Legal Resources for Child-Sexual-Exploitation Cases

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's Legal Resource Divsion (LRD) was created through the generous donation of Arthur and Tammy Shifflett, parents of Kevin Shifflett, an 8-year-old Alexandria, Virginia, boy who was murdered on April 19, 2000. Kevin’s family donated the Kevin Shifflett Memorial Reward Fund to NCMEC for the creation of a legacy of justice in Kevin’s name for other child victims nationwide.

The goals of the LRD are to provide technical assistance and training in the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against children and create organizational issue awareness on a international, national, state, and local level.

Technical Assistance

The LRD provides technical assistance to prosecutors, civil attorneys who represent children, law enforcement, legislators at the state and federal levels, and other child exploitation-related professionals. Additionally the LRD writes and files amicus curiae briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts nationwide, in cases that are of significance to NCMEC’s mission and goals. The LRD provides technical assistance to NCMEC as a whole and publishes cutting-edge articles and manuals on relevant legal issues in the field.

Training

The LRD prepares training agendas for courses designed for law enforcement, prosecutors, and other child exploitation-related professionals. Training materials are constantly updated to keep track of statutory and case-law developments. The LRD provides extensive training on a number of topics including those related to Internet crimes against children, at both NCMEC and other national conferences.

Issue Awareness

The LRD routinely provides television, radio, and newspaper interviews on issues related to NCMEC’s mission. The LRD also writes and publishes articles, manuals, book chapters, and other publications that contribute to the professional development of members in the field of crimes against children. Frequently LRD staff members are invited to schools, churches, town meetings, and other public forums to speak on issues involving the investigation, prosecution, and prevention of crimes against children.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Legal Resource Division at 1-888-246-2632 for further assistance.