Governor Rell Commends Secret Service for Helping State

Track Down Internet Predators, Ease Case Load

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that for the past few weeks, U.S. Secret Service agents have been helping Connecticut State Police track down internet predators and ease the state’s case load.

“This year alone, state police have had more than 200 requests from local police departments tacked on to their regular case load,” Governor Rell said. “We thank the Secret Service for loaning us a number of forensic examiners to help us cut through the backlog.  Their presence, working side by side with state police, has led to a healthy exchange of ideas about best practices and will help us to continue to develop effective responses to online enticement cases.”

In September, Governor Rell announced a $425,000 federal grant to help the state in its efforts to prevent internet crimes against children. The grant funds investigations related to crimes against children, such as undercover on-line enticement and illegal file sharing.  The funding is also being used to increase the forensic capacity of the state's Computer Crimes Unit.

“We are committed to aggressively detecting, apprehending and prosecuting individuals responsible for committing or perpetuating crimes against children through the use of the Internet or electronic media,” Governor Rell said.  “With an increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet, a proliferation of child pornography and a heightened level of online activity by sexual predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims, this is an issue we need to stay on top of.”

In 2006, the Computer Crimes Unit investigated 211 CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

This year, Governor Rell signed into law a bill which increases penalties for child sex predators and establishes a new crime that requires a mandatory 25-year prison sentence for those who sexually abuse a child under 13.  The legislation has been referred to as “Jessica’s Law” in memory of Jessica Lunsford, a 9-year-old Florida girl who was raped and killed by a repeat sex offender.

The new law imposes mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for enticing a child under age 13, having sexual or indecent contact with a child under age 13, employing a minor in an obscene performance, and importing or possessing child pornography.  The legislation also targets the increasing number of child sex crimes committed online by establishing mandatory minimum prison terms (five years for a first offense, 10 years for a second) for adults who use the Internet to attempt to entice a child age 13 and under into sexual contact.  These provisions of the law all took effect July 1.

“While this new law moves us forward as a state, I continue to remind the public that we need them to report what they know is wrong,” Governor Rell said.  “By quickly informing law enforcement of any dangerous violence situations you may encounter or suspect, you can help to prevent heartbreaking, horrifying crimes.  Sexual offenders are among the most dangerous people in society and have an extremely high rate of recidivism.  The longer these predators are out of our communities, the safer our children will be.”