[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8538-8543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4155]



[[Page 8537]]

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Part III





Department of Justice





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Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program



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Notice of the Fiscal Year 1998 Missing and Exploited Children's 
Program; Proposed Program Plan and Announcement of Discretionary 
Competitive Assistance Grant; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 33 / Thursday, February 19, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 8538]]



DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Programs
[OJP (OJJDP-1154]
RIN 1121-ZA91


Notice of the Fiscal Year 1998 Missing and Exploited Children's 
Program; Proposed Program Plan and Announcement of Discretionary 
Competitive Assistance Grant

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

ACTION: Proposed Program Plan for public comment.

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

SUMMARY: The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 
(OJJDP) is publishing its Missing and Exploited Children's Fiscal Year 
(FY) 1998 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 1998 Missing 
and Exploited Children's Program Plan.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by April 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Public comments should be mailed to Shay Bilchik, 
Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 
810 Seventh Street NW., Room 8413, 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 administered by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention (OJJDP). Pursuant to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention (JJDP) Act 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 
of the JJDP Act, the Missing Children's Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5771 
et seq., that OJJDP proposes to initiate or continue in FY 1998. 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 1998 
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), the most current available data. The 
NISMART II study, funded in 1996, will produce new data beginning in 
1999.

Family Abduction

    In 1988, NISMART estimated that 354,100 family abductions were 
occurring each year. Forty-six percent of these abductions (163,200) 
involved 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 were perpetrated by men who were 
noncustodial fathers and father figures. Most victims were children 
between the ages of 2 and 11. Half of these abductions involved 
unauthorized takings, and half involved failure to return the child 
after an authorized visit or stay. Fifteen percent of these abductions 
involved the use of force or violence, and between 75 and 85 percent 
involved interstate transportation of the child. About half of family 
abductions occurred before the parents' relationship ended. Half did 
not occur until 2 or more years after a divorce or separation, usually 
after parents developed new households, moved away, developed new 
relationships, or became disenchanted with the legal system. More than 
half occurred in the context of relationships with a history of 
domestic violence. An estimated 49 percent of abductors had criminal 
records, and a significant number had a history of violent behavior, 
substance abuse, or emotional disturbance. As NISMART found, 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, event that the left-behind parent is dead.

Nonfamily Abduction

    NISMART reported that an estimated 3,200 to 4,600 short-term 
nonfamily abductions were known to law enforcement in 1988. Of these, 
an estimated 200 to 300 were stereotypical kidnapings where a child is 
gone overnight, is killed, is transported a distance of 50 miles or 
more, or is being detained by a perpetrator who intends to keep the 
child permanently. Young teenagers and girls were the most common 
victims. Two-thirds of short-term abductions involved a sexual assault. 
A majority of the victims were abducted from the street. More than 85 
percent of nonfamily abductions involved force, and more than 75 
percent involved a weapon. Most episodes lasted 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. Using 
FBI data, NISMART estimated that 114,600 nonfamily abductions were 
attempted in 1988, 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.
    NISMART estimated that each year 446,700 children ran away from 
households and 12,800 children ran from juvenile facilities. Many 
children who ran from households also ran from facilities. About one-
third of these runaways left home or a juvenile facility more than 
once. Of all runaways identified, 133,500 were without secure and 
familiar places to stay during their episodes. More than a third of 
runaways ran away more than once during the year. One in ten traveled a 
distance of more than 100 miles. Of the runaways from juvenile 
facilities, almost one-half left the State. Runaways were mostly 
teenagers, but almost 10 percent were 11 years old or youngers. 
Runaways tended to come disproportionately from households with 
stepparents. Family conflict seemed to be at the heart of most runaway 
episodes. Between 60 and 70 percent of runaways reported being

[[Page 8539]]

