Free seminar on the dangers of internet predators

Wellpath, a Connecticut organization dedicated to serving the behavioral

health needs of children and their families, will be hosting a free seminar on the danger posed by internet predators on May 17 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Hospital Auditorium. Dr. James F. Nardozzi, the Criminal Justice Academic Program Manager at Post University will lead the seminar. Nardozzi has an impressive list of credentials that more than qualify him for the task, including a bachelor’s in criminal justice, a master’s and adDoctorate in public administration, and a certificate in criminal justice education, to name a few.

The focus of the seminar will be the danger posed to children on the Internet by predators, though other types of child predation will be touched upon. “This is something that many people feel is endemic, but that’s not necessarily the case,” Nardozzi said. Despite this, he encourages vigilance. One key topic of discussion at the seminar will be the unrealistic expectations people have regarding what police can do to combat cyber-predators.

“There’s no replacement for parental oversight,” Nardozzi said. “Because of television, many people think that the police can trace the source of

an e-mail and have a suspect in custody within an hour, but that’s why it’s called the entertainment industry, because it’s rarely that easy.” According to Nardozzi, most communications service providers won’t cooperate with any type of police investigation that requires

them to violate a customer’s right to privacy, and child predators are no exception. “This isn’t because they’re anti-police,” Nardozzi said. “They just won’t give the police the phone or Internet

records of a customer without a warrant.” The police have to put in a request for a warrant with a judge, who then has to approve it and serve it to the communication company, a process that can take quite a while.

Because of the limited capacity for law enforcement officials to deal with this problem, Nardozzi stresses that the role of parents in protecting their children is absolutely critical.

“No parent would allow a strange 50-year-old man up into their 15-yearold daughter’s bedroom, but most would give their daughter a computer with Internet access and a webcam and say ‘see ya.’”Nardozzi said that these two things are equally dangerous. The Wellpath seminar will address these issues and more concerning the safety of children on the Internet.

If you’re interested in attending this seminar, please contact Brenna Dobos at bdobos@wellpathct.org or 203-575- 0466 ext. 105. Space is limited so don’t delay in reserving your spot by Friday, May 7.

Light refreshments will be served. Please park in the Saint Mary’s Hospital Employee Garage located on South Elm St., right across from Sacred Heart High School.