vital role in the return home of a Safe Return 
registrant. In FY 1997, the program will continue to expand the 
national registry of memory-impaired persons, support 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. For more information 
about the Safe Return Program, please contact the National Alzheimer's 
and Related Disease Association at 312-335-8700.
Title IV Training and Technical Assistance ($1,500,000)
    The Title IV Training and Technical Assistance Program assists 
OJJDP and missing children grantees in raising the awareness of missing 
children services and improving system capabilities to meet the needs 
of missing and exploited children. This is accomplished by developing 
and implementing quality training and technical assistance for Federal, 
State, and local governments; nonprofit organizations; and Title IV 
grantees.
    In FY 1997, the Title IV Training and Technical Assistance Program 
will provide training and technical assistance related to the Missing 
and Exploited Children's Comprehensive Action Program (M/CAP). M/CAP is 
a national demonstration project to promote the implementation of 
multiagency community approaches to respond to missing and exploited 
children cases. Through a broad program of technical assistance and 
training, M/CAP has helped agencies develop an effective multiagency 
team to deal with missing and exploited children cases and provided 
training and technical assistance to build specialized skills to handle 
these cases. Existing M/CAP sites will be encouraged to serve as 
regional technical assistance sites and, using information and 
knowledge gained from experienced M/CAP jurisdictions, FVTC will 
provide training and technical assistance to communities interested in 
developing M/CAP programs in their neighborhoods.
    In addition to delivering Title IV training and technical 
assistance, FVTC will develop written protocols to coordinate service 
delivery to missing children and their families. These protocols will 
be developed through working groups composed of representatives from 
all members of the missing children community. Once developed, these 
protocols will be offered for adoption by entities working to reunite 
missing children and their families. Also in FY 1997, FVTC will update 
the Federal Resource Directory and develop a child fatality review team 
training course for law enforcement, prosecutors, medical, and child 
services professionals. In addition, OJJDP, working with FVTC, will 
develop a 1-day training course on information sharing as it relates to 
missing children. Based on the availability of funds, technical 
assistance will also be available to jurisdictions upon request.

[[Page 43554]]

National Missing Children Data Archive ($25,000)
    This agreement continues funding for the Missing Children Data 
Archive. Through a cooperative agreement with the University of 
Michigan Consortium for Political and Social Research, staff process 
and archive OJJDP missing children data into a readily understandable, 
standard format (this includes data sets produced through OJJDP missing 
children projects). In FY 1996, six data sets were processed by the 
University and made publicly available. In addition to being available 
on magnetic tape, these studies are also available for downloading 
through the Internet (http://www.icpr.umich.edu). In FY 1997, the 
University will continue to receive studies for processing and will 
prepare a CD-ROM to make research data sets more accessible.
National Crime Information Center (NCIC) ($100,000)
    FY 1997 funds will be awarded to continue NCMEC's online access to 
the FBI National Crime Information Center's (NCIC) Wanted and Missing 
Persons files. NCMEC's 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 its mission of 
providing advice and technical assistance to law enforcement.
NISMART II ($350,000)
    Temple University Institute for Survey Research was awarded a grant 
in FY 1995 to conduct the second National Incidence Studies 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 is contracting with the University of New 
Hampshire Survey Research Lab and Westat, Inc., to carry out specific 
components of the study and provide extensive background knowledge 
about the particulars of NISMART I. Specifically, the project will: (1) 
Revise NISMART 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. An additional $350,000 will be awarded to this project in FY 
1997. The project is scheduled for completion in FY 1999.
Effective Community-Based Approaches for Dealing With Missing and 
Exploited Children ($250,000)
    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 are 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 a working 
multiagency response that holds promise for replication, (3) evaluate 
these five communities, and (4) prepare a final report. In FY 1996, the 
ABA drafted a survey instrument and obtained Paper Work Reduction Act 
clearance for dissemination. In Phase II, the ABA will design and 
develop a modular training curriculum to help communities plan, 
implement, and evaluate a multiagency response to missing and exploited 
children and their families. In FY 1997, $250,000 will be awarded to 
the ABA to complete Phase II of the project.
Obstacles to the Recovery and Return of Parentally Abducted Children: 
International Child Abduction Attorney Network ($32,629)
    This project, initially funded in FY 1994, established the 
International Child Abduction Attorney Network (ICAAN), composed of 
attorneys who are willing to represent parents on a pro bono basis in 
legal actions under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of 
International Child Abduction and who are knowledgeable about the Hague 
Convention and its implementing status in the United States. NCMEC uses 
this referral network to resolve incoming Hague Convention cases. In FY 
1996, the ABA recruited more than 250 attorneys and established an 
ICAAN data base and mentoring system. In FY 1997, in addition to 
ongoing recruiting efforts and dissemination of legal materials to 
volunteer attorneys, the ABA will conduct a training institute for 
judges and attorneys at the Hague Child Abduction Convention at the 
Second World Congress on Family Law and the Rights of Children in June 
1997 on the subject of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of 
International Child Abduction. The ABA will also continue to provide 
technical assistance to the National Conference of Commissioners on 
Uniform State Laws in the development of the Uniform Child Custody and 
Enforcement Act.
Issues in Resolving Cases of International Parental Abductions of 
Children ($32,946)
    In FY 1996, the ABA completed a survey of left-behind parents whose 
children were taken from the United States. The survey results guided 
OJJDP funding and program decisions; were made available to the U.S. 
State Department, NCMEC, and other interested persons; and will be 
presented at the spring 1997 meeting at the Hague meeting for signatory 
countries. The ABA also completed research that identified six abductor 
risk profiles and some promising intervention strategies. This project, 
initially funded in FY 1994, will build on the original ABA research 
and will increase the practical usefulness of the research for parents, 
lawyers, judges, missing children's organizations, and responsible 
agencies in signatory countries by documenting specific actions parents 
take when planning an abduction; identifying best practices, 
procedures, and material related to resolving cases of international 
child abductions that leading professionals use and others could adopt; 
providing dissemination and technical assistance to allow the findings 
to reach specific audiences in a timely and appropriate way; and 
incorporating the new research findings into the final research report 
and research summary. This information will be disseminated in calendar 
year 1997. For more detailed information regarding the ABA research and 
parental abduction activities, please contact the ABA at 202-662-1000.
Parent Resource Support Network ($125,000)
    OJJDP solicited FY 1996 competitive proposals for an assistance 
award to a nonprofit organization 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. No new funds will be awarded in FY 
1997.
Criminal Parental Kidnaping Training and Technical Assistance 
($250,000)
    In FY 1996, the American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI) 
provided training to more than 70 prosecutors representing communities 
seeking to enhance their response to parental

[[Page 43555]]

kidnaping cases and delivered case-specific technical assistance to 
prosecutors in more than 100 cases. APRI also gave presentations 
regarding parental kidnaping issues to the 24th National Conference on 
Juvenile Justice, which was sponsored by the National Council of 
Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the National District Attorneys 
Association. APRI continued to analyze and report on emerging 
legislative trends and disseminate publications ranging from the 46-
page Investigation and Prosecution of Parental Abduction to the 
Directory of Parental Kidnaping Prosecutors and Investigators to 
prosecutors. In FY 1997, APRI will receive funding to continue training 
and technical assistance for prosecutors working on parental abduction 
cases. In addition to delivering training, APRI will disseminate a 
quarterly newsletter, maintain a parental kidnaping data base that 
includes a statutory compilation and case law summaries, and offer 
technical assistance to prosecutors on an as-needed basis. In addition, 
APRI will develop a child exploitation training and technical 
assistance program for prosecutors. For more information, please 
contact APRI at 703-739-0321.

New Programs

    For FY 1997, Congress set aside $1.5 million in Title II, Part C, 
of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act to establish the 
Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center (JRLETC), and related 
activities, at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 
These funds will be used to enhance the overall response to nonparental 
abductions by providing training and technical assistance to Federal, 
State, and local law enforcement. Specifically, OJJDP proposes to 
allocate the funds as described in the next four paragraphs.
    In FY 1997, $750,000 will be awarded to NCMEC to implement a new 
national law enforcement training seminar program for law enforcement 
executives. The seminar will highlight the most current research and 
practices and provide information pertaining to comprehensive response 
protocols and NCMEC and Federal resources to assist State and local law 
enforcement. These funds will also be used to reimburse travel and 
lodging expenses of seminar attendees at the JRLETC.
    $500,000 would be awarded to FVTC to accelerate delivery of the 
Responding to Missing and Exploited Children Course. This course, which 
targets State and local law enforcement, offers modules providing 
investigative information on all aspects of missing children cases and 
complements the CEO training conducted at the JRLETC. FVTC will also 
assist NCMEC in the scheduling and logistics associated with the JRLETC 
CEO training.
    The FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division would 
receive $150,000 to provide training for National Crime Information 
Center (NCIC) Control Terminal Officers in the new NCIC flagging 
system, Federal resources to assist State and local law enforcement 
investigating missing children cases, and NCIC Missing Person File 
definitions.
    The FBI Child Abduction Serial Killer Unit (CASKU) would receive 
$100,000 to provide training and technical assistance to State and 
local law enforcement agencies investigating difficult missing children 
cases. CASKU and the Hardiman Task Force will assess incident response 
for the purposes of curriculum development and will assist in the CEO 
training at JRLETC.
Judicial Teleconference on Interstate and Intrastate Child Abduction
    Law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges do not have sufficient 
information or knowledge regarding the laws pertaining to interstate 
and international parental abduction. This lack of information impedes 
effective resolution of jurisdictional conflicts between States and 
implementation of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of 
International Child Abduction. A teleconference on interstate and 
international child custody jurisdiction and parental abduction will 
provide an opportunity for interested individuals around the country to 
access information in an affordable, convenient forum. Conference 
proceedings can be used to develop a guidebook for judges. OJJDP 
proposes to fund this teleconference through a supplement to the 
existing Part C video conference support grant to Eastern Kentucky 
University.

    Dated: August 8, 1997.
Shay Bilchik,
Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
[FR Doc. 97-21507 Filed 8-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-P