OJJDP Administrator J. Robert Flores

October 2, 2002

OJJDP Administrator J. Robert Flores—NCMEC photo by Steve Loftin.

Good morning. As the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, I want to thank you for standing with us to better protect our Nation's children. To those who have traveled here to share your expertise or your personal story, I want to say thank you for taking the time to help us understand the dangers that face children, the pain of families torn by the loss of their children, and the challenges that those in law enforcement face when they pursue child abductors and missing children. I also want to thank those who work here, finding resources, setting policy, and finding ways to build the capacity of states and local communities to keep children safe. Finally, as a parent, I want to thank President Bush for his leadership and willingness to address this issue and bring us together. This Summit marks a new day for increased efforts on behalf of missing and exploited children

While we are still struck by those several weeks this summer that held us spellbound as we seemingly saw child after child taken, we awake to find a much brighter picture because there is a great deal that we can now do when a child is taken. In the 20 years since the passage of the Missing Children's Act, there is much that has been done, much that is working.

We, as a Nation, have faced a number of challenges during this past year. The tragic events of 9/11 will be forever remembered. As the President said, "A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve." In the past 20 years, we have seen this same, firm resolve for children who are missing and exploited grow. We have seen a strong Federal response, as well as strong action on the part of State and local governments. And, most importantly, we have seen our citizens, everyone from parents touched by tragedy, to corporations and community groups, raise this issue to its proper place and pave the way for needed change.

As many of you know, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is responsible for overseeing the Missing Children's Program. However, we are not alone. As part of the Office of Justice Programs, we are working with other Bureaus and Offices to make resources and technical assistance available to the field. And I am pleased to say that the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, Deborah Daniels, not only supports that effort but is constantly pushing us to make sure that we are working together. Over the next years we will continue to develop the capacity of state and local communities to protect their children, initiate research that will inform policy, and build sufficient flexibility into our programs so that we can quickly respond to new threats against our children.

This morning I am pleased to lead a panel that will review and display technologies and programs that work to protect children. Things that simply were not available to help children who were abducted even a few years ago. I know that for some that progress has been too slow. For others, insufficiently focused or coordinated. That must change, and this morning's panel will demonstrate that it is changing. I am encouraged that we are on the way. In the short time we will have together, we have chosen to demonstrate and discuss examples of types of programs and technologies. Happily, I can announce that they are not the only ones out there. However, they are examples of what can be done when computer age technology is paired with traditional law enforcement. You will hear and see what can be done with age progression technology that holds out hope even where the child was taken long ago. And in response to the concern that success needs greater cooperation and coordination, the success of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces will, I believe, be welcome news. As yet another proof of the Attorney General's belief that State and local communities are the laboratories of innovation, you will hear about the growth and effectiveness of the Dallas Police Department's efforts to protect children from being victimized through the Sex Offender Apprehension Program, an effort that can serve as a model in communities throughout the Country.

And in addition to this progress, I am pleased to announce the release of new material for parents and law enforcement on this issue. Today, the Department of Justice is releasing two documents—an updated version of the publication When Your Child Is Missing: A Family Survival Guide and a new document entitled Law Enforcement Guide on International Parental Kidnapping. These publications put important information into the hands of those who face the pain of losing a child and those charged with enforcing international law, a difficult, but necessary responsibility.

In this year, as in many others, we have seen the people of our Nation respond with devotion to duty, heroism, and a willingness to work beyond weariness when its people have been hurt and threatened. The Nation's cry to respond to the evil of child abduction has also been heard, with men and women creating and using tools, techniques, and relationships that work. I am privileged to share this table with them.