June is Internet Safety Month. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) joins our partners in raising awareness about Internet safety and providing resources to keep kids safe online.
This year, OJJDP brings a focus to the crime of sextortion. Sextortion is an online crime that exploits youth through coercion or blackmail to acquire sexual content, engage in sex, or obtain money.
Partnering with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
OJJDP, in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), provides resources, technical assistance, and prevention services to victims and families, as well as support to law enforcement agencies in cases involving missing and exploited children. Visit the NCMEC's NetSmartz program's June is Internet Safety Month webpage to learn more.
Developed with funding support from OJJDP, the NCMEC Safety Pledge website provides free resources to help parents, educators, and caregivers learn more about the risks that children face online and how to respond safely.
NCMEC's website also offers resources about digital safety for youth, parents, communities, and educators including:
OJJDP's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program
OJJDP created the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC program) under the authority of the fiscal year (FY) 1998 Justice Appropriations Act, Public Law 105–119. The ICAC program helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children. The ICAC program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing more than 4,700 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies.
Protect Our Youth Online: A Virtual Event to Start the Conversation
As part of Internet Safety Month in June 2022, OJJDP and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program presented “Protect Our Youth Online: A Virtual Event to Start the Conversation." This virtual event—comprising three webinars—featured presentations from technology safety experts with tips and resources to help inform and protect youth online.
Spotlight on Sextortion
Sextortion is an online exploitation crime directed towards children in which coercion or blackmail is used to acquire sexual content, engage in sex, or obtain money. Access these resources to learn more.
Sextortion Awareness Video from San Jose Police Department
Sexting and Sextortion: Keeping Kids Safe Webinar
Internet Safety Resources
3 Questions for Parents to Ask Their Kids About Their Tech Use
Helping Youth Navigate Dangers in the Digital Age Webinar
OJJDP News and Resources
- Model Programs Guide: Internet/Technology Crime and Safety
- OJJDP Convenes National Law Enforcement Training on Child Exploitation
Webinar Recordings
- Helping Youth Navigate Dangers in the Digital Age Webinar (February 2022)
- Talking to Child Victims for Prosecutors (April 2021)
- Corroborating Evidence for Prosecutors, Law Enforcement, Forensic Interviewers and MDTs (February 2021)
- Sexting and Sextortion: Keeping Kids Safe Webinar (November 2014)
Additional Resources
- Office of Justice Programs: Special Feature: Internet Safety: Online Safety for Youth
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children - NetSmartz: Internet Safety Month
- Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Resources: