New Jersey U.S. Attorney Highlights His Office's Commitment to Combating the Exploitation of Children

NEWARK, NJ—New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman today reiterated his office’s commitment to protect children and prosecute those who do them harm. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey is a leader in the prosecution of child exploitation cases, building cases not only against offenders within the District, but also initiating prosecutions that have nationwide and international reach.

On May 19, 2011, Attorney General Eric Holder spoke at the Department of Justice’s first-ever National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention Conference in San Jose, Calif. The conference united law enforcement officials, advocates, investigators and prosecutors in the shared mission of keeping children out of harm’s way. Attorney General Holder said, “By bringing together so many law enforcement officials, advocates, investigators, and prosecutors—we are signaling that, when it comes to keeping our children from harm, a new era of collaboration has begun,” and noted that in recent years, a record number of offenders have been brought to justice.

U.S. Attorney Fishman stated: “Today, National Missing Children’s Day, provides an opportunity for reflection on the importance of protecting our children from predators. Child pornography isn’t entertainment—it is a permanent recording of the sexual abuse of children that re-injures its victims every time it is downloaded or watched. That anyone would prey on children in this way is appalling. Yet, these crimes are on the rise as modern technology affords easier access to children and communication among like-minded offenders. We have made a promise to criminals and concerned citizens: no matter how determined perpetrators are to abuse children, we are more determined to stop them.”

In pursuit of these cases, both within and outside of New Jersey, the office has worked closely with the FBI; the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI); the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Secret Service. In just this calendar year to date, those collaborative efforts have yielded significant results, some of which are summarized below. In addition to these joint initiatives, the office is pursuing public awareness and community outreach efforts in a comprehensive approach.