FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 30, 2003

Local missing children nonprofit supports signing of Amber Alert bill

Child Protection Education of America (CPEA) is happy to hear of today’s signing of the Child Abduction Prevention Act, which includes monetary support of state Amber Alert programs.

“This is a great step forward in the protection of children across the nation,” said Vince DiNova, executive director for CPEA, a national nonprofit missing children organization based in Tampa. “Every state should utilize the money available to improve its Amber Alert abilities.”

The bill allows $25-million to be used by states to build electronic road signs and improve other communication networks used in child abduction cases.

The legislation also provides a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence custody related abductions of a child, lifetime supervision of sex offenders and mandatory lifetime prison sentences for second-time offenders.

Child Protection Education of America assists parents and law enforcement officers involved with missing children cases by offering free photograph distribution. The charity also offers safety education events, including fingerprinting using its state-of-the-art ID ME NOW fingerprinting program. CPEA is the second largest missing children organization in number of registered cases in the country.

For comments or interviews by CPEA about this positive step forward in child protection, please call 813-626-3001 or 1-866-USA-CHILD.

Contact:
Don Smith
Director of Development
Phone 813-626-3001
Cell 813-758-1876