Protection and Compensation for Abuse of Children by Sexual Predators

Parents certainly have a whole other set of responsibilities when it comes to raising their children these days.

Along with choosing the right school for them to attend, helping them to foster healthy friendships, and teaching them to be good human beings, parents also have to learn how to monitor and police the Internet activity that they engage in. Email is no longer the only tool that children can use to communicate with others either. Kids can communicate using their cell phones by texting, by using chat rooms, on social media sites and by blogging. This presents a real challenge for parents because they need to stay one step ahead of all the technology so that they can protect their children from online predators.

Parental Controls

Here are some tips on keeping your child safe:

• Pay attention to what your children are involved in and looking at online by spending time with them online. If you surf the web with them and show an interest in their communities and friends, they will feel more comfortable being open about their online activity.
• Protect your computer. Keep your computer updated and keep virus protection updated and active.
• Know the protection features of websites and software that your children use.
• Remember that your children can go online at places other than home.
• Work with your children on establishing their privacy settings on social network sites they visit.
• Teach your children how to think critically for themselves when it comes to interacting online. Teach them to respect others and to be safe at all times.
• Educate them on the risks of the Internet. Let them know that anything that they share online can be seen anywhere and by anyone, and that they cannot take it back.
• Eduated your children about cyberbullying, and what to do if they see others engaging in this or if they are a victim of this or any type of bullying.
• Look at programs like parental control programs such as netnanny.com that will filter the types of websites your child can visit, and restrict types of activity and even hours of use, at your discretion, based on the settings you choose. Comprehensive software can also send you detailed reports of your child's web activity. We encourage to you use a good parental control program.

If you keep only one computer available out in the open at home, it can help you to physically monitor your children while online. Parents should always be aware of how many different ways their kids can be online, especially when they are away from home. Parents should keep informed, talk to other parents, and know the rules of each website and the appropriate age for using the website. Kids should also have separate accounts that are locked with parental controls to reduce the risk of exposure to online predators.

What to Do If Your Child is Injured

In Georgia, there is a task force in place called the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. It's mission is to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in developing an effective response to cyber enticement and child pornography. The task force works in conjunction with the Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit (CEACCU), and both agencies have trained special agents that conduct pro-active and reactive investigations involving crimes against children.

If you think that a case of child sexual exploitation may have occurred you can call the Cybertip Line and make a report. Reports can be made 24-hours a day, 7 days a week online at www.cybertipline.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. If your child has been the victim of a sexual assault, sexual molestation or any other sexual misconduct by an adult, you and/or your child may be entitled to compensation from the perpetrator. The perpetrator of sexual abuse may even be forced to pay punitive damages to punish and discourage this type of despicable conduct. Montlick and Associates has an ongoing commitment to children's safety and understands that the cyber world presents many dangers to children today.

If your child has suffered injury due to an online predator or any type of abuse, contact the experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyers at Montlick and Associates for a free consultation to discuss your rights. We diligently pursue our clients’ best interests. Our experienced Georgia injury attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.