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.
    NISMART reported that an estimated 127,100 thrownaway children were 
told directly to leave their households, had been away from home and 
were not allowed back by their caretakers, had caretakers, who made no 
effort to recover them when they ran away, or had been abandoned or 
deserted. By comparison, for every thrownaway child, there were four 
runaway children. An estimated 59,200 thrownaway children were without 
secure and familiar places to stay during the episodes. Most 
thrownaways were older teenagers, but abandoned children tended to be 
young (half under the age of 4). Thrownaways were concentrated in low-
income families and families without both natural parents. Compared 
with runaways, thrownaways experienced more violence and conflict 
within their families and were less likely to return home.
    An estimated 438,200 children were lost, injured, or otherwise 
missing each year, according to the 1988 study. Of these, 139,100 cases 
were serious enough for the police to be called. Almost half involved 
children under 4. Most of these episodes lasted less than a day. A 
fifth of the children experienced physical harm. Fourteen percent of 
the children were abused or assaulted during the episodes.

Impact on Children and Families

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

Introduction to the Fiscal Year 1998 Program Plan

    According to the most recent FBI National Crime Information Center 
(NCIC) Missing Person file statistics, approximately 2,200 children are 
reported missing to law enforcement every day in the United States. 
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 need for a national response to 
missing children and enacted the Missing Children's Assistance Act to 
establish a Missing and Exploited Children Program within 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's Missing and Exploited Children's Program 
continued to coordinate the Federal Government's response to missing 
and exploited children and provided funding support for research, 
training, technical assistance, and demonstration projects. Some 
notable FY 1997 accomplishments are described below.
    OJJDP and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 
(NCMEC) published A Report to the Nation: Missing and Exploited 
Children, which offers State action plans and advisory memorandums 
suggesting methods to enhance State and local responses to missing and 
exploited children cases. The report has been disseminated to all State 
Governors and attorneys general and is available through OJJDP's 
Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse (JJC) and NCMEC. The JJC telephone 
number is 800-638-8736, and the NCMEC number is 800-843-5678.
    OJJDP and the Washington State Attorney General's Office released 
the results of a 3-year, OJJDP-funded research project that analyzed 
the solvability factors of missing children homicide investigations. 
The study provided information regarding victim, offender, and serial 
offender composites; the importance of linking all of the evidentiary 
sites within a homicide event; and the relationships between the 
various sites. Copies of the report can be obtained by calling the 
Washington State Attorney General's Office Homicide Investigation 
Tracking Office at 800-345-2793.
    OJJDP, working with NCMEC and the FBI's Child Abduction and Serial 
Killer Unit (CASKU) and Criminal Justice Information Services Division, 
developed and implemented the Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training 
Center (JRLETC), which offers multitiered training for law enforcement 
executives and investigators. The training center, dedicated to the 
memory of 9-year-old Jimmy Ryce, who was abducted and murdered in 
Florida, opened April 15, 1997. OJJDP Administrator Shay Bilchik 
presided over the dedication ceremony, which included remarks from 
Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson, FBI Director Louis Freeh, 
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Jimmy's parents, Donald and 
Claudine Ryce. Composed of several complementary elements, JRLETC 
offers 2-day seminars focusing on broad coordination and policy 
development issues for law enforcement executives and regional 5-day 
courses emphasizing investigative techniques for law enforcement 
officers who are responsible for investigating missing children cases.
    In FY 1997, Fox Valley Technical College, an OJJDP cooperative 
agreement recipient, provided training to more than 4,100 law 
enforcement and other professionals working on missing and exploited 
children cases. These courses integrate current research and include 
modules pertaining to investigative techniques, interview strategies, 
comprehensive response planning, media relations, lead and case 
management, and other topics related to missing and exploited children 
cases.
    To help investigators determine if a child is abused or exploited 
and collect the evidence necessary for effective prosecution, OJJDP 
released seven additional Portable Guides in FY 1997 (the first four in 
the series were issued in FY 1996) for police officers, medical 
professionals, and social service professionals investigating child 
abuse and exploitation cases. The Guides, sized to fit in patrol car 
glove compartments or detectives' briefcases, provide immediate 
reference materials for ``on the scene'' investigations. Subjects 
covered include methods of interviewing victims, evidence collection 
techniques, investigative strategies, and recognition of injuries 
caused by abuse. Two additional guides are currently under development: 
Multidisciplinary Team Approach to

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Investigating Child Abuse and Computers and the Sexual Exploitation of 
Children.

