Operation Safe Child - Columbia County Sheriff's Office

OPERATION SAFE CHILD

The Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office have been awarded a state grant and have joined efforts to ensure that parents have updated information about their children readily accessible at all times. OPERATION SAFE CHILD is a program CREATED IN 2005 to raise awareness about child safety. It was developed by several agencies within New York State including the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the New York State Sheriff's Association.

Using the latest digital fingerprinting technology and high-resolution photography capabilities, a SAFE CHILD information card is made of the child for parents and guardians to have with them in the event the child's information and photo are needed for an emergency situation.

The card contains the child's name, pedigree information, (i.e. date of birth, height, weight, hair and eye color etc.), photograph and images of two fingers. Produced within minutes, the card can be carried in a parent's wallet or pocketbook for easy accessibility. If a parent wishes, they may opt to store the information with the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) in the event their child becomes lost or missing. The storage of this information is strictly voluntary and would require the written consent of a parent or guardian for the data to be stored in the DCJS database in Albany, NY.

If a parent decides to have their child's information stored with the state agency it would only be used as an invaluable resource in conjunction with the New York State AMBER Alert and/or Missing Child Alert programs. These cards will allow essential missing child information to be disseminated more rapidly, dramatically increasing the possibility of bringing a missing child safely home.

The program will be offered at community events such as community days and the Columbia County Fair.