Press Releases Archives- The Missing Program

Massachusetts leads Nation with Internet Safety Computer Program which enables kids to learn safety techniques to avoid Internet dangers

For Immediate Release
November 4, 2003

Contact:  Barbara Faherty
(508) 584-8120 ext. 2510

BROCKTON, MA    On Thursday, November 6, 2003, District Attorneys from across Massachusetts will meet to receive the Internet safety computer kit, "Missing".   Due to a grant by the Entertainment Software Association Foundation, 500 kits will be distributed free-of- charge to every middle school in the state.   Each kit contains a videotape, a guide for parents and teachers and ten copies of the game "Missing".   This program is very effective in reaching computer-savvy kids because it presents its message as a video game.

"On September 23, 2002, Brockton Public Schools became the first in our nation to incorporate the "Missing" program as part of their formal curriculum.   The "Missing" program has enabled Plymouth County to successfully implement a community-wide strategy against on-line predators.   This program allows parents, teachers, and law enforcement officials to open dialogues with children regarding Internet safety.   The "Missing" game helps our children learn firsthand how dangerous it is to provide personal information over the Internet.   I am pleased to learn that this program will now be available across the state of Massachusetts.  " states District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.

"While the Internet can be a wonderful educational resource, it also presents many potential safety risks for children and young adults.   As is often the case, predators are now taking advantage of something that was designed for a positive purpose to cause harm to others.   We are very excited to introduce this new and innovative public safety tool in Middlesex, and are hopeful that it will help young people protect themselves online".   states Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley.

"Law enforcement officials have embraced "Missing" as a valuable tool in the fight against online predators.   Support from the video game industry and a federal grant have expanded the distribution of "Missing" across the country.   The game offers a safe environment in which players explore real world situations, make their own decisions and learn through their own mistakes.   When you hear from kids who have played "Missing"- like the young girl who played the game and helped identify a predator now serving time in prison- you will realize the lessons learned from this game are ones kids won´t soon forget".   states Congressman William Delahunt.

Members of the press are invited to attend this event.   The launch of the program will take place at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 6, 2003, at the Hewlett Packard Company, One Cambridge Center, 11th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142.   Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley will serve as Master of Ceremonies.   Guest speakers include, District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz, and Drew Ann Wake of Live Wires Design, the developer of the game.

Members of the press will be allowed to set up their equipment at 10:45 am.

#####

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz accepts an award of 5000 "Missing" Computer games to teach Online Safety for Middle Schools across Massachusetts

For Immediate Release
October 6, 2003

Contact:  Barbara Faherty
(508) 584-8120 ext. 2510

BROCKTON, MA    Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz is proud to announce the acceptance of 5000 Internet Safety Computer Games for distribution to
Middle Schools throughout the state of Massachusetts.

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Foundation announced a major grant to Web Wise Kids to distribute a unique and highly effective Internet Safety computer game to schools across the United States at a press conference held on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, October 1, 2003.   The computer game, called "Missing", has already led to the apprehension of three child predators and has been embraced by law enforcement as a valuable tool in the fight against predators.

Web Wise Kids, a non-profit group, was formed in 1998 after the founder´s own sister was the victim of an online predator.   Web Wise Kids distributes the "Missing" kit, which was developed by Live Wires Design.

Massachusetts was designated as one recipient of three statewide expansion awards, due to the success of the Plymouth County Pilot.   District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz first became aware of this project in February 2002, and took the initiative to have Plymouth County designated as a Pilot Site for this innovative computer program.   With the assistance of the High Tech Crime Consortium based out of Tacoma, Washington and Web Wise Kids, District Attorney Cruz was able to secure free software to be distributed to Drug Education Officers, School Resource Officers, School Administrators, and Librarians across Plymouth County.   On October 23, 2002 the Brockton Public School System became the first school in our nation to incorporate the "Missing" program into their formal curriculum.   The Marshfield Public School System was the second.

"In Plymouth County, we have successfully implemented a community wide strategy to provide a united front against on-line predators.   This program enables parents, teachers and law enforcement to open a dialog with children regarding Internet Safety.   This game is unique because it allows children to educate themselves as to the dangers that exist when they are in chat rooms, or while they are conversing with friends through Instant Messaging.   By playing the "Missing" game, our children learn firsthand how a dangerous situation could result if they provide personal information about themselves or their family over the Internet".   states District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.

The game will be available to Middle Schools across Massachusetts, by the beginning of 2004.

#####

"Opening Argument", a program developed as an enhancement to the Internet Safety Program "Missing" to be tested in Plymouth County

For Immediate Release
September 24, 2002

Contact:  Barbara Faherty
(508) 584-8120 ext. 2510

BROCKTON, MA   In a collaborative effort with LiveWires Design of Vancouver, Canada and The High Tech Crime Consortium of Tacoma, Washington, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz took the initiative to have Plymouth County designated as a pilot site for the Internet Safety Program "Missing".

"Missing" is the brainchild of Drew Anne Wake of Live Wires Design.   It is an innovative, interactive computer game which educates students in grades six and seven to the dangers that exist on the Internet.   The game, which is based on a true story, opens with a passionate plea for help from a father who has discovered that his 13-year-old son Zack has run away.   The students assume the role of the detective and piece together evidence left behind on Zack´s computer to help track down the missing boy.   Their goal is to make sure that Zack is safely returned to his family.   As a follow-up to the game, the students participate as a class to develop their own Internet Safety Plans, which t hey will utilize to protect themselves whenever they are on the Internet.

In an effort to further enhance the "Missing" project; District Attorney Tim Cruz has been selected to test the next part of the program entitled "Opening Argument".   Drew Ann Wake of Live Wires Design has this to say, "Timothy Cruz, the District Attorney in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, has a long-standing interest in the law- and in children.   So when he heard about the Missing kit, he invited LiveWires to put on a workshop in the region south of Boston.   The workshop was crowded.   Almost 50 teachers, police officers and prosecutors were trained to deliver the program in a single day.   Some months later, Brockton schools became the first in the United States to adopt "Missing" as a formal part of the school curriculum.   It is not surprising, then, that Timothy Cruz was the District Attorney selected to test the Opening Argument program with middle school children."

The testing of the Opening Argument program will take place on Wednesday, September 25, 2002 with a pre-selected group of seventh graders at the Williams Middle School, Bridgewater, MA at 10:00am.   The press is invited to attend.

#####