Fiscal Year 1998 Programs

    In FY 1998, OJJDP proposes to continue its concentration on 
programs that are national in scope, promote awareness, and enhance the 
Nation's response to missing and exploited children and their families.

New Programs

    Title IV new programs to be funded in FY 1998 are summarized below. 
The grant to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to 
implement the Title IV national resource and clearinghouse function is 
considered a new program because the existing project period grant 
expires in FY 1998 and a new award will be made to support these 
functions during FY 1998. The Training and Technical Assistance program 
will be recompleted in FY 1998, and a new project period grant will be 
awarded. The Internet Crimes Against Children Regional Task Force 
Development program is a new program to be competitively funded in FY 
1998. While funds for other new programs in FY 1998 are limited, OJJDP 
is interested in obtaining input from the field on program and service 
needs that will assist us in planning both FY 1998 and future 
programming.

National Resource Center and Clearinghouse

    Congress has provided $5 million to continue and expand the 
programs, services, and activities of the National Center for Missing 
and Exploited Children, a national resource center and clearinghouse 
dedicated to missing and exploited children and their families. As 
provided in Title IV, the functions of the Center include, but are not 
limited to, the following:
     Provide a toll-free hotline where citizens can report 
investigative leads and parents and other interested individuals can 
receive information concerning missing children.
     Provide technical assistance to parents, law enforcement, 
and other agencies working on missing and exploited children issues.
     Promote information sharing and provide technical 
assistance by networking with regional nonprofit organizations, State 
missing children clearinghouses, and law enforcement agencies.
     Develop publications that contain practical, timely 
information.
     Provide information regarding programs offering free or 
low-cost transportation services that assist in reuniting children with 
their families.
    In FY 1997, NCMEC's toll-free hotline received 127,796 calls 
ranging from citizens reporting information concerning missing children 
to requests from parents and law enforcement for information and 
publications. NCMEC also assisted in the recovery of 4,607 children, 
disseminated millions of missing children photographs, distributed 
thousands of publications, and sponsored four regional meetings of 
State missing children clearinghouses.
    In a major effort to broaden its photograph distribution capacity, 
NCMEC is displaying missing children posters on hundreds of Web sites 
by using push technology to automatically broadcast photographs and 
case information to requesting Web sites. In addition, NCMEC worked 
with private industry representatives to create a wide array of 
awareness and prevention activities that include public service 
announcements, direct mail campaigns, and distribution of mousepads 
that list safe Internet practices for children.
    In FY 1998, in addition to performing the ongoing functions of the 
national resource center and clearinghouse, NCMEC will complete the 
development of a Web site that will enable State missing children 
clearinghouses and law enforcement agencies to post missing children 
posters on the Internet. In response to research documenting that 
adolescent females are at greater risk than adolescent males of sexual 
victimization, NCMEC will revise its Internet safety publication, Child 
Safety on the Information Highway, and will implement a new safety 
awareness program focusing on teens.
    Congress has appropriated $1.9 million in FY 1998 for NCMEC to 
develop a national training and technical assistance program designed 
to enhance the national investigative response to Internet crimes 
against children. NCMEC, in partnership with OJJDP and in cooperation 
with the U.S. Customs Service; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the 
U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and 
Obscenity Section and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the 
National District Attorneys Association, will initiate a broad program 
of activities in FY 1998 to combat crimes against children by criminals 
using computer technology or the Internet. As envisioned, these 
activities will include the installation of a NCMEC CYBER Tipline to 
collect information regarding child pornography and other computer 
crimes against children. Once the Tipline is implemented, citizens will 
be able to use the Internet to provide information about criminal 
Internet activity targeting children.
    Additional project activities include an Internet crimes against 
children teleconference for law enforcement and a national law 
enforcement training program that will include regional investigative 
seminars in the field and policy development seminars at JRLETC. NCMEC 
and OJJDP will be using a national technical advisory group composed of 
representatives from Federal, State, and local law enforcement, 
prosecutors, and private industry (including the agencies referenced 
above) to guide implementation of this initiative.
    A 1-year cooperative agreement will be awarded to NCMEC in FY 1998 
for the performance of the national resource center and clearinghouse 
functions. No additional applications will be solicited in FY 1998.

