The Evolution of Juvenile Crime: Impact of Technology on Youth Offending

In recent years, advancements in technology have reshaped various aspects of society, including the landscape of juvenile crime. This essay explores the multifaceted ways in which technology has influenced juvenile offending behavior, law enforcement strategies, and societal responses.

 The digital age has brought about significant changes in the behaviors and activities of young individuals, with technology serving as both a tool for empowerment and a platform for misconduct. Understanding the intersection between technology and juvenile crime is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Cybercrime and Digital Misconduct: 

The proliferation of digital platforms has given rise to new forms of juvenile crime, including cyberbullying, online harassment, identity theft, and hacking. The anonymity afforded by the internet often emboldens young offenders to engage in harmful behaviors, leading to serious consequences for victims and perpetrators alike.

Social Media and Peer Influence: 

Social media platforms play a central role in shaping youth behavior, with peer influence and online interactions influencing decision-making processes. The pressure to conform to social norms and gain validation from peers can lead adolescents to participate in risky behaviors and criminal activities, such as sharing inappropriate content or engaging in online challenges.

Access to Illegal Content:

 The ease of access to illicit content online has contributed to the normalization of criminal behavior among young individuals. From drugs and weapons to explicit material, the internet provides a gateway to a wide range of harmful content that can influence juvenile delinquency and exacerbate existing social problems.

Technology-Facilitated Crimes:

 Advancements in technology have made traditional crimes, such as theft, vandalism, and harassment, more efficient and discreet. The use of smartphones, drones, and other gadgets enables offenders to carry out criminal activities with minimal risk of detection, posing challenges for law enforcement agencies tasked with investigating and preventing such crimes.

Law Enforcement Response: 

Law enforcement agencies face significant challenges in combating technology-driven juvenile crime, requiring specialized skills and resources to investigate digital offenses effectively. Collaboration with tech companies and other stakeholders is essential for developing proactive strategies and staying ahead of emerging threats in cyberspace.

Prevention and Intervention:

 Effective prevention and intervention efforts are essential for addressing the root causes of juvenile crime and promoting positive behavior among young individuals. Digital literacy education, parental supervision, and early intervention programs targeting at-risk youth can help mitigate the risks associated with technology-related offenses.

Legal and Ethical Considerations: 

As technology continues to evolve, policymakers must grapple with legal and ethical considerations surrounding the use of digital tools in juvenile justice. Balancing privacy rights, data protection, and the potential for bias in algorithmic decision-making is essential for ensuring fair and equitable outcomes for young offenders.

Rehabilitation and Reintegration:

 Technology can also play a positive role in supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of juvenile offenders into society. Online education programs, vocational training, and remote counseling services offer opportunities for skill development and personal growth, helping young individuals transition away from a life of crime.

The relationship between technology and juvenile crime is complex and multifaceted, requiring a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of offending behavior while leveraging digital tools for positive change. By understanding the impact of technology on youth offending, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and community stakeholders can work together to create safer and more resilient communities for future generations.

Owings Mills Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Minor After Meeting on Facebook

“Child Molesters No Longer Need to Hang Out at Playgrounds and Shopping Malls”

BALTIMORE—U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Joseph Anthony Kallash, age 31, of Owings Mills, Maryland, today to 15 years in prison, followed by supervised release for life, for sexually exploiting a minor to produce child pornography. Judge Bredar ordered that upon his release from prison, Kallash must register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Special Agent in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“Child molesters no longer need to hang out at playgrounds and shopping malls, because they have 24/7 access to children in their bedrooms,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “If you let your child use a computer, smartphone, iPod, or any type of Internet-connected device without adult supervision, your child is in danger.”

“There is no refuge for child sexual predators who believe they can pursue their perverse behavior with impunity online; they cannot escape justice and there will be serious consequences for their actions,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge William Winter. “HSI special agents will continue to use the latest technology to collect evidence and track the activities of individuals and organized groups who sexually exploit children through the use of websites, chat rooms, newsgroups and peer-to-peer trading.”

According to his plea agreement, Kallash met a 15-year-old victim on Facebook in November 2010, while representing himself as a teenager. The victim was “introduced” to Kallash through Facebook by her 15-year-old friend. The friend had accepted Kallash’s online request to be a “friend” in the summer of 2010, and according to the friend, Kallash had sex with her at his residence in August of 2010.

