When registered sex offenders travel outside of their home state, they are supposed to inform law enforcement of their plans. Each state and territory has maintained their own sex offender registry, which make regulations difficult to enforce when there is no standard across state lines.

The Adam Walsh Act was passed to help create a uniform approach to protecting our nation’s children, by creating some consistency across state laws.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has been a tireless advocate for enforcement of these laws, and a partner to law enforcement in the fight to prevent sex offenders from slipping through the cracks.

This year marks the 26th anniversary of the National Night Out program. All over the country, over 9,500 communities are participating in events during this week that celebrate residents and police officers working together to keep our neighborhoods safe. Citizens, businesses, schools and civic groups all participate in these campaigns that serve to send a clear message to criminals.

These celebrations take the form of block parties, cook outs, candlelight vigils, sports events, and or other activities that involve people of all ages.

The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. has seen NNO help local communities in several ways:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness.
• NNO helps generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs.
• Bringing neighbors together by strengthening neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.
• Sends a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Contact your local law enforcement today to find out about events in your community, and check out the NNO site to find out what other communities have done.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as many as 9 million Americans are victims of some form of identity theft every year. Whether conned into a phishing scam, visiting a malicious website, or having your mail stolen from your mailbox, there are hundreds of ways that lowlifes can take advantage of you and grab your personal information.

Your best defenses against ID theft are knowledge, awareness and eternal vigilance against scammers. The AMW Safety Center has plenty of strategies for stopping con artists in their tracks, and with some help, it’s easy to protect yourself against these would-be thieves. Check out some of these resources to help keep your personal information secure.

Make Shopping Online a Private Affair

Are you Leaving an Online Trail For Crooks To Follow?

Protect Yourself from Online Crimes

Identity Protection Toolkit

The effects of gang violence has spread across the entire country, even suburban and rural communities. Do you know how to recognize the signs of gang activity in your neighborhood? Are your kids or teens vulnerable to gang influence?

Intimidation is one of the strongest weapons gangs have against you and your community. Gangs can sometimes seem even more powerful than police because of this fear that they instill, and their actions go unreported. But you aren’t defenseless. The experts at the National Center for Victims of Crime suggest taking an active role in community policing to one of the best weapons you have in protecting your family. Everyone has to work together, and everyone has a role to play in keeping your family safe.