Missing and Exploited Children Training and Technical Assistance

    OJJDP proposes to issue a solicitation for an assistance award to 
provide Title IV national training and technical assistance on missing 
and exploited children to law enforcement, prosecutors, and health and 
family services professionals. The purpose of this program is to ensure 
the provision of up-to-date, practical training and technical 
assistance for professionals working on missing and exploited children 
issues.
    The program was competitively funded in FY 1995 for a 3-year 
project period under a cooperative agreement awarded to Fox Valley 
Technical College (FVTC) of Appleton, Wisconsin. In FY 1997, FVTC 
provided training to more than 4,100 law enforcement, prosecution, 
child welfare services, and medical professionals. FVTC supported 
missing and exploited children activities by providing direct technical 
assistance pertaining to information sharing, protocol development, 
response planning, child protection legislation, juvenile prostitution, 
and multidisciplinary team development to more than 40 State and local 
units of government and professional associations. FVTC also 
facilitated the development of several OJJDP publications including, 
When Your Child is Missing: A Family Survival Guide. Written by parents 
for parents, this publication, scheduled for release in spring 1998, 
will provide guidance for searching parents from the perspective of 
parents who have lost children to abductions. FVTC also provided 
substantial assistance in the creation of several titles in OJJDP's

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Portable Guides series and the publication of the Federal Agency Task 
Force Joint Report.
    One cooperative agreement with a 3-year project period would be 
awarded in FY 1998 under a competitive program announcement.

Internet Crimes Against Children Regional Task Force Development

    Congress has appropriated $2.4 million in FY 1998 to develop and 
support regional law enforcement task forces to address the problem of 
Internet crimes against children. OJJDP will issue a solicitation for 
assistance awards to States or local units of government, or 
combinations thereof, to support implementation of regional task forces 
to investigate Internet crimes against children. The purpose of the 
program design will be to assist communities to develop comprehensive 
multiagency responses that emphasize collaboration, information 
sharing, and victim assistance. Eight to twelve grants will be awarded 
to develop or expand regional multidisciplinary task forces under this 
solicitation.

Continuation Programs

    Title IV continuation programs for FY 1998 are summarized below. 
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. No additional applications will be solicited for these 
programs in FY 1998.

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association's Safe Return 
Program

    OJJDP is responsible for providing oversight of this program, for 
which Congress has provided $900,000 in FY 1998 to facilitate the 
identification and safe return of memory-impaired persons who are at 
risk of wandering from their homes.
    In FY 1997, the Safe Return Program increased its registration data 
base to 30,000 individuals, assisted in the return of more than 1,700 
wanderers, and continued the development of an image data base 
consisting of more than 25,500 photographs.
    In FY 1998, the program will continue to expand the national 
registry of memory-impaired persons, maintain 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.

National Crime Information Center (NCIC)

    OJJDP proposes to continue to transfer funds to the Department of 
Justice's Management Division through a reimbursable agreement to 
continue NCMEC's online access to the FBI's National Crime Information 
Center (NCIC) Wanted and Missing Persons files. The 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 
NCMEC's mission of providing advice and technical assistance to law 
enforcement.

NISMART II

    Temple University Institute for Survey Research was awarded a 3-
year project period grant in FY 1995 to conduct the second National 
Incidence Study 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 has contracted with the 
University of New Hampshire Survey Research Laboratory and Westat, 
Inc., to carry out specific components of the study and provide 
extensive background knowledge about the particulars of NISMART I. 
Specifically, the NISMART II study will (1) revise NISMART I 
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. The project is 
scheduled for completion in FY 2000.
    In FY 1997, the NISMART II definitions were revised under the 
guidance of the project Advisory Board, and data survey collection 
instruments were developed and submitted to the Office of Management 
and Budget for clearance.
    In FY 1998, project activities will include completing the Computer 
Assisted Telephone Interview program, pretesting the survey 
questionnaires and refining them as necessary, and collecting data. In 
addition, a Fact Sheet documenting the scope of the research, 
definition revisions, and methodology changes will be published.

