Child Pornography a Growing Problem

Child pornography is all over the internet today and Taylor County is focused on continuing efforts to do something about it.

It is all too easy to fall victim to online predators.

With social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook where anyone can post photos online, and with children spending a great deal of time on the computer, the internet can be a scary place.

"I don't like the idea of things being so public, says Gail Wheeler. "It makes me uncomfortable."

Especially when Gail has six grandchildren that love spending time on the computer.

"They're on there all the time. They're online a lot."

Gail realizes that social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace are useful networking sites, but they can also put children at risk.

"The internet can be a blessing and a curse. It's a wonderful thing for us all to be able to communicate," Gail says, "but there are a lot of opportunities for people to take advantage of a situation and kids are vulnerable."

The Taylor County Commissioners Court met to discuss the continued effort of preventing, eliminating, and catching predators that prey on children via the internet.

Sgt. Griffis is trained in computer forensics and has worked on several online crimes involving children in the area.

"The biggest hurdle that we find in these types of investigations," states Griffis, "is a lot of time the offender is not necessarily in our jurisdiction."

That is why having additional funds to support these types of investigations is so important.

Parents can't realistically watch their kids every move on the computer, but they can stress to their kids that the more pictures and personal information that they post online, the more susceptible they are to these online predator crimes.