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Defending Children

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio is committed to the safety and well-being of every child and has placed a high priority on combating sexual exploitation of minors.

The Defending Childhood Initiative: Cuyahoga County was selected by the U.S. Department of Justice as one of eight demonstration sites to develop and implement multi-disciplinary plans that specifically address prevention, intervention, treatment and response strategies to address children’s exposure to violence.

In 2011, the initiative received a $2 million grant to develop a national model. By working with service providers, schools, law enforcement and public officials, the goal is to empower children, their families, caregivers and others in the community to deal with the root causes of violence and take steps to heal those who have witnessed and/or experienced violence.

Anti-Bullying:The United States Attorney’s Office has been proactive in working with our partners to convene meetings and forums to discuss the scope of bullying in Northern Ohio and possible solutions. In 2011, we convened a town hall meeting on bullying. Hundreds of students attended the event, which was broadcast to schools throughout the country and viewed by thousands more. Matthew Morrison, star of the hit television show “Glee,” recorded a special welcome for the audience, who got tips and suggestions for ways reduce bullying in their schools and become allies to students who are bullied.

Project Safe Childhood is a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious; the danger of perpetrators who produce, distribute and possess child pornography is equally dramatic and disturbing.
Project Safe Childhood is implemented through a partnership of U.S. Attorneys, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, and state and local law enforcement officials in each U.S. Attorney's district. The collaborative efforts of PSC facilitates the sharing of resources and ensures that the most dangerous offenders are prosecuted.

For more information, go to Project Safe Childhood

Updated January 17, 2023