Effective Community-Based Approaches for Dealing With Missing and 
Exploited Children

    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 were 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 working 
multiagency responses that hold promise for replication, (3) evaluate 
these five communities, and (4) prepare a final report. Phase I was 
completed in July 1997. In Phase II, which started in August 1997, the 
ABA is preparing a final report that synthesizes the research findings 
from Phase I into a modular training curriculum to help communities 
plan, implement, and evaluate a multiagency response to missing and 
exploited children and their families. The project will be completed in 
FY 1998 with no further funding anticipated at this time.

Parent Resource Support Network

    In FY 1997, OJJDP entered into a competitively awarded 3-year 
cooperative agreement with Public Administration Services (PAS) 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.
    In FY 1998, PAS will install a case management system to document 
referrals and assistance activity, recruit parent mentors, develop and 
deliver a training curriculum for the volunteer parents, and begin 
direct service delivery to requesting parents. No funds will be 
required in FY 1998.

Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center Program

    In FY 1997, OJJDP--in partnership with the National Center for 
Missing and Exploited Children, the FBI, and OJJDP grantee Fox Valley 
Technical College--developed and implemented the Jimmy Ryce Law 
Enforcement Training Center (JRLETC) program. JRLETC offers two law 
enforcement training tracks that are designed to

[[Page 8542]]

improve the national investigative response to missing children cases.
    JRLETC's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) seminars approach missing 
children cases from a management perspective and offer information 
regarding coordination and communication issues, resource assessment, 
legal concerns, and policy development for police chiefs and sheriffs. 
The Responding to Missing and Exploited Children (REMAC) course offers 
modules focusing on investigative techniques for all aspects of missing 
children cases.
    In FY 1997, 197 police chiefs and sheriffs and 634 investigators 
representing law enforcement agencies from every State participated in 
at least one of the JRLETC programs. In addition, representatives from 
every National Crime Information Center (NCIC) State Control Terminal 
Agencies received training at JRLETC about the NCIC flagging system and 
related missing children issues.
    Congress appropriated $1,185,000 in FY 1998 to continue operation 
of the Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center. OJJDP, NCMEC, the 
FBI, and FVTC will continue to provide training and technical 
assistance through the JRLETC and will augment the training with a new 
onsite technical assistance program to respond to the numerous requests 
for assistance from JRLETC graduates. It is envisioned that teams 
composed of FBI, NCMEC, and law enforcement management experts will 
merge FBI Child Abduction and Serial Killer Unit (CASKU) investigative 
expertise with proven law enforcement management practices to assist 
police chiefs and sheriffs in designing unique missing children 
investigative and response protocols for their communities.
    Under the JRLETC appropriation, OJJDP plans to award $500,000 to 
FVTC to support regional REMAC courses, with the remaining $685,000 to 
be awarded to NCMEC to continue the CEO seminars.
    Fiscal year 1998 funds will be awarded to supplement cooperative 
agreements to NCMEC and FVTC to continue operation of the Jimmy Ryce 
Law Enforcement Training Center. No additional applications will be 
solicited in FY 1998.

