COLTS NECK — Know the people your children spend time with. Listen to your children; pay attention if they do not want to be with someone, or if there is a subtle change in your child’s behavior. Monitor their Internet use, and educate yourself about cell phones, gaming consoles and other avenues to use the Internet.
Two of New Jersey’s lead law enforcement officers for sex offender supervision provided these and other tips at a free, public seminar on sexual predator awareness, for an audience of about 100 parents, teens, teachers, police officers and others, held at Colts Neck High School on Dec. 7.
According to a press release from the New Jersey State Parole Board, the seminar was the third in a statewide series led by the parole board and New Jersey Association of School Resource Officers (NJASRO) to educate parents, teachers and teens on the dangers predators pose online and in other venues, and how to spot and avoid risk.
The Dec. 7 event was made possible through the parole board’s and NJASRO’s partnership with the Freehold Regional High School District and the Colts Neck Police Department.
The two speakers, Capt. Anne McGrath and Capt. Steven Tallard, are co-founders and leaders of the parole board’s Sex Offender Management Unit. This statewide body of sworn parole officers uses national best practices in the oversight of thousands of sex offenders subject to lifetime supervision.
Their presentation included awareness gained through the experience of New Jersey’s parole officers and other law enforcement agencies nationwide. It also included tips available to parents, teens and the general public through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to the press release.
“These seminars provide a frank, compelling discussion to dispel popular myths about sexual predators, and provide sobering facts about safety on the Internet, with relatives and in social settings,” State Parole Board Chairman James T. Plousis said.
“Technology pervades every aspect of our students’ lives, from the utilization of computers in the classroom to the ubiquitous use of smart phones and social media,” said Suzanne Koegler, acting superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School District.
“Because teens today live so much of their lives online, and often don’t think twice about divulging personal information, it is important for all involved — parents, teachers and teens themselves — to understand how online predators operate. Our hope is that parents and others will learn important safety guidelines from this seminar,” Koegler said.