Harlem News €roup _~ BRONX FORUM ON YOUTH & PUBLIC SAFETY By Howard Giske Bronx Forum on Youth ind Public Safery was held Tuesday, January 13th at ostos Community College, spon- sored by the Jewish Community Relations Council and CAUSE NY. Officer Norbert Davison spoke on gangs and school Safety. He commented that in many schools around the country, kids go through a wespons check to get Jo school and even 1-year olds are found with guns. Police found ‘Yankee buckles have been used by gang members to identify each othe, and fo conceal knives, Off- cet Davison remarked that young females are becoming involved in gangs and gang violence with the ‘advent ofthe Bloodettes A female version ofthe Bloods that use hait combs as sharpened weapons (Officer Davison concluded tha it is important to have alternative activities for kids and that the Police Athletic League offers activities, especially inthe sum- mer, to Keep children busy and safe as up to $00,000 young peo- ple are involved with gangs. Inthe Gang Awareness Program, stu- dents get to visit convicted gang ‘members in prisons such a5 Sing- Sing upstate, talking to people who are doing 25-year to life for their crimes. The Police Commu- sity Affairs Bureau (telephone 646-610-5323) gives talks in schools about what happens 19 gang members, There is also a Federal anti-gang_ program, GREAT, see hup:/great- cnlin.org. For more information, see hp: palnyc.org/events. asp or contact Officer Davidson at 718-923-5185, of via email at NDavidsondaschooks nye Ms. May Che from the Bronx Attomey office spoke on the problem of Internet predators and cyberspace harassment. Kids rarely report sexual solicitation om the Intemet. Of the offenders, 9 percent are males, and over the age of 25. Many arrests of preda- tors are made by using police of cers who pose as children in internet chat rooms and on web- site. The majority of young vie tims fel they are in Tove or have a close friendship withthe predator Face-to-face meetings almost always involve sexual contact and over half of the vietims are between the ages of 12 and IS. ‘These youngsters are involved in social-networking websites such 1s facebook com, myspace.com, snd fiendste.com, and it becomes ‘8 popularity contest 0 see who has sore online "fiends." Of kids in social-networking, about half feceive messages from someone they don't know and they usually ‘won't tel an adult. Myspace.com was forced to delete 29,000 people ‘who were known predators ‘What cana parent do about Internet harassment? Put your ‘computer in common room such as the kitchen or living room, and notin the childs bedroom. Tell kids to use "privacy settings" so only people they know can com rmunicate with them. Kids should block those that they dontt know. ‘A parent can buy software with ‘more controls. There is software such as “IM SAFER,” which is a free download at hip:/iwww:im safercom. Tell kids to be careful about posting photos with school uni- forms that identify their town, and school Joe 2, 2509i gq i i i i LU Noe Tite GE}