Criminal Parental Kidnaping Training and Technical Assistance

    In FY 1997, OJJDP supplemented an FY 1994 competitive award by 
awarding continuation funding to the American Prosecutors Research 
Institute (APRI) to provide parental abduction training and technical 
assistance for prosecutors and to develop a training course pertaining 
to the prosecution of child exploitation cases. Child exploitation 
prosecutions are among the most complicated that prosecutors confront 
because of the age and immaturity of victims, societal and law 
enforcement attitudes toward these victims, the need for specialized 
understanding of the dynamics of sexual exploitation, and the 
jurisdiction and communication difficulties resulting from the 
involvement of numerous agencies. To effectively handle such cases, 
prosecutors must approach victims with great sensitivity and an 
understanding of the psychological dynamics involved.
    In FY 1997, APRI--in addition to delivering training to 60 
prosecutors--disseminated a quarterly newsletter, maintained an up-to-
date parental kidnaping and child exploitation data base that included 
a compilation of statutes and case law summaries, and provided 
technical assistance to more than 100 prosecutors and investigators on 
an as-needed basis. APRI also produced a Judge's Guide benchbook, 
continued to update the National Directory of Parental Kidnaping 
Prosecutors and Investigators, created a Web site that provides access 
to case law information and law review articles, and provided 
assistance to numerous professional conferences.
    In FY 1998, while continuing, updating, or expanding the above-
mentioned technical assistance activities, APRI will offer an advanced 
dual track training course for prosecutors in the areas of child 
exploitation and parental kidnaping. The parental abduction track will 
concentrate on difficult case strategies, resource availability, 
preventive measures, and recovery techniques. The child exploitation 
track will discuss legal issues pertaining to computer search and 
seizures, juvenile prostitution, child pornography, and the emerging 
threat posed by criminals using Internet technology to victimize 
children. No additional funds are necessary in FY 1998.

National Center on Child Fatality Review

    In FY 1997, OJJDP awarded a noncompetitive award to the National 
Center on Child Fatality Review (NCCFR) in Los Angeles, California, to 
develop State and local uniform reporting definitions and generic child 
fatality review team protocols for consideration by communities working 
on enhancing their child death investigations.
    NCCFR developed a model for integrating data among the Criminal 
Justice, Vital Statistics, and Social Services Child Abuse Indices. 
NCCFR also selected a National Advisory Board, which is composed of 
representatives from across the country and from relevant disciplines.
    In FY 1998, OJJDP proposes to continue support to NCCFR to (1) 
disseminate the model protocols for integrating the data mentioned 
above to State and local child fatality review teams and other relevant 
agencies; (2) develop a Web site and update it with journal articles, 
references, new studies, new findings, and new resources; (3) maintain 
paper and electronic directories of State and local child fatality 
review teams, national associations, and Federal agency contacts; (4) 
maintain a listing of contacts for professional specialists such as 
head trauma, burns, neglect, NCCFR Advisory Board, and related 
organizations and systems in the respective fields; (5) provide 
information and training materials on basic team management and special 
problems such as confidentiality, risk assessment, and special case 
circumstances; (6) coordinate teleconferences and Internet meetings of 
the Advisory Board; (7) maintain and share published reports of State 
and local teams; (8) develop, coordinate, and implement 
multidisciplinary training; and (9) plan for a national conference.

Investigative Case Management for Missing Children Homicides

    In FY 1993, OJJDP made a competitive award to the Washington State 
Attorney General's Office (WAGO) to analyze the solvability factors of 
missing children homicide investigations. During the course of that 
research, WAGO collected and analyzed the specific characteristics of 
more than 550 missing child homicide cases. These characteristics were 
recorded in WAGO's child homicide data base.
    In FY 1998, OJJDP proposes to continue to provide funding support 
to WAGO to ensure the vitality and investigative relevance of its child 
homicide data base. This funding would support both the gathering of 
new case information and the development of specific case studies that 
will be used to illustrate the research findings in training 
presentations. In addition, the data base would be used by Federal, 
State, and local law enforcement to perform link analysis by 
identifying cases with similar characteristics. Law enforcement data 
base inquiries can be made by calling WAGO at 800-345-2793.

[[Page 8543]]

FBI Child Abduction and Serial Killer Unit (CASKU)

    In FY 1997, OJJDP entered into a 3-year interagency agreement with 
the FBI's CASKU to expand research to broaden law enforcement's 
understanding of homicidal pedophiles' selection and luring of their 
victims, their planning activities, and their efforts to escape 
prosecution. This information will be used by the FBI and OJJDP in 
training and technical assistance programs. Fiscal year 1997 activities 
included the drafting of the research manager position description and 
preliminary survey development.
    In FY 1998, OJJDP will continue funding support to CASKU to (1) 
complete the research manager employment process to include background 
screening; (2) complete development of the survey protocol; (3) 
identify specific individuals to include in the case studies; and (4) 
begin data collection.

    Dated: February 12, 1998.
Shay Bilchik,
Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
[FR Doc. 98-4155 Filed 2-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-M