For Release: June 19, 2006
Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson
Email: jtmartin@oag.state.va.us or dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
McDonnell Launches Attorney General’s Youth Internet Safety Task Force
--Statewide Meetings Planned, Public and Private Sector Leaders Named to Panel--
Richmond- Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell today announced the official launch of the Attorney General’s Youth Internet Safety Task Force. This panel, comprised of leaders from prominent Internet companies, educators, parents, elected officials, and law enforcement will meet statewide over the coming months to identify solutions to the growing problem of sexual offenders and other criminals using the Internet to target children and teenagers in the Commonwealth.
McDonnell was joined at today’s press conference in Richmond by Task Force members John LoGalbo of America Online, Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent, Assistant Chief Ray Tavasovic of the Richmond City Police Department, Don Thompson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Biff and Sonya Pusey and their children. Other members of the Task Force were also present.
Speaking about the launch of this Task Force, Attorney General McDonnell remarked, “Today is the start of an important effort in Virginia. As the Internet capital of America we must lead the way in protecting children and teenagers using this great vehicle for information, communication, and commerce. By bringing together industry leaders, law enforcement members, policy makers, educators, and concerned parents I know we can find new solutions that will keep our children safe, while allowing the Internet to remain a vibrant agent of economic and educational opportunity.”
This past session of the General Assembly, Attorney General McDonnell successfully spearheaded a comprehensive reform of the Virginia laws regarding sexually violent predators. Combating sexually violent predators using the Internet is the next phase of this effort. The Attorney General’s Computer Crimes Unit which prosecutes cases across Virginia has found that sexual predators are using such popular sites as myspace.com, and facebook.com, to interact with and threaten younger users of the web.
The Task Force will hold its first meeting on July 14th at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Alexandria. A full meeting schedule, as well as a full list of all Task Force members, can be found below. The Task Force plans to announce its proposals prior to the start of the next legislative session.
Youth Internet Safety Task Force Members
Chuck Rosenberg, U.S. Attorney
Eastern District of Virginia
John L. Brownlee, U.S. Attorney
Western District of Virginia
Honorable Janet D. Howell
Senate of Virginia
Honorable Ryan T. McDougle
Senate of Virginia
Honorable Mark D. Obenshain
Senate of Virginia
Honorable Robert Hurt
House of Delegates of Virginia
Honorable Kim Slayton-White
Commonwealth’s Attorney for Halifax County
Honorable Michael N. Herring
Commonwealth’s Attorney City of Richmond
Honorable Mike Brown, Sheriff
Bedford County
Honorable Eileen M. Addison, Chairman
Commonwealth’s Attorney York County
Col. W. Steve Flaherty, Superintendent
Department of State Police
Col. Rodney D. Monroe,
Chief of the Richmond Police Department;
Robert E. Gwaltney, Assistant Special Agent in Charge
FBI Richmond
John Ryan, Vice President and Chief Counsel
America Online/Time-Warner;
Chuck Curran, Director of State Public Policy
America Online
Rick Lally, President
Hampton Roads Technology Council
Robert J. Stolle, Executive Director
Greater Richmond Technology Council
Bobbie Kilberg, President
Northern Virginia Technology Council
Kenneth & Mary Alice Booth
Concerned Parents
William A. "Biff" Pusey, Jr.
Concerned Parent
Michelle Collins
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Dr. Billy K. Cannaday, Jr.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Dianne Florence, President
Virginia PTA
Dr. Sally K. Boese
Virginia Association of Independent Schools
Officer Stan Moorefield, C.C.P.S.
Virginia Association of School Resource Officers
Joel Wiginton, Vice President & Senior Counsel
Sony
Elizabeth A. Bresee, Vice President, Policy Affairs and Senior Associate Counsel
Capital One
Anne Gavin, State Government Affairs Regional Manager
Microsoft Corporation
Elizabeth Banker, Assistant General Counsel
Yahoo!
Rosemary Trible
Concerned Citizen
Mr. John Titus, Principal
James River High School
James L. Hilton, Vice President and Chief Information Officer
University of Virginia
Virginia “Ginny” James
Cox High School, Government Teacher, Virginia Beach
Donna Rice-Hughes
President, Enough is Enough
Dr. Steve Shelby
West End Presbyterian Church
David Foster
Arlington School Board
Carter Slough
High School Student
Tommy M. Quigley, Jr.
High School Student
Youth Internet Safety Task Force
Meeting Schedule
July 14th |
10-2 |
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) |
Sept. 19th |
10-2 |
Richmond |
October 17th |
10-2 |
Hampton Roads |
Nov. 16th |
|
Roanoke |
December |
|
Final Report of Task Force |