In November 2010, Kallash picked up the victim and two of her friends who had skipped school and brought them to his residence. They drank alcohol, smoked marijuana, and watched a movie. Kallash took the victim to his bedroom, where they had sex.

On June 21, 2011, after the victim said she would not have sex with Kallash again, Kallash asked if he could have sex with the victim’s younger sister. When Kallash began asking her more about her younger sister, the victim called the Baltimore County Police.

Kallash was arrested and admitted having sex with the victim. Police executed a search warrant at his residence and seized two laptops, an external hard drive, iPod, and camera cell phone containing sexually explicit pictures of minors. These images included sexually explicit pictures of the victim’s friend, which Kallash had taken and later sent to the victim’s friend.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE-HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers. ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or its online tip form at http://www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, HSI Baltimore, and Baltimore County Police Department Crimes Against Children Unit for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham, who prosecuted the case.

Child Pornography Sentencing

Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces the sentencing of Joseph Aaron Reese, age 32, of Columbus, Georgia, for violations of Title 18 United States Code, Section 2252 (a) (2), receipt of child pornography. On August 16, 2011, United States District Court Judge Clay D. Land sentenced Reese to 240 months in prison and a mandatory assessment fee of $100. Reese received the maximum sentence provided by law and was immediately taken into custody.

In January 2011, Reese admitted that he had solicited and received compromising photographs from underage females over the Internet. Posing as a talent scout, Reese requested the photos on the social networking site MySpace. He offered modeling contracts to girls who responded to his requests. Originally, Reese asked for pictures of the girls fully clothed, but later his requests became more graphic. When he received semi-nude photos, he threatened the girls with posting their photos online if they failed to send even more graphic and sadist depictions. Reese carried out this threat at least once, subjecting the victim to humiliation when her friends and classmates saw the posted photos. Agents identified at least seven victims in Reese’s scheme.

U.S. Attorney Moore said, “Mr. Reese preyed on the dreams of his victims, and then threatened and blackmailed them. He is a predator and deserves to be in prison. This case reminds us that, as parents, we should know what our children are doing, and who they are communicating with on the computer.”

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mel Hyde.

For additional information contact Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2602.

Social Media and Law Enforcement

On February 18, 2010, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with Lauri Stevens on Social Media and Law Enforcement.

Program Date: February 18, 2010
Program Time: 1700 hours, Pacific
Topic: Social Media and Law Enforcement
Listen Live: http://www.americanheroesradio.com/social_media_law_enforcement.html

About the Guest
Lauri Stevens “is an interactive media professional with over 25 years of media experience. She is the Department Chair of Web Design & Interactive Media at The New England Institute of Art (NEiA) in Boston, a position she's held for over ten years. During her tenure at NEiA she has written several bachelors’ programs, served on NEASC accreditation review committees and visiting teams, and chaired several groups to further the college's mission.

Lauri is passionate about the Internet, the web, social media and helping law enforcement leverage these tools to help them do their jobs, connect with their communities, and promote their departments. Having used the net since the mid-80s, before the web existed, makes her one of the first fraction of a 1% of people in the world on the net.

She holds an MBA in eBusiness from Bentley University, an MS in Mass Communication/Communication Technology from Boston University, and a BA in Political Science from Clemson University.”

About LAwS Communications
LAwS Communications has been providing web design and interactive media advice to law enforcement since 2005. They “offer media expertise at all levels, traditional and interactive. LAwS Communications specialize in offering consultative services in the world of web 2.0 (and beyond) to law enforcement agencies. Web 2.0 and Open Source communication technologies available today allow organizations to efficiently gather and distribute information like never before. Many law enforcement agencies are catching on to and using the new social media technologies. LAwS Communications can help make sense of the tools available, help your agency craft a plan and social media policy as well as provide the training needed to get your organization running. LAwS Communications can help law enforcement organizations not only understand why your organization should take advantage of Web 2.0 technologies, but also how to leverage these vast resources.

The agencies that are effectively using these tools are shrinking their communities, improving communication with citizens and enhancing their reputations through the transparency provided. Other agencies are developing sophisticated methods for investigation, crime solving and prevention. Police departments, in particular, have an opportunity to better educate their communities about who they are and what they do and to therefore increase and improve communication with the public they serve.”

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.americanheroesradio.com/social_media_law_enforcement.html
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530