Free Workshop - Stop Internet Predators

Parents, teens, and community leaders are invited to learn simple steps to help protect children while online at a free workshop called Stop Internet Predators from 6- 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26 at Norman North High School’s Nancy O’Brian Performing Arts Center.

Local company eBastille organized the workshop that will host panel presenters:  Greg Mashburn, Cleveland County District Attorney; Jeremy Lewis, Moore Police Department; Ron Collett, Norman Police Department; Calvin Weeks, Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, and Bob Peak, ITT School of Criminal Justice and Information Technology. Feature panelist is Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson. The event was coordinated with Teens Against Predators Foundation.

The goals of the event are to protect children against online predators through knowledge, and to make parents and kids aware of the problems and issues concerning Internet predators. Additionally, parents will learn how to report an Internet-related crime. Resource materials will be distributed and attendees will see use of realistic examples from local cases.

Predators use many methods to prey on children. Predators use the internet because of how anonymous they are while online. He or she can pretend to be anyone, anywhere, and be any age. This is a danger to trusting children and puts them at risk of being a victim of an online predator. Parents and children need to be aware of the possible dangers on the Internet.

The latest numbers show that ninety seven percent of child predators first “met” their victims online; 65 percent of incidents happen in chat rooms. One in five children online have received a sexual solicitation or approach. More than 30 million children in the U.S. use the Internet.

Pizza will be provided to attendees, and door prizes including iPods will be given away. For more information about the Stop Internet Predators Workshop or eBastille, contact Calvin Weeks at 405-822-0202 or cweeks@ebastille.com. eBastille is a limited liability company located in Norman, Oklahoma, specializing in digital forensics and technology litigation support.