Legal Process for Missing Children Investigations: Reality vs Myth
Free Webinar
July 17, 2024
10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M
The New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse at the Division of Criminal Justice Services, in conjunction with National Child Protection Task Force, is hosting a free webinar to provide participants with techniques and strategies for serving legal process for missing children investigations.
On average there are 1,200 missing children each day in New York State. Many of these children are at risk of trafficking, victimization, homelessness, mental health issues, and other negative consequences. Last year eleven children who had been reported missing in New York State were located deceased and 122 who were located were initially reported as victims of criminal activity or exploitation while missing. It is essential for investigators to use all available resources to aid in quickly and safely locating missing children.
Do these scenarios sound familiar?
At 10 P.M. a mother reports her 13-year-old daughter left for school in the morning but did not return home in the afternoon.
A 15-year-old male, who has diabetes and is insulin dependent, went to a friend’s house on Friday night and did not return home.
Social services reports that a 15-year-old girl left a residential facility and her whereabouts are unknown.
What investigative steps can you take to locate these children? Can you make an emergency disclosure request? Can a subpoena be used to gain access to the child’s social media accounts? What about doing the same for a person they are believed to be with? These are the types of questions our panel of experts will answer for you.
The webinar will cover topics such as
Timeframe of emergency disclosure requests
Letters of preservation
What is “reasonable cause” vs “probable cause”
Tips on subpoenas and search warrants for missing child investigations
At the conclusion of the webinar, you will be provided with templates for subpoenas and search warrants.
Panelists
Kevin Branzetti, President, National Child Protection Task Force
Kevin Branzetti is the president and co-founder of the National Child Protection Task Force, which provides investigative expertise and resources to law enforcement agencies, worldwide, on cases involving missing, exploited, and trafficked children. The task force aims to bring children home, bring predators to justice and train investigators based on lessons learned. Branzetti is the former Deputy Director of Intelligence at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and retired from NYPD Intelligence, where he was the commanding officer of the Cyber Intelligence Unit. He has been involved with criminal, financial, and terrorism investigations, cyber intelligence, human intelligence, source development, intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination.
Teresa Jauregui, Chief Operating Officer, National Child Protection Task Force
In her role as the Chief Operating Officer of the NCPTF, Teresa Jauregui leverages her vast experience and unwavering dedication to ensuring the protection of children. Ms. Jauregui embarked on her legal career as a prosecutor at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in Boston, Massachusetts in April 2013. In addition to maintaining a full caseload, she helped found and develop the Mental Health Court in the Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court. Following her wholeheartedness to serving the community, she joined the York County District Attorney’s Office in Pennsylvania in the fall of 2016. Throughout her nine-year prosecutorial tenure, Ms. Jauregui demonstrated her exceptional abilities by handling a wide range of serious felony cases, including child sexual assault and homicide, ensuring justice for victims and their families. Ms. Jauregui’s commitment to professional development is evident through her extensive training. She has received specialized training from prestigious institutions such as the National Computer Forensics Institute. Recognized as an authority in her field, she has delivered compelling presentations on conducting digital investigations and authenticating digital evidence to the Pennsylvania District Attorney Association, National Computer Crime Conference, National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance, Internet Crimes Against Children Conferences, and law enforcement agencies worldwide. Furthermore, her expertise was showcased as a participant in the esteemed FBI CART Moot Court in 2021.
David Weiss, Chief, Human Trafficking Unit, Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office
David is the Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office and is also the law enforcement lead for the Department of Justice-funded Enhanced Collaborative Model, Brooklyn Human Trafficking Task Force. He has been investigating and prosecuting Human Trafficking cases since 2014. After starting his career in 2006, he handled cases involving all types of violent crime. Since joining the Human Trafficking Unit in 2014, David has prosecuted numerous violent traffickers for exploiting children and adults and has led a multi-agency investigation and prosecution resulting in the takedown and closure of two hotels and the arrests of the owners for permitting prostitution at hotels in Brooklyn and Queens. In 2017, David was cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York to bring federal sex trafficking charges in a case involving the trafficking of several underage girls. David regularly presents on Human Trafficking investigations and prosecutions throughout NY State, around the United States and for international law enforcement officials, focusing on evidence-based prosecutions, prosecuting without a victim, and prosecuting in a true victim-centered manner. David recently testified before the NYS Assembly as a subject matter expert discussing the need to expand the Statute of Limitations on Human Trafficking case to account for trauma and delayed disclosure.
Who Should Attend
This webinar is open to law enforcement personnel who are responsible for missing children investigations and staff from district attorney’s and prosecutor’s offices.
Webinar Date and Time
Wednesday, July 17, 10:00 A.M – 11:30 A.M.
Registration
A course registration form may be completed by following the attached link
If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Neff at cindy.neff@dcjs.ny.gov or Tim Williams at timothy.williams@dcjs.ny.gov or call 800-346-